Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-09-12

furnishes the aliment indispensable to war.
Without that the most shocking of all ma
tional crimes and calamities would be impos-
sible. Such comprehensive advances in
civilization as are here suggested NAV
be as yet impractcaible in the old
world. If so, the fact only proves that ours
is the high and holy mission of first making
them. Separated by wide ocean from any
powerful nation, mighty in the numbers and
Intelligence of our people and through their
deep and abiding interest in their country's
welfare, no external enemy dare assault u.s.
Indeed, it is manifest to unperverted reason
that the adoption of efficient curbs upon
official power is alone needed to render this
great continent the abode of peace and of
human happiness on a scale of surprising
magnitude. Even if defensive wars be nee
essary evils, the power of borrowing money
should not be conceded on that account. 1t
must be admitted that they cannot be car
ried on without vast outlays, but money is
not more necessary than men. AS the gen
Grafton which wages war must furnish the
warrior, why can it not also furnish the
money to feed, clothe and arm him? 1t is
compelled to furnish all the labor connected
with his maintenance and his belligerent
operations. Posterity cannot fight our bat
ties, norris there any necessity that posterity
should pay the cost of them. Our own young
men must do the fighting /; it is equally in
the power of our old men to do the pay
ing. PAY as you go" is maxim
not less sound in political economy than
in private affairs. II adopted, speculation
must cease to pervert government, and war
could no longer lend legal sanction to cruel
ty and oppression. And if, as some contend,
war is the normal condition of mankind, pos
terity will have its own wars to sustain, and
it is therefore unreasonable to burthen pos
terity with debt for the cost of ours. Deeply
interested in suppressing these ideas, the
rulers of the people will, of course, treat
them with derision. Still it must suffice for
the present thus to submit them nakedly on
their own merits, and without a detailed vim
dication. Although the principle is already
accepted in substance by some Western
States, in recent constitutions, their advo-
cacy must in the main be deferred until the
facts and foibles of the pending canvass
shall have ceased to engross attention.
few brief suggestions will nevertheless be
offered. The power to borrow money is
mischievous just in proportion as the Gov
ernment is liberal in form and the nation is
prosperous. The very constitution of hu
man nature precludes any effectual reg
ulation of it. In monarchy there
may be some supervision, but in republic
the tendency to abuse it is absolutely incor-
rigible. No human skill can devise, or hu-
man diligence put in force, adequate checks
upon its exercise. If allowed to exist at all,
it must inevitably be abused, and the abuse
must progress to an extent absolutely intol-
erable. The mere burden of taxation in
duced by it is the least evil among its foul
progeny. Fraud and corruption become vir-
tues under its influences. Statues to be
set up as objects of popular reverence and
similar honors have been proposed for its
cultivators, and if it be not extirpated, will
hereafter be decreed to them. Government
restrained within the limits of absolute
necessity may be supported by moderate
taxation. Still the nature and amount of
taxes imposed should always be potent.
They should be plain, visible and palpable.
The deceitful and fraudulent methods which
have been devised to draw money from the
pockets of the people without their con-
sciousness of the imposition, should be
abolished. Duties and excises for rev.
enue belong to this class. Such methods of
obtaining money should be known only
through the prosecutions against crimi-
nails. The apparent difficulty of sustaining
the Government under such system is un-
real. The public expenses need not be
greater, and the necessity of raising all rev.
enue by taxation at the very moment of eX-
penditure, or before it, is susceptible of
being utilized and made a source of great
public benefit. However true it may be, in
a certain view of the matter, that all taxes
are ultimately borne by the laboring classes,
they nevertheless in the first instance are
collected from those who possess property.
If by the uniform usages every dollar re-
| quired for the expenses of Government
| should be at once eXacted from the tax
| payer, powerful class would be enlisted in
| the duty of guarding against official eXtrav-
| agance. Government mortgages upon labor,
the most safe and desirable of investments,
would cease, and in their place affrighted
capitalists could contemplate only the ap-
| preaching taX-gathcrer. In self-defense
| they would perform public duty hitherto
| neglected.; legislative corruption would be
effectually opposed under this keen scrutiny
| no man whose record was tainted would
pass the ordeal OF an election.
| Long and patient study has convinced me
hat ho faIi of obi
cisely this popular surveillance rest the last
hopes of our Republic. Paternal government
is not necessarily mschievous in monarchy
but in Republic based upon universal suf
frage it cannot fail to foster innumerabl'
evils. 1t is, in fact, the "sum of all villain
ies." A government which devotes some o
its powers to putting money in men,
pockets" must employ others in extortion
The policy involves a continuous career o
favoritism.
My deep aversion 10 all these things ha
induced me to encourage the movemen
which you represent, and doubtless my nam
will be presented for your consideration as
nominee. In that event l beg leave respect
fully to withdraw it. The strength of EN-
phasis which has marked the languag
employed by some gentlemen
be my excuse for the remarks whic
follow. Success should, of course, be an ot
ject in the present condition of affairs. 9th
er leadership will afford better prospect O
obtaining it. A choice can be made fror
many equally reliable as reformers, probabl
more capable of public office, and yet les
likely to combine formidable elements of OF
position. l could not consent to subscrib
to platform containing either professio
of faith, or recantation of errors and
promise of amendment. The existing prat
tice requires this, and that Justice may nc
be abruptly set aside. Love of that absolut
independence which cannot now be mail
! tanned in public office, a desire to promot
: your success instead of impeding it, and
belief that can thus best perform the ind
vidual caSus quota of public service, hay
created in my mind an unalterable resolve
remain in private station. Yours truly,
CHAs. O'CoNoR.