The Portland daily press., 1870-05-25
THE PRE SS.
Wednesday, Morning, May rs, 1870.


Congress does well in turning its attention
to the subject of taxation. The country will
watch its proceedings with unaffected delight.
and if it modiles the laws so as to afford an
preciable relief, will credit that body with be.
ing useful as we'll as ornamental, and appre-
ciate it accordingly.
The people of this generation do not expect
to reap the entire cropol benefits arising from
the squelching of the Rebellion, and begin 10
inquire why they should settle the eh'he
bill. On the other hand they do expect tna'
their children and their cbildren's children
will share the same in even 'uiief nie"'
ure than is vouchsafed to them, ana Wohuer
if there is ANYTHING unbecoming In transmit
t;no small norton OF the national debt to
nosteritv. alongside the privileges and bless
mos of which it represents in part, the price.
The men and women of to-day have given
for the purpose of reducing traitors 10 subjec-
ton and making certain the permanent es-
Enlistment of free government, what com.
ing generations can never give. The empty
sleeve, the seals and wounds, the shattered
constitutions of those who perilled all upon
the field of battle, represent one class of bur-
dens from which our descendants viii happi-
ly be exempt. Nor will they suffer the I'M
utterable agony of seeing their fathers, hus-
bands brothers, sons and other kindred de-
part for the scene of conflict to return no
more nor experience the abiding sorrow that
comes of broken hearts and desolated homes.
Surely those who sit in the back seats can
have no cause of complaint, if the cOntribu-
ton box is handed down the aisles OF time,
so that they can contribute their mite to-
wards the extinction OF debt contracted in
cause which cost their fathers treasures
dearer far than money, and sacrifices which
words cannot express. 1t may help to re-
mind them of the perils through which their
fathers passed, while the present relief which
postponement will afford those fathers
while yet in the flesh, will be infinitely more
satisfactory than any quantity Of Fourth o
July orations celebrating their virtues and
patriotism after they become embodied spirits.
Weare not sensible of any prejudice against
posterity, and would oppose any movement
calculated to wrong it. But we go in for Q
fair deal, and respectfully submit that mas
much as it will not hesitate to appropriate
fair share of all the blessings we transmit, SC
they ought not baulk at liquidatng small
portion of the unpaid balance of the money
price.
In less than ten years the American peopl
have raised and paid more than now remain
unpaid, but in doing it they have so crampe,
and impaired their energies that it seems crue
not to relieve them of part of the remanin.
burden. With the ever increasing numbers O
the future and its far amper resources, ii can
assist the present without sensible detrimen
to itself; and we consequently approve the
movement to reduce taxation and hope thai
Congressman in apportioning The amount be
tween the Now and Then, will regard their
own constituents with as much favor as they
do.the unborn constituents of the eloquen
Bunkums who shall occupy their seats few
vears hence