The New York herald., 1868-01-11

MIR. Wells Orntion ON the Taxpaying
Capacity Of the American People.
Pericles made fine and famous Grafton al
the end Of the first year of the Peloponnesian
| war in the ceremony Of public mourning fol
all those who had been slain in that first year
II was the official summary over the bones Of
the victims. He improved the occasion to
sketch the Athenian history; to expound the
Athenian political system; to give his hearers
glimpse of the philosophy Of existence, and
show them individually what they were living
for; what the whole muddle Of human life and
activity, toll and struggle and vexation finally
meant as he understood it. Well, Mr.. Special
Commissioner of the Revenue Wells has done
pretty much this for the American people
in an Grafton equally sublime, equally
astonishing from all points Of view, and
one that will no doubt be equally
famous. Human life, as Wells understands it,
is simply taxes. What man lives for is 10 pay
taxes what he struggles for, worries his brain,
wears his intestinal economy to fiddle strings
for, is simply to meet the taxgatherer when
pay day comes. Why he dies is no longer a
mystery. 1t Is because he forgets that there
are taxes to pay. If Wells were asked to de-
fine death be would certainly say it is a state
in which man is unconscious that there are
taxes. Man that is born of woman hath but
few days and full Of misery but if he pays his
tax-if the taxing machinery hath drawn from
him all that he is capable OF yielding-let him
die; he has fulfilled his destiny Such is the
philosophy of Wells. With him there is no
such nonsensical formula as cogito, ergo sum-
His intellectual theories start from another
fact-man pays taxes, therefore he lives Here
are cause and consequence in one comprehen-
sive glance; and it will immensely simplify
social studies to have this definite starting
point Voltaire considered the uses to which a
man might be put and thought the worst was
hanging. Wells will have nothing of this sort.
There is no better nor worse, only one use, and
that has regard to taxes. Nor is there but one
division Of the human race, and this is into
those who gather taxes and those who pay
them. Governments are instituted merely 10
lay taxes; people exist only to afford govern
ments this occasion. Beyond this there is
nothing, or Wells is wrong.
AT the very outset in this grand oration-
which has been sneeringly called "a report
we come upon o gratifying array of figures
tending to show the wonderful material pros
perity of our people. We are pointed to our
increased wealth in oil the great channels of
effort: more tonnage on the lakes; more
activity in the railroads; commerce recovering
on the ocean; more houses built than ever in
any year before; more manufactured articles
bought; nay, even four million pounds more
coffee exhaling its delicious aroma over the
breakfast tables OF 1867 than over those of
1866. We begin to feel patriotic joy in the
national prosperity. We are delighted that
Wells should have noted all these facts to
make US happy in the recital. Alas, we are
going too fast! We are enjoying o morsel
that leaves bitter taste. 1t Is not as friend
who congra tulates us on our good condition
that Wells tells oil this. He thumps his Sta
tistical finger against the public ribs not
in jolly good fellowship, but inquisitively, to
see how much fat is there. He gloats over
our prime condition as Feejee chieftain might
gloat over the fine condition of newly caught
missionary. "What a roast for the tax on
sales What fry under incomes What n
stew for promiscuous returns 1" These are his
calculations This is the way he looks at his
country. He sees in our success the justifca-
ton of fresh taxes. He sees in the fact that
taxation has killed some industries reason
why we should tax them no more. He goes
patiently, ploddingly, with the persistency and
minuteness of hungry fly, over every little
fact in our social system, and considers 1t with
aview to its taxes; and he finds proud joy in
concluding that we are able TO bear more tax
alton than any other people, ancient or modern.
With the suhlimiiy Of devotion to bis one idea
he regards our very political diseases with no
other thought than as they affect the taxes.
lie cites two revenue districts with officers Of
ability at the head of each and very even
returns. Political reasons made q change in
one district, and Immediately the returns fell of
three hundred thousand dollars. Therefore,
reasons this philosopher of taxes, never change
your experienced taxgatherer, for by that
means your public auimll is nothing like so
cleanly plucked as 1t may be. For a new
sensation to the American people we commend
this document, in which they may see them.
selves relentlessly surveyed with single view
TO the burdens they may be made TO endure.
NEW GOLD FIELDS IN SBERIA.-Gold
fields made California. Gold fields made
Australia. The Ural Mountains have long
been n source of strength to Russia. IL is O
curious and noteworthy circumstance that gold
should have been discovered in Russia at a
time when Russia, particularly sick Of paper
desires, even prays for gold currency. We
shall be glad to learn that the gold fields pay;
for the discovery Of gold Is o worldwide bless
ing. The Amoor river, however, is pretty far
north. Gold in that quarter might give US
some hopes in Alaska. Gold in Alaska and In
Russian Siberia might beget an interest In