Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-06-03

mont is graphing with today. have no.
ticed in some Of the papers q tone Of exulta-
ton that this year, the amount OF taxable
property comes up, in some places, 10 double
and in some cases even more than double
that OF previous years, and this without any
material increase Of wealth II makes me sad,
because it reveals that men have hitherto
been systematically lying about their taxable
property do not wish to have IL under
stood that think Vermont is worse in this
respect than other states-nay, think she is
better than most others-but If such things be
possible In the Green Mountain state, what
may we not expect of some others? When
an officer sworn TO assess the taxes feels JUS
titled in rating his neighbors property at
one-half its real value, it becomes quite easy
for him to assess his own at one-third or one
fourth, or even to omit il altogether With
out presuming TO imply that can fathom all
the subtle intricacies and profound mysteries
Of Vermont tax law, feel justified in say
ing that the past practice in the light of pres
ent revelations, appears corrupt and danger
Gus TO private virtue and public righteousness.
How long do you suppose nations integri-
ty could stand such strain ? Our little mu-
inequalities are the miniature republics of
which state republics and the national repub
lie are composed. II men allow themselves
to play fast and loose with their consciences
and the eternal Right in town affairs, it will
not trouble them much in national affairs.
There is no safety for the nation against all
the evils which can affiict nations, except in
absolute justice and the eternal Right. Your
neighbours swearing TO falsehood is no JUS
tifcation for your doing it. Your patriotic
duty is not 10 keep still about It aud try 10
get up sides with him by swearing to another
lie. No but to expose his lie. This would
be patriotic; just as patriotic, in fact, as il
when your neighbor drew his sword or shot
ted his gun to threaten the peace or life of
the nation, or state, you should draw your
sword or shot your gun TO oppose him. This
lying to evade just taxation seems to work
peacefully enough for time under certain
circumstances. Butchange the circumstances.
Suppose we have wave of commercial de-
preston come over our prosperity, and sup
pose the hand-to-mouth multitude are hun
CRY, with no means TO procure food--not on
ly possible, but very probable event-how
long do you suppose the consciences of the
multitude would deter them from helping
themselves out Of the property Of those who
hesitated not to evade Just taxation by swear
ing falsely about their property? l regard
that man as an enemy to the very idea Of the
republic, and recreant TO the only sure foun-
dation Of national stability, who refuses TO
bear his fair-proportional share of the public
taxes. 1t matters but little what that mans
religious professions may be,-he may be
member of this communion or any other
but in my estimation he is anything but
religious man. He may trust in what he
pleases, ,-chariots, horses, heavy artillery,
science, philosophy, or a sound creed, or any
thing else,-but he is not trusting in any
thing which can place him on the side of the
eternal Right. Nay, but so true rs God is, Oh
the side of those influences which work the
corruption of private morals and the over
throw of nations. Soldiers OF the republic
let you consciences, braced and quickened by
contact with the teachings, life and spirit OF
the God-sent Teacher, the man of Nazareth,
let your consciences so quickened, be the senti-
nels to guard against the approach of this in
sidious and dangerous enemy, but who is no
foreign foe.
Another thing: One of the most pitiable
spectacles to be seen among a great people is
this periodic scramble for the spoils of politi-
cal success. The way in which the civil SER
vice of this republic is administered is hu
initiating disgrace, and it will never be better
so long as the public offices are made the re-
ward to be paid for political services rendered
so long, in short, as the business Of the ma
ton is regarded as the legitimate spoil of the
successful political party. There is no more
corrupting influence at work in our political
system to-day, than this vicious custom of fill
ing offices of trust and responsibility with
men whose highest recommendation to Office
is not intellectual and moral fitness and Ell
cheney, but political party fdelity-which may
mean the most corrupting kind of service
This is a strain to which our political system
is being put, which will yet try mems souls ;
and, II ii does not make the nations business
the football Of party and prey TO much evil,
~ n - n n L n
there already. Men who have periled their
lives for the nations integrity will wisely set
their faces like a flint against this corruptng
system, and use all their influence TO have
the business of the nation conducted on busi-
ness principles-by trained men, and not by
mere political wire-pullers, who are thus fAs-
tened on the Yitals of the nation as a reward
not of patriotism, but of political huckstering,
often OF a very questionable character There
is no sound business man in the country who
would consent to have his own business con-
Quoted for one month on the principle on
which the whole business of this mighty ma
ton is now being conducted. But there Dal
come day of reckoning. If all history
teaches anything, it teaches that this nation
must either consent TO abandon its corrupt
and corrupting practices in this regard, or see
the integrity of the nation again imperiled-
our public work thrown into the hands of
mere jobbers, instead of being presided over
by high minded statesmen and patriots.
We are on the top wave of prosperity to-
day-always a more dangerous place than the
valley of adversity-and we are apt to think
we shall dEiodys be prosperous but when a
nation Of fifty million of people have to look
upon their senate squabbling for weeks over
few appointments to office, without any
guiding principle except the base one that ito
the victors belong the spoils, then fear our
prosperity must be followed by an adversely
which we have cause to dread Again say,
when a hungry mob turns its famshed atten-
ton towards those who have fattened, it may
be- on the weaknesses OF their fellows, that
mob will not long hesitate about helping It.
self wherever help is 10 be found. Our insti-
tutions have not been fairly tested till we
have gone through the hungry stomach test
that we have not known yet at least not to
any great extent, but the late Pittsburgh exhi.
bition of unreasoning mob ferocity may give
some idea Of what men may do under certain
not very improbable circumstances. And
legislators, and all who wish their country
well, should wisely use their influence TO break
down and discredit our present disreputable
custom of fastening political henohmen on
the vitals of the nation. Let the civil bust
ness Of the country be done by skilfully
trained men, whose efficiency and honesty
alone recommend them.
And it seems to me that men who have risk,
ed their lives for the nation, might wisely in
terest themselves in the preparation of the
whole people for the intelligent discharge oi
the duties of citizenship. l do not think We
can regard ourselves, as a nation, in healthy
way politically, so long as there are any con
siderable number of the people in gross ig
norance. Our very theory Of government
presupposes more or less enlightened intelli
gence on the part of those who are TO take al
interest in it but without stopping to go in
to exact statistics, no sensible man will deny,
that a dangerous experiment was entered in
to when the ballot was freely given to thu
densely ignorant masses of the South whom
the issues of the war made free before thu
law. shall not argue that we could have
consistently refused them the ballot nor viii
say that many of them were not as well fit
ted to intelligently use it, as numbers of meI
who had never been denied the privilege, botl
/ North aud gouth still all thia doaa not max