The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-28

there has been either an increase or a dimi-
mutton of the population. and, If possible, to
arrive at some satisfactory conclusion respect
ing the causes of either. Without a know
ledge of this, it is impossible to mature the
simplest measures in the least degree affect
ing the internal resources of the country.
Without such information, it is impossible to
fix the status of the Republic in the great
fsmily of nations. Without it, we can know
nothing of our capacities in peace or of our
abilities in war.
Secondly, all useful and intelligent legisla-
ton affecting the material interests of the
country must be founded upon a knowledge
as correct as possible of its present wealth, its
possible production. and the point which it
has already reached in its advance towards
such possibility. The Government has no in
terest whatever in information concerning the
wealth of A or b or G personally and singly,
these three being engaged we will say in the
manufacture of cotton goods; but it has an
immediate interest in a knowledge tolerably
accurate of the production of A, b, G. in the
aggregate. And if suspicious men will but stop
to think they will see that this is all which
the Government is seeking. individuals must
be Intercepted, but the public and the world
will hear of nothing but the sun total. There
is a sort of indefinite notion floating about
that the Government is making this harmless
inquisition in order that it may increase the
taxes. A more deplorable folly never entered
the human head. An accurate return of the
production an~dindustry of the country is much
more likely to make the taxes lighter than it
is to make them heavier; for Congress must
know how much a specific tax will produce
before it can dete rhine its amount. IL kept
in ignorance. by the pig-headedness of pro-
ducers, it is much more reasonable to suppose
that it will, as between a larger and a less
rate, fix upon the first. Indeed, to do so is
the only safe resource; and those who permit
themselves to give inaccurate answers to the
census-taker may hereafter find that the in
diligence has been a costly one. Congress
will have no choice. 1t must act upon the
presumption that the official figures before it
are accurate; so that the maker of false an
swers not only picks his more truthful neigh
boris pocket, but he actually robs himself. 1t
is a game at which in the long run he must
inevitably be the loser.
We readily admit that in countries under
an absolute form of government census
taking may be regarded by the people with a
Just suspicion, for its result may be a more
remorseless taxation or a more sweeping
military CONSUMPTION. But in this favored
lane it is different. The census has been
ordered 10y the people themselves through
their representatives. 1t cherishes no ute
rior design either upon property or person.
IL Is not, as IL might be, merely q
preliminary to new exactions or still more
onerous levies for the military service. So
fortunately are we situated. that a knowledge
which can be trusted of the resources of the
country will more probably tighten our bur-
dens than render them more ponderous. How
childish is it, therefore, for any man, when
called upon officially to render an account of
himself, his family, the character and results
of his business, to prevaricate, to stand mute,
or to put off the inquirer with absolute
falsehoods. We trust, for the credit of the
country, that we shall have no more reluctant
responses to the questions of the assistant
marShalS