The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-15
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Friday Morning. Msy 10, 1858.
Revenue Reform
PORTLAND.

This subject is beginning TO be forced upon
the attention of Congress in a manner that
will compel attention. A meeting for its
discussion was held in New York, Tuesday,
in answer to a call to which were appended
the following influential names: Presidents
Barnard, of Columbia College; Woolsey, OF
Yale College; Sturtevant of Illinois College (;
Fairchlld, OF Oberlin College, and Raymond,
OF Vassar College; Professors Bacon, Por-
ter and Fisher, of Yale; Perry and Bascom,
OF Williams; j. III. Seelye and Amasa Walk
er, of Amherst, etc; Edward Atkinson, Peter
L. Homer, and Drs. James Freeman Clarke
and j, NJ Manning, Of Boston; DIR. Lieber,
w. c. Bryant, jackson $. Schultz, Drs.
Prime, Stores, Thompson.
The only great fault to be found with the
proceedings of the meeting is that attention
was too much concentrated ON the subject
of free trade, while other reforms of equal
Importance were ignored. Indeed the true
purpose of the meeting was disguised by the
designation of the Friends of Revenue Re-
form" which was adopted by the learned
gentlemen who form the association. They
aim at reform through single agency con-
cerning the efficiency OF which there is
great difference of opinion among men
who are undeniaby honest and sincere.
However, it is impossible for any one to read
the report of the proceedings of these schol-
ars, philosophers and poets without recev-
ing most favorable impression Of the work
they have undertaken. Most of them having
lived secluded in measure from active par
ticipation in public affairs, and being unac-
quainted with the practical workings of po-
litical machinery, the result is an unlimited
breadth of view and generous cosmopolitan
spirit that have an exquisite charm for those
who are tired of the comparatively dry and
vapid formulas of the "mere politicians" AL
considerations of partial, local and temporary
good-the objective points of most political
parties are disregarded. Friendship and
even patriotism are narrow indeed compared
with the all-embracing spirit of unselfsh love
for the human race.
An idea of the spirit of the meeting may
be gathered from the resolutions offered by
DIR. Prime, the distinguished author. They
are an amplifcation of Cobden's striking and
beautiful aphorism, "Free trade is the in
ternational law of the Almighty" 1t may be
safely said that there have rarely been offer
ed in public meeting for the consideration
of subjects like the revenue and tariff, reso-
lutions, so profound in their philosophy, so
Christian in feeling and so felicitous in ex-
preston:
L.. Acknowledging the brotherhood of the human
family, our duty to love neghbors as ourselves
and TO do unto others we would that Others
should do unto US, we hold that the principles Of
Christian morality which ought to govern inter-
course win our fellow citizens should regulate our
intercourse with our brethren of the human race.
~ Inat the soundest moral principles applied to
highest politca and social wisdom in the regulation
OF trade among citizens OF the nalion and be-
tween all the nations # the earth.
3. That the division OF t human family into sem
arate opes Dy geographical boundaries, has i'm
paired none Of the obligations under which they as
me oers OF the same great family are laid to study
the peace the prosperity and the happiness of each
other; remembering that the interests OF all are SO
co enrrvlated that the good of no one nation be
Ut ousnI 10 De advanced to the wrong OF another
4. That The elm te, the soil, the continental or
nsuar posi- ions OF the various nations of the earth
OF produc d and development; and the soundest
political economy obviously suggests that the laws of
n4UonS, winch are but the ordinations of Divine
providence, shouli govern a.people in using the
means thus furnished for their own advancement
anu tne beneht ofthe human race.
o.: Tnat modern improvements for promoting
tramc, travel and intercourse between the most DIS
ant paris OF tue world, have broken down all phys
ca oDstruct1ons TO the tree and eady interchange OF
those productions which each country wants or up
pies, thus STIMULATING every nation to produce that
which it has the greatest facilities for producing
and to seek and find WI at it wants. wherever II ca
obtain il on the farest terms.
o. That in the recognition of this reciprocal de-
Pendence OF nations, We would bind them BY the
double cord of principle and mutual interest to
"bang the trumpet in the hall and study war no
more;i would amehorate the lot of the poor by
cheapenng the articles required for human subsist-
ence and enjoyment; we would by o natural and
equuable diffusion of the rewards OF labor diminish
the drferences which great wealth and extreme
poverty beget; we would destroy the unnatural and
unnecessary an,agonism between labor and capital ;
We would diffuse the burden OF taxation impartial
iy, according to the ability and duty of the citizen
10 pear it, and thus by increasing the facilities OF
an n1us aud ro.~e,~s .hA neces stiles of expending
We would improve the condition OF Ine mapee- az
mankind and hasten the reign of universal content
ment and peace.
These resolutions only need little metri-
cal arrangement to make poem. 1t is all a
Utopian dream, maybe, but it certainly is
most happy one.