The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-20

that Its memberS are rapidly diminishing ana
its library very slowly increasing. The report
winds up with afervent and emphatic assertion
of State rights in their broadest sense; which,
being interpreted means more protection for
Pennsylvania coal and iron.
LET THE LOAD BE LIGHTENED
FROM tie NJ Y. Times.
We published on Saturday a portion
of the testimony with which the press is
teeming in faxor of an immediate and large
reduction of taxation. On no subject is pub
lie opinion more decided, and on none is the
press of the country more emphatic or united.
These expressions of judgment and feeling
are rendered more significant by the fact
that they are called forth by the proposal of
the President to maintain the present rate of
taxation until the debt shall have been
funded at a lower rate of interest, and by the
apparent indisposition of the Secretary of the
Treasury to grant relief until his policy be
further advanced. They are virtually pro-
test against the views of the administration
in this respect. They are warning that the
course proposed cannot be persisted in with
impunity, and an indication of the demand
urged by the people with Tirmness which
Congress cannot wisely resist.
Nor can it be pretended that the protest or
the demand emanates from political oppo-
nents alone or is designed in any manner to
embarrass the action OF the Government. We
have purposely culled the testimony we ad-
duce from journals decidedly friendly to
General Grant and his administration, or from
journals whose Independent attitude removes
them from factious fellowship with the oppo-
sition. When staunch and influential Repub-
licans like the Boston Adg6rt5Ser, the Albany
JONrn0t, the Erie DiSpdtch, the Chicago 1a5-
6une, and the Lawrence JOuT11dI insist that
the position assumed in the message and the
Treasury report must be abandoned, ndthat,
in advance of all other reforms, the taxes
must be reduced, we may safely conclude
that the current of Republican feeling runs
strongly in the direction which the Times has
ventured again and again to indicate. If the
business men who care little for mere parti-
sanship we're consulted, we are sure that
ninety mine hundredths of them would be
found to cherish the same opinion. They
may differ in reference to gold sales or the
currency or the tariff, but they are agreed in
the call for ightened burdens. Take off
taxes" is the all but universal cry among
those engaged in productive industry, and in
all trade, foreign or domestic. To this cry
Congress ought not to be Indifferent.
The demand derives additional strength
from its reasonsbleness and justice. 1t does
not involve weakness or inconvenience to the
Government, damage to the public credit, or
loss to any important interest. While the
war lasted, the most onerous taxation was
borne cheerfully; and if to-day there were an
actual necessity for its continuance, it would
be submitted TO ungrudgingly. But there is
neither financial wisdom nor equity in keep
ing up war taxation years after peace has been
restored. On the contrary, there is folly as
we'll as wrong in the attempt to perpetuate
excessive burdens for the redemption of
bonds long in advance of their maturity, or
for the carrying out of any financial theory
which the Secretary may have formed predi-
| Gated upon possible funding in the future, or
| any similar contingency. For funding is at
best remote contingency. 1t may be ap-
piled under pressure to the extent of the
| bonds deposited by the national banks but
otherwise, it will be impracticable until after
the resumption of specie payments-and
that, as most of us know, requires much pa
tient waiting.
| We object, then, to the continuance of the
| present taxation during the period which
must elapse before resumption or funding
can be effected The country cannot sustain
the load and neither the public credit nor
| the exigencies of the public service require
it. The administration prides itself on its
measures of retrenchment, and Congress pro
fesses desire to promote it. But the prime
purpose of retrenchment is relief to the peo-
pie; and the only practical shape which relief
can take is the largest possible reduction OF
taxes. Will Congress or the administration
assume the responsibility which denial of this
relief will assuredly entail?