Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-12-09

and Venezuela, in Paris. The
charge was honorous, and one requir.
ing constant and severe labor, as
well as the exercise of patience, pru-
dence and good judgement. 1t has
been performed to the entire satisfac-
ton of this government, and, as |
am officially informed. equally so to
the satisfaction of the government of
North Germany. AS soon as learn
ed that a Republic had been pro-
claimed at Paris, and that the people
of France had acquicsced i'm the
change, the Minister of the United
States was directed by telegraph to
recognize it, and to tender my con-
CALCULATIONS and those of the people
of the United States. The re-estab>
lishment in France of system of
government disconnected with the
dynastic traditions of Europe app
peared to be proper subject for the
feIicitation of Americans. Should
the present struggle result in attach
ing the hearts of the French to our
simple form of representative gov
eminent. it will be a subject of still
further satisfaction to our people.
While we make no effort to impose
our institutions upon the inhabitants
of other countries, and while we adj
here to our traditional neutrality in
civil interests elsewhere, We cannot
be Indifferent to the spread of Amer
lean political ideas in great and
highly civilized country like France.
We were asked by the new govern
ment to use our good offices Jointly
4, IF i'm
the interest of peace. Answer was
made that the established policy and
the true interest of the United States
forbade them to interfere in the Eu-
ropean questions jointly with Euro
pean powers. ascertained, inform
ally and unofficially, that the Gov
ernment of North Germany was not
then disposed to listen to such
representation from any power, and
though earnestly wishing to see the
blessings Of peace restored to the
beligerants, with all of whom the
United States are on terms of friend
ship, | declined on the part of this
government to take step which
could only result in injury to our
own true interests, without advanc'
ing the object for which our inter
ventiOn was invoked. Should the
time ever come when the action OF
the United States can hasten the
return of peace by single hour that
action will be heartily taken.
PROCLAMATIONS OF NEUTRALITY
/ deemed it prudent in view Of the
number of persons Of German and
French birth living in the United
| States, to issue, soon after the official
notice of state of war had been
received from the two beligcrants
a proclamation defining the duties
| of the United States as q neutral
country, and the obligations of per-
sons residing within their territory
! to observe our laws and the laws o
| nations. The first proclamation wa!
followed by others as circumstance:
seemed to call for them. The people
thus made acquainted in advance
with their duties and obligations
have assisted i'm preventing all viola
tions of the neutrality of the UniteC
| States.
EXPENSES OF TIE GOVERNMENT
The estimate of the expenses OF
| the government for the fiscal year
are SIS, pa ,34G,0l less for the present
year than for the same items i'm 1868
and 1870. In this estimate, however,
is included 81, 23S, 27S, 81 for public
works heretofore begun under Con-
gressional provisions, and of which
only so much is asked as Congress
may choose TO give. The appropria-
ton for the same work for the pres.
ent fiscal year was $ll, 9S4 ,5lS,0S.
LOOKING TOWARD SPECIE PAYMENT.
The average value of gold as COM
pared with the national currency for
the whole of the year 1869 was l 81.
For eleven months of 1870 the same
relative value has been about lis.
The approach to q specie basis is very
gratifying, But the fact cannot he
denied that the instability of the
value of our currency is prejudicia!
to our prosperity, and tends to keep
up the prices TO the detriment OF
trade. The evils of o deprecated
and fluctuating currency are 80 great,
that now, when the premium on
gold has fallen so much, it would
seem that the time has arrived when,
by wise and prudent legislation,
Congress should look to a policy
which would place our currency al
par with gold at no distant day
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
The tax collected from the people
has been reduced more than eighty
millions of dollars per annum. By
steadiness in our present course there
is no reason why, in few years, the
national tax gatherer may not dis.
appear from the doors of the citizens
almost entirely, with the revenue
stamps dispensed by postmasters i'm
every community. BY tax upon
all its forms, and by wise adjust
ment of the tariff which will put a
duty only upon those articles which
we could dispense with, known as
luXuries, and on those which we use
more Of than we produce, revenue
enough may be raised, after a few
years of peace and consequent re-
duction of Indebtedness, to fulfil all
our obligations. A further reduction
of expenses, in addition 10 a reduc-
ton of interest account, may he
relied upon to make this practicable
REVENUE REFORM.
Revenue reform, if it means this,
has my earnest support. If it i'm
plies collection of all the revenue
for the support of the government,
for the payment of the principal and
interest of the public debt, pensions,
etc., by directly taxing the people,
then ] am against revenue reform,
and confidently believe the people
are with me. If it means failure to
provide the necessary means to
defray all expenses of the govern
ment, and thereby reputation of
the public debt and pensions, l am
still more opposed to such IL kind OF
revenue ireform. Revenue reform
has not been defined by any of its
advocates to my knowledge; but
seems TO be accepted as something
which is to supply every mans
wants without any cost or effort on
his part. A true revenue reform
eonnot he accomplished in a day; it
must be the work of national legis-
latiOn and of time. AS soon as the
revenues can be dispensed with, all
duties should be removed from coffee,
tea. and other articles Of universal
use not produced 10y ourselves. The
nnansSi fjag nf tho cnnntru ,,o