The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-09-06

faithfully redeemed the power of borrow.
ing money on the public credit, either
by paper issues or otherwise, should be
absolutely annulled. Neither the federal
government nor down to the smallest div
ision OF state should possess It. Its in
CONSISTENT with the perpetuity Of free re.
publican institutions. It Is the very life
blood OF aristocratic rule, for IL letters la
Dor as the bond slave Of capital. In modern
times u furnishes the aliment indispensi.
Die TO war; without II that most shocking
OF all national crimes and calamities would
be impossible.
Such comprehensive advances in civil
ization as are here suggested may be as
yet impracticable 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 pow.
erful nation, mighty in the numbers and
intelligence of our people and through
their deep and abiding Interest in their
countrys welfare, no external enemy dare
assault US. JUDGED, IT is manifest to upper
verted reason that the adoption Of an efiic-
tent curb upon official power is alone NEE
ded to render this great continent the
abode OF peace and Of human happiness on
a scale OF surprising magnitude. Even If
defensive wars be necessary evils, the
power Of borrowing money should not be
conceded on that account II must be adj
mltted that they can not be carried on
without vast outlay.
But money is not more necessary than
men. AS the government which wages
the war must furnish the warrior, why
can 1t not also furnish the
money, 10 feed clothe and
arm him y 1t is compelled to furnish
all the labor connected with his mainten-
ance and his belligerent operations.
Posterity canno. fight our battles nor
is 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 CO. is maxim not less
sound in political economy than in private
affairs. 1t adopted, peculation must cease
to pervert government, and war could no
longer lend legal sanctions to cruelty and
| oppression. If, as some contend, war Is
the norman condition Of mankind, posterity
| viii have its own wars to sustain, and it is
therefore unreasonable to burden posterity
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 markedly, on their own merits and
without a detailed vindication. Although
their principle is already ac-
cep,ed in substance by some Western
States in recent constitutions, their advo-
cacy must, in the main, be deferred until
the facts and follies of the pending can
vass shall have ceased to engross attention.
A few brief suggestions will, nevertheless,
be offered.
The power to borrow money Is mis-
chievious just in proportion as the govern
ment Is liberal in form and the nation is
prosperous. The very constitution of hui
man nature precludes any effectual regula-
ton of it, In a monarchy there may be
some supervision, but in a republic the
tendency TO abuse is absolutely incor-
rigable. No human skill can devise, or
human diligence put in force, adequate
checks upon its excuses. IL allowed to
exist at all, il must inevitably be abused,
and the abuse must progress to an extent
intolerable. The mere burden of taxation
induced by it is the least evil among its
foul progeny. Fraud and corruption be-
come virtues under its influences. Stat.
ues to be set up as objects of popular rev.
erence, and similar honors have been pro-
posed for its cultivstors; and If it be not
interrupted will hereafter be decreed to
them.
A Government restrained within the
limits Of absolute necessity may
be supported by moderate
taxation. Still the nature and amount of
the taxes imposed should ways be patent. |
They should be plain visible aud palpable |
The deceitful and fundamental methods
which have been devised 10 draw money
from the pockets Of the people without
their consciousness Of the imposition should |
be abolished. Duties and excuses for re-
venue belong to this class. Such future
methods of obtaining money should be
known only through the prosecutions |
against criminals.
The associated difficulty Of sustaing the |
Government under such system Is un real |
The public expenses need not be great, and |
the necessity Of raising iall aevenue by |
taxation at the very moment Of expenfi- |
ture or. before, is susceptible of being |
utilized and made source Of great pub |
lie benefit.
However true it may be in certain
view Of the matter, that all taxes are ulti-
mately borne by the labOriug classes, they
are, nevertheless, in the first instance, coll
leeted from those who possess property;
""u ~ W tue uHiioTm usage, every uoIIar
required for the expenses Of Government
should be at once exacted from the tax
payer, a powerful class would be enlisted
in the duty Of guarding against official ex-
travagance. Government mortgages upon
labor, the most safe and desirable Of in
vestments, would cease, and in their place
offrighted capitalists could contemplate
only the approaching gatherer. In self.
defense they would perform public duty
hitherto neglected. Legislative corrup.
tion would be effectively repressed under
this keen scrutiny.
No man whose record was tanned would
pass the ordeal OF an election.
Long and patient study has convinced
me that on the prac,icability of establish
ing precisely this popular surveillance
rests the last hopes Of our Republic. "Pat-
ernal government is not necessarily mis-
chievous in monarchy, but in Republic
based upon universal suffrage it can not
fail to foster innumerable evils. 1t Is, in
fact, "the sum OF all villainies.' The Gov.
eminent which devotes some powers TO
putting money in mems pockets must
employ Others in extortion. The policy
involves continuous career Of rapine and
favoritism
My deep aversion 10 all these things has
induced me to encourage the movement
which you represent, and doubtless my
name will be presented for your considera-
ton as nominee In that event l beg