Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-18

ten years TINS country has not made
well-considered step toward that desir-
able end, but to all appearance, is as
far from it as at the end Of the war.
Mr.. Bradford is evidently in favor of
an income tax, though he does not
stop to discuss any details Of revenue,
but deyotes himself to establishing the
necessity IF a change in the method of
administering the Treasury Depart
ment Of the Government. He pays a
glowing tribute to the financial skill
aud ability Of Sir Robert Peel. Yet,
he says:
i believe we have had in public life
men as much superior to Sir Robert
Peel in all the qualities of a statesman,
as he was to the average Congressman
or member of Parliament. But our
organized destruction of individuality
made their lives a failure. Uniform
mediocrity is a naturalresult of the ap-
plication of Procrustes' bed.
In order to illustrate his idea Of the
deficiency to our method of admins
tering the Treasury Department and
the superiority Of the British Govern
ment in that respect, he recurs to GER
tain financial crises in the history of
both governments and gives US some
account of them. Sir Robert Peel
spent the autumn and winter Of 1912
in maturing his plan of finance. On
the llth of March, 1912, he laid it be-
fore the House Of Commons in speech
of great ability. TIE debate on the
income tax bill lasted eight nights.
Every stage was strenuously contested
and as many rs sixteen divisions were
had, not reckoning motions of adjourn
ment. This, to MIR. Bradford, is full
of instruction. Inst ad Of waiting for
the actual meeting Of Parliament with
out the slightest inception Of a fnan-
cial plan and thus giving to prepare
ton the time which should be devoted
t discussion and clucidation of prin-
ciples, postponing the most important
measure till the very last days Of a
session,we have the highest trained off,
cial in the kingdom, spending the
whole year IN evolving a de-
tailed and comprehensive plan,
ready to be placed before Par
lament on its coming together;
instead Of a bold written report, fat
tered at once by the impossibility Of
blaming Congress for past short-com-
iugs and by inability to enforce any
recommendation for the future, we have
an oral exposition embracing tie sub
Jet in al its parts, reviewing the mis-
takes and successes and the lessons Of
the past, balancing the considerations
and probabilities Of the present and fu-
fure, and paving the way to debate.
Then follows the debate itself. Mr..
Bradford adds No doubt there is
vast deal Of talk in the British Parlia-
of which despotisms, whether Of indi-
yiduals or maiorities, are apt to be i'm.
patient, and from it RESULTS great deal
IF delay in important matters. But
tins IN politics Is a far less evil than
precipitation. Violent and sudden
changes are always injurious even in
the case Of undoubted improvement.
How much more SO with measures
which at best are empirical and Of IN
certain advantage"
Mr.. Bradford illustrates the Ameri-
can method Of legislation and the evils
Of it in the following mann, T:
How many men in this country
know anything of the nature, the ar
gumnts for or against, or the probable
effects Of the Civil Rights and
Force hiliss What individual chardc-
ter or talent Is identified with either Of
them: Hatched IN Committee-rooms,
under the stimulus Of party discipline,
we ind them borne on by party ma
iorItY determined to carry them by
brute force and the gag. The minOri-
ty have No means Of resistance except
n frivolous motions which consume
time by a tedious and reiterated count
ing Of the House, the contest being re.
duccd to one Of purely physical endur-
ancc. Do not, beg Of you, jump to
the nasty conclusion that it is merely
a question Of difference 10 nen. We
viii return to that IN a moment"
The points which Mr.. Bradford pro.
poses to make by his reference to the
management Of the revenue depart
ment in Great Britain is that the
finances are treated as a whole; that
the measures Of the present are framed
with ference at ouccto the astand the
future, and that when any object 10 be
attained has been once agreed upon, it
IS kept steadily in view by successive
and even generations; that
being placed under the control Of one
mind they receive such previous prep
aration and coherent form that they
can be subjected to close and definite
debate; that this combined power and
responsibility tend Of themselves TO
produce an mfailng succession Of
fnauciers OF the highest ability which
the Kingdom affo,ds, and finally that
the degree of publicity and the force Of
personal character are such that when
a fierce struggle with any class interest
becomes necessary the whole might -cf
an advanced and enlightened public
opinion can be brought to bear.
We shall reserve for another issue
more directly relating to the
American manner Of legislation.
Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR, Of
Maryland, comes out as usual quite
early with is nomination for Demo
cratic candidate in the next President !
iaI race. His fayoritc is Jno. ". Gar
rctt, President Of the Baltimore and |
Ohio Railroad, whom he regards as the |
most prominent and efficient exponent |