, 1867-07-12
Taxation.

at time when the struggle was Tor natlonal
existence, our people cheerfully submitted
to the imposition of the most burdensome
taxes, and paid without murmur whatever
was demanded. This was done in the spirit
Of patriotism, and in the full belief that those
who thus contributed were aiding in sus'
tainiug and perpetuating the "best govern
meut on earth" For purpose like this, it
was felt that no sacrifice was too great, aud
hence it was that the most burdensome
system of taxation ever devised was cheer
fully endured. Now, however, that the
war is over, our people grow restiVe under
the repeated visits of the taxgatherer, and
already the demand comes up from all parts
of the land asking dimiuution of taxes,
and a relief from the burdens that press so
heavily upon the industry of the country.
The questian of taxation is the issue that
our statesmen are now called to meet, and
it is upon this issue, and collaterally the.
tariff and currency questions, that the next
Presidential campaign will be fought. The
revenue system, under which we are so
heavily taxed, was devised as war measure,
and as such. it was tolerated, but it never
was designed for a conditson of peace, and
should have been Immediately abandoned
with the close of the war. The history of
the world shows that he different branches
of the great Teutonic race have been at all
times averse to the payment of onerous bur,
dens in the shape of taxation, and that
whenever any extraordinary aid was neces-
sary, it was granted for the momen! and
withdrawn as soon as the exigency had
passed. As illustrating this popularity of
the race, we have the authority of Tacitus,
who pronounces two tribes not to be of
German origin, because they submitted to
pay taxes. And again speaking of another
tribe, according to the ideas prevalent in
Germany, he says, "They we're not degraded
by the imposition of taxes" With our
German ancestors taxation was regarded as
a badge of servitude, to which they never
voluntarily submitted. This sentiment is
inherited by their descendants of to-day,
and thus it is that our people are restless
under system of taxation which is sapping
every material interest, and gradually i'm
poverishing the country. Our fathers, be-
fore they had emerged from the German
forests, regarded taxation as badge Of ser,
Vitude, and this conviction they left as a
legacy to their descendants-a conviction
which it is uot the part of wise statesman>
ship to disregard. Looking to the near future,
nothing can be more certain than that the
demand for a reduction in the rate of taxa
tiOn will be backed by a numerical force
that will compel even a corrupt Congress
to heed. In the next canvass this will
be the main issue, and coupled with it de
mand for repeal of the law exempting
Government bonds from taxation. 1t is well
that the holders of these bonds-the mon,
eyed aristocracy of the country-should uur
derstand their true position. In France,
an untaxed aristocracy paved the way for a
revolution in which both sovereign and
mobiles went down. In our own country,
the attempt to maintain an untaxed aristo-
cracy will result in reputation. The toiling
masses will never consent to be ground to
the earth for the benefit of uutaxed bond
holders, and the men or party that attempt
to sustain this iniquity, will soon find them
selves banished from power aud place.