Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-03-01
Down WITH THE TAxss.

The depression III Dusliies VI every
sort throughout the country renders 1t
especially incumbent on Congress to
do something at once toward . reduo-
ton of the present enormous tax
levies. They are the load under which
trade and manufactures vainly attempt
to bear up, and the active energies Of
the country can never have fair play
until a portion Of the burden Is 10
moved. While this fact is universally
recognized out Of Congress, tho mem
bers Of that body seem disposed 10
ignore it altogether. The trifiing re-
duction Of $50, 600, 900 for the present
fiscal year, suggested by the Ways and
Means Committee, Is simply tampering
with q matter involving the general
prosperity of the country. There
must be real relief offered; but there
is nothing real or apparently sincere
in a petty reduction like the above.
Congressman should be statesmen
though, unfortunately, most Of them
are not; and they should be able to
appreciate that, while the necessities
of the Government demanded excessive
taxation, the patriotism of the people
yielded cheerfully to the pressure ;
but that now, when the necessity has
passed, the demand should no longer
be made. Patriotism has nothing to
do with the matter any further; the
Government has no need Of the ex-
cessive drainage it is making upon
every department of industry and
finance, and the pressure Is continued
only upon q false assumption Of what
is due to our foreign bondholders. The
determination of the Administration to
discharge the immense war debt Of the
country in 10 years Is one that Is not
only wanting in good policy, but 1t is
uncalled for and undesired by even
those in whose supposed interest 1t is
made. The foreign bondholders are
in no haste to be paid, nor Is 1t just or
wise to compel a single generation to
pay q debt that was incurred for the
benefit Of all the generations Of Amer
leans who are to succeed to the bless
ings of the Republic. 1t was enough
that the young blood Of to-day stood
the heat and brunt of the battle for the
nations life, without compelling 1t to
struggle on into old age under q rate
Of taxes that was alone bearable ct n
time when the country had no other
resources for maintaining itself intact.
" War taxes should not be peace
taxes" and the sword turned into a
ploughshare should not be hlndered In
the furrow by exactions that take from
the arm that holds it all strength, and
from the will that guides it all energy.
The business of 4 nation Is not carried
on out of any desire to afford to those
| embarked IN its simple amusement. 1t
Is a serious matter to most men, and
Its incentive to them is its solid profits.
Take away those profits so as to render
business unremunerative and 1t Ian
guishes. Capital seeks ~secluslon only
when it will not otherwise pay. It Is
not paying now. Its Legitimate returns
are all absorbed by the desire Of the
Administration to pay so many mil
lions of dollars per month to creditors
who do not demand payment, and who
do not want it. This may be a good
thing for the Administration, but It is
a bad one for the prosperity Of the
country, and Congress ought to know
it; and those members who do not
heed this advice should not be renom-
mated, and if they are, will undoubt-
edly be defeated at the polls.