Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-11-17
THE GREAT EVIL.

right statesmen, now living. Below
will be found synopsis of u speech
he delivered in Brooklyn, in that State,
a few days before the election, that
will richly repay every man to read il.
The great truths he utters are easily |
understood though expressed in superb
language. His speech was almost en-
tirely devoted to the theme of financial
mismanagement and government ex.
travagancc. lie showed that the in
tercst on the vast national debt was
an inferior burden TO that imposed by |
bad management and unnecessary cx-
penditurc. For len years we have
been cxpening s65, 1000, 600 per year in
excess of our necessities, which would
have paid in that time $500, 900, 900 OF
the debt and interest
The most baleful effect of this taxa
ton is shown in its destruction OF com
merce and business. II is the real
source of the distress felt in our work
shops and in all the fields of industry.
A tax upon the expectation of our pro
ducts would be 30 hurtful that our con
stitution forbids its imposition by Con
grcss. Yet we find that the taxation
made by our debt and expenditures is
Of the same nature and works the same
evils. As have shown, ii falls heavily
upon the transportation Of the produce
Of the west. In great degree states.
manship in this country must concern
itself mainly about this movement Of
property. This quality, called value,
means simply thing in its right place
in the place where il is needed. III
this could be brought about in our
country without cost, all our burdens
and troubles would disappear, As we
cannot do this, we must get as near to
ii as we can. All taxation is hostile
TO this purpose, and particularly that
kind of cumulative taxation which now
hurts the west and then reacts upon
us by depriving us Of our customers.
The produce men of the city know
how disastrous this obstruction to com.
merce has been in numerous instances
in the past They have struggled for
cheap transportation byall the methods
known TO the commerce, mechanics
and science. They have appealed to
the Legislature for relief, and il has
been given as far as that body could
give relief But all these efforts to re-
store activity to commerce, vigor to in
dustry, hope and comfort TO labor,
have been foiled by that policy at
Washington that increases the cost of
government, prevents the due pay
ment of our debts and misapplics the
proceeds of taxation. Look unto all
the channels of commerce, all work
shops and fields of industry, and you
will find.
THE HEAVY HAND OF GOVERNMENT
crushing ont their life and vigor. 1t
is clear to every mind that thinks, that
so long as taxes crush out tho life of
labor and commerce we shall have to
bear the load of personal and public
debt While this is the state of affairs
wild theories will be hathced about
our currency. Debt has always been
prolific of schemes TO make wealth
without labor. In one OF IIogarth's
admirable caricatures be gives n scene
in debtors prison, where one man,
who could not face his creditors, drops
from his pocket a scheme for paying
the British national debt, while anoth-
er unfortunate is absorbed in his efforts
to turn lead into gold And so it has
been in the history of all nations, un-
der all forms OF government, that debt
engenden all devices from the old plan
of clipping coin down to the fctions of
printed paper Strip off disguises,
make plain all tricks of speeches, turn
deaf ear to all protestation of honor
look into the facts of public affairs, and
you will find that every man who has,
without necessity, added one dollar
to the national debt is an author of the
theories of reputation and of base
money. Just so far as the administra-
tion has failed to pay off the debt OF
the country by using the taxes i'm
posed for that purpose Tor unwlse or
unconstitutional schemes, born Of the
theory Of Capitalization, just so far are
they responsible for all schemes which
violate the public faith and cheat labor
with deprecated currency. The
distinguished leader who speaks in be-
half of his party turns away from these
topics TO talk about
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
and finds fault with us for not doing
the same thing. If he is asked if there
is anything wrong about them, he says,
"Ob, no; they are all right !" Then
let us look into our finances, which are
all wrong. This desire to talk about
everything but the condition of the