Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-05-19
A CANCER IN OUR SYSTEM

among most Amcricnnss thnt however
grievous the burdens Of taxation may
have become IN this country since the
late civil war, they arc really light as
compared 10 those laid on their sub
iccts by tho great monarchics Of Eu-
rope. 1t is customary among our po.
litical orators 10 profess u profound
sympathy for the grooming masses
who in England and on the Continent
are doomed to see so large part of
their substance put under contribu-
ton to maintain civil lists, pay pen
sions, support immense standing ar
mics and dcfiay the annual interest of
public debts.
In point Of fact, If regard bc had to
the comparative weight Of taxation in
the United States and in these "cffete
monarchies, all such expressions of
sympathy arc entirely misdrectcd. SO
profigate have our expenses become
under the reign of paper money, and
under that growing decline of public
morality which has marked the long
ascendency of the Republican party,
that to-day the people of the United
States are the most tax.riddcn people
among the civilized nations OF the
world. A brief comparative view of
public expenditures IN our country and
in the leading countries of Europe,
will set this fact in clear and striking
manner.
In comparing the burden of taxa
ton in the United States with burdens
of taxation in countries like England,
France, the German Empire, or Aus
tria, il is obvious that we must include
under the former head not only the
taxes raised by the Federal Govern
ment, but also those raised by the
several States, since it is only by the
cooperation of both our National and
State Governments that We undertake.
to manage the complex interests which
in more centralized governments are
managed with less distribution of
political powers.
Recurring to the year 1870, the date
of our last census, we find that during
that year the amount OF taxes raised
by the Federal Government was, omit
ting fractions, 1896, 200, 900; that the
amount of taxes then raised by the
State Governments for purposes OF
State administrations, was s68, ,0OO, 900,
and to these immense sums s2l0,00O,-
900 were added for county, township,
and city taxation, making an astound-
ing aggregate of s674, 10000 raised in
the Uuited States during that year to
defray the expenditures of Federal,
State, and Municipal Government. As
the total population of the United
States in 1870 was 3s,0O0,OO0, il fol
lows that the rate of taxation ut that
epoch was considerably in excess of
s17 per capita, without regard to age,
sex, color, or previous condition Of
servitude.' If regard be had simply
to National and State taxation, cxclu-
sive of county, township and city lew
les, the rate OF taxation on each man,
woman and child in the United States
during the vcr~ 1870 VOC 80 ol .'cr-
n-Pta-
Now, according TO the statistical la
bles of "Appletons Annual Cyclope-
dia," aud other authorities for the year
1871, il appears that the population of
Great Britain was then put down at
81 900, 600 souls, and that the annual
for the British Govern.
ment for the year 1870 were 1914 ,00O,-
900, or at the rate OF sl1.09 per cap
ita The population of France at the
same time was $4,000, 900, and her an.
nual expenditures s4l1, 100000, or at
the rate of sll.41 per capita. III is
proper to note that the expenditures
of France for this year include a large
Of the indemnity paid TO
Germany, and therefore this sum
greatly exceeds her average annual
revenues derived from taxation) The
of the German empire in
1870 was 100000, and the annual
expense of the government, greatly
swoller..by the recent Franco-German
war, were s3S3,0O0, 900, or 1894 per
capita. The population Of Austria at
the same date was 10000, 900, and her
annual expenditures are set down at
s26l, 900, 900, or 81 22 per capita.
1t will thus be seen that the rate Of
taxation in the United States is in ex-
cess Of the rates prevailing in the
"down.troddcnh countries Of Europe,
notwithstanding the fact these coun.
tries are burdcned with debts repre-
senting the growth of centuries, and
that the fruits Of industry among
them are consumed by vast standing
armies and expensive civil establish
ments. ...sa r 4r-
How large part Of our burdens Is
produced by the extravaganza of the
present administration may be seen in
the single item of our army expendi-
lures. Our army establishment in
1870 was 10000 men, and the expen-
ses of the War Department were $751;
man Al tho somo rate If oxnendi.
tnro tho Rr;tisb army ~ ia 0od mon
rould cost saes 06o 0o0 ar ann
nearly eoual to the whole ANIMAL ex-
nenscs of tbe p,;tisb cmn;re a. the
Same rate of cyncnditure The army of
France with pcacc estahlishme1t q,
a95 ooO mon wauld cos, sso7 0oo oo0
or sum nearly double tba, Of The
whole ANIMAL cynend;tures Of Frame
sor ali nurnoses Al n similar rata the
army df tbe German emnirc comn,.;s
inn ioo mo men would cos, more ihan
dosble S The whole annual cxpenses of
thc aorernmen,. md Tho Austrian
srmv of 9i5 Ooo man would COS, saG5 !.
ooo 4oO or s90i ooo 400 more than
,Lo ovnonsos q, ,ho arstr;on Cavern
mont tpr ali nnrnoses whatsoever
w. PaI III e,..e,