The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-19
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1870.
REDUCTION OF THE NATIONAL
TA XES

IAAHS.
BunwEn, in commenting upon the difference
between the national characteristics of Ameri-
cans and Englishmen, ascribes to us superior
foresight and energy, but claims for his coun-
trymen better capacity to prepare for and
meet impending emergencies than we possess.
He contends that while the American scans
more clearly the distant future, he is not
equally ready to make adequate provision for
rapidly approaching events. 1t is difficult,
he says, to induce an English statesman to
give studious attention to the interests of
posterity. He does not care fig whether
the coming generation will be compelled to
bear the burden of the national debt or not,
and he spends no time in sentimental re-
pinings over the woes they may possibly
suffer On the other hand, however, he ex-
ercises extreme care in adjusting the inevita-
BILE burdens of the present, and in making
taxation innocuous to industrial interests.
If British statesman were to propose at this
time to raise an annual surplus revenue of
one hundred millions of dollars for the pur-
pose of diminishing the English debt
as O ft subject for Bedlam, and
no party which defended such policy could
ever hold or retain Office. In this country
generous zeal to accomplish grand results for
posterity inspires many of our public men.
But, laudable as this feeling may be, it is
easy TO carry it too far, and to infliot vital
injury upon future generations as well as
upon the living men who have passed through
the trying ordeal of the last decade. 1t is
time that the national system of taxation
should be based upon immediate necessities
and actual wants instead of pyrotechnical
programme. We have had enough of glory,
and have won enough military and financial
triumphs to enjoy and to imperatively need
temporary repose. The spectacle of an annual
surplus of one hundred millions of dollars
rolling into the Treasury may be very crafty
ing TO the custodians of the public moneys,
and it may exert ahighly desirable influence in
improving the national credit, and in satisfy
ing even the most timid capitalists that the
people are able and willing to redeem all the
national obligations; but even these results
do not afford sufficient justification or CON-
pensation for the subjection of American in
forests to an unnatural, undue, and unneces-
sary strain. We are not astonished, there
fore. at the CRY now going up from all sec
tions and parties for practical and forbear-
ing, instead of sentimental and oppressive,
financial policy. The people are will
ing to provide means to defray
all necessary expenses and to maintain
the public credit, but exaction of an annual
surplus larger than the whole national expen-
diture was ten years ago should be immedi-
ately discontinued. No other people ON earth
would, under similar circumstances, peace
fully submit to it, and no other statesmen
would think of demanding such a sacrifice.
The public are thoroughly satisfied that Anne
RIGA is great country, and that her citizens
can do great things, but they do not care
about being perpetually stuck upon pedestal
as objects of admiration, and they have acted
the role of model taxpayers long enough to
be anxious to dispense with all superauous
items in the bills of collectors of internal
revenue.