The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-03
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

RELIEVE the undue burden on real estate,
and cheaper living to every family OF moderate
means is secured. How can the relief come
more justly than by the taxation of large IN
comes from srOcks and bonds, which now cheat
the tax-gatherer altogether?-New York World.
WE do not suppose that Mr.. Blalne's PROPOSE
tion is to he taken in earnest. He puts it forth,
no doubt. merely to set people to thinking, to
remind his fellow-eifizens of his continued ex-
istence, ana to show them that the ~dTudgery Of
his present work has not dulled the edge of d
mind that Is restless and remarkably Ingenious.
New York Sun.
WE cannot hermit the sovereignty to be da-
stroyed by IA pedantic adherence to the CUSTOM
airy form of eXerting 1t. We must remember
that the authority of Congress over all the
Territories is absolute. 1t can govern Utah
without legislatures, or even, if the worst comes.
without elections, as well as it can Alaska.
New York Tribune.
IF eccentricity be any evidence OF genius Mr..
Blame may fairly claim to be a man OF that
stamp. From the principle UpOn which he pro-
| poses to distribute the proceeds of fenera, taxa
tion among the States he might ascend by easy
stages to the equally philanthropicil scheme OF
a federal distribution of cradles and babyjump-
ers.- Brooklyn Eagle.
NECESSARILY Mr.. Blaine's letter would breed
corruption IN the bosom of that provincial viz
tue. and, as a Kentucky critic fairly says, be ''an
incentive TO eXtraVaganct. n cause OF corruption,
"A motive TO Internal schemes and jobs, such as
no government ever provided to mislead it's own
people" On every ground OF good policy it is
an ab0minable prnject.-Chicag0 Times.
IT is contrary to public policy that the law
should overlook dishonesty even in the form Of
imprudence or ex!ravagance on the part of q
man in debt. The law should assume that every
man can pay his debts. If he cannot, and asks
The law to release him from their obligation, tie
least that the law can do Is to compel him TO
prove, In q conclusive manner, that his incd-
pacity to pay has not bfen TerBlessly or dishon-
estly brought abnut.-New York Times
~PoLYGAMYis already a crime in every Terri
tory by congressional and in every State by
local legislation. Congress has ample anlAcrtty
TO suppress it in the Territories, and every
State has fun power 10 prohibit il wivhfn It's
wv hnr6aTS The nYiatnnpp of the evil TN tha
Territories is due not to any lack of power in
Congress to deal with it. but TO the fact that
the authority which nnQUestlonhblY belongs to
Congress mas not been successfully exercised.
New York Herald.
THE right construction should be pnt upon the
buying and selling Of cultures" SO that business
men attracted by the prospect of making profit
able Investments at tho ''bucket shops may not
be led to consider the business one whit less i'm
moral than gaming at faro or poker. Men who
claim to he good citizens, and to teplnrP the OK
istence OF so much gambling" exhibit ii strange
kind of consistency in indul2ing the practice
which rnined A. *, Bnnham and broke the
Vicksburg bank.-I.oulsvilie Commercial.
MIR, BLAGNE's letter pits before the nation
this pregnant question: shall we tax houses
and lands in preference 10 whisky; shall va
abolish the tax on liquors, of which M nan
need pay one cent unless he chooses. OF shall we
abolish all direct taxes for State and country
purposesf The Democrats evidently prefer The
side of The liquor dealer. Tho Republicans can
well afford totake the side of the farmer aud
householder. 1t Will he found more popular as
well as wiser otaX the h9r-roOms than 10 TAX
the farms and the homes. New York Tribune.
BLAINE's letter is an unstatesmanli5e, nroha.
bly, unconstitutional, scheme. 1t lodges The
real problem of the day, ana suggests a means
of relief by indIvectiOn which the Interests of
many win lead them to favor. Ii Is essentially
demagngish, but - is not wise 10 nnderrate ira
strength. H. is - better chosen plan to secure
the nomination than the vigorous foreign
policy" was. But, II we mistase NOT, it will,
after all is weighed, he found 10 drive another
big nail IN the collin Of Mr.. Blalne's reputation
as a statesman. Il is n shift mwnrthv OF the
lpDin N haDrt of a Grant man Nj. Inut4 GlnlAa.
Democrat.
THERE is nothing more essential to the safety
and perpctuity of free governments in the United
States than The imposition on tAe inhabitants of
the several Statea The dnty OF providing the
money which is 10 hr spent on local objects and
looking after lis careful and honest expendi-
ture. If This were taken away only a mere
simulacrum oflocal government would remain,
andtf local government be not necessary to the
existence of a healthy and Intelligent interest in
politics on the part of the people and to The
maintenance of ordered freedom, then The c n
StitutiOn itself Is u huge UlStake.-New YORK.
Evening Post.
THERE are two grave dangers connected Will
this question; one that, Ill the absence of direct
interest, the people Of the United States NAV
leave growing in the far West an un-American
institution, which may grow into a ter, ible evil,
and cost Infinite trouble in the far future; the
other that Congress-, moved by the fanatics,
back Of and strengthening the Adventures. may,
without proper examination or wise STATE sinan-
ship, institu'ea sort Of carpet'baggery and pro-
vide an equally un-American remedy, which will
seriously affect American Western progress nm
der p%retensc of Graduating an evil.-Cinomnati
! News Journal.
A LAW OF the United states provides that
'inO lei ter or circular concerning lotteries shall
be carried in the mail" 1t was intended that
this law should prevent the circulation in the
mails of lottery schemes and drawings. Is If nor
violated by those who send through the mails
these schemes and rawlings in the form of an
advertisement in a newspaper Is not the adj
vertisemeut Il "eircular," and the most effective
circular that can he devised? Another law pro-
vides that any person who "shall aid in sellingT
a lottery ticket in the District OF Columbia shall.
upon cOnvictiOn, be punished by fine or impris-
onment. Does not the person conducting a news
pa per 'aid in selling" such tickets when he pub-
fishes the advertise ment of a lottery oumpany9
New York Times.