The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-07

the war, the taxes are four times greater
than they were in 1860. Then taxation,
federal and local, was $490 head; now
it is 1851. The government consumes
every year larger share of the national
earnings than the whole people are able to
save in prosperous years for all new invest
ments; and to more than European bur-
dens," we have conjoined IAN ignorance
land incompetency in dealing with them
(which is entirely our own" The
pecuniary sacrifices of the people
are not measured by the receipts into the
treasury, but they are enormously ag-
gravated by unskiiful methods of collec
ton. Excessive taxation moreover tends
to create "a governmental class" which
become great power in the elections, and
threatens us with still more serious evils,
One other great cause of our commercial
misfortunes is to be found in the imp0ver-
ishment of the south. That is a region
| FIVE times as large as the British Isles.
1t produces four tenths of our exported
commodities Specie excepted), and the
most important raw materials OF our
domestic manufactures 1t is our best
market, and the source OF an immense part
of our commercial transactions. Yet that
region has been completely paralyzed By
ignorant and corrupt government and
enormous taxation. The burden Of the
taxes has in some cases coufscated the en-
tire income of property; and long after the
system of administration became abh0rred
by all intelligent and virtuous people it
was maintained by the favor and patron.
''age Of the federal government, by the
moral coercion of its prestige, by the
THE standing menace and occasional eXer-
''cise of its military power" Thisis palmer
speech than we are accustomed to hear in
the message of a governor OF New \ Ork
but it is the exact truth, and it is fifty told
Finally the governor comes 10 the con-
sideration of the false remedies which have
been propose for our national mlSiOrtunCs
and he attacks the initiation theory with {
vigor and ingenuity that will eXtort the
admiration even of his political opponents
He shows how vain are the fancies OF thos,
who believe that an issue of mere paper
money would give even temporary slim
ulous to trade, or that under the present
circumstances it could result in anything
except general disaster, Nor does he be.
licve that the sober sense Of the commuui
"pre1ominates among the people revolt
lat financial quackery. 1t is no longe
susceptible to fattering illusions which
have exploded auid the wrecks of indj
"vidnal fortunes and private prosperity
st is excessively incredulous. 1t de
"mands sound measures, such as comment
themselves to the Judgment of the hes
, ''intellects and the best experience. An
the first of these sound measures is re
sumption.
These are topics 10 which the state Q
New York has a greater interest than an
] other part OF the union, They touch he
welfare more nearly than any question o
local Observation-Disclosures nearly tina,
canal frauds, or municipal problems-an
! it was proper that the governor shout
dwell upon them as he has done with a
: possible earnestness. In the task of bring
! ing the country back to sound principles {
l government and finance, 1t should be tn
: privilege of New York to lead the way
f Whether Gov Tlden's party is dispose
t to march in the path he indicates, or tn
. best hopes Of the nation lie with reforme
Republicauism it is perhaps too soon "
to decide. But the governor seems
: have struck the key note.