The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-03

sentences were so artisticslIy arranged aud
blended together that they fell upon the ears
of his audience as if 'twere music borne to
them on the bosom of the gentle atmosphere.
II recognize the duty of speaking frankly
and without conceaiment or exaggeration of
any material fact or opinion" 1t was the
happy beginning of an effort that will take
high rank among the choicest and most con-
spicuous papers Of this age on the philoso-
ply and science of government. As a rhe-
torican and logician Mr.. Hendricks certainly
stands in the FIRE 'front.' while his synthetical
method is well nigh faultless.
Upon that branch of the science of gov.
eminent which recognizes the necessity of
a revenue for the maintenance of the ma
chinery OF the power which the people have
delegated and concentrated upon their joint
agent-the General Government-Mr. Hen.
bricks exhibited a wide range of thought
and profound knowledge of the subject.
He said
The power to levy and collect taxes is
among the highest and most responsible of
the attributes of government. 1t ranks with
the right and faculty of taking private
and power of transferring the citizen from
the pursuits of private life to the duties and
hazards Of war. 1t takes away from a man
that which is his and appropriates it to pub
lie use. 1t sSizes upon the earnings of labor,
as well as upon the accumulations OF capital.
To every man the inquiry is of personal con-
Germ, and the answer is OF public conse-
queDce. How far may government 90 in
the exercise Of the power to tax the people?
Freely and cheerfully we all answer that
there shall be no Limitation nor restraint
this side of the absolute and entire mainten-
ance OF public authority, with all of its facul-
ties and functions unimpsired. Whatever
the Government can lawfully do, and OF
right should do. the taxpayers will furnish it
the means to accomplish. Beyond this is
the province of private right, to invade
which is usurpation.
Passing to our ocean commerce, and the
lamentable, if not dlsgraceful condition into
which the existing system of tariff and ship
ping regulations have forced our ocean ton
mage and commercial interests with the
trade centers of the world, the speaker con-
tinued:
We are Nation of producers and our ex-
changes with other nations is enormous
The worlds two greatest oceans wash our
shores. We are one of the nations of the
earth most highly endowed by nature With
a spirit of nautical enter prise. But prscti-
cally we have no merchant marine. Eujoy-
ing as we do, all the natural conditions IN
der which ii might be supposed would arise
the greatest commercial navy in the world,
we are dependent upon foreign nations for
our ocean commerce. Our own merchant
navy has 6iss ppeared from the seas. and the
owners of foreign vessels are enriched by
the profits that We should earn ourselves
The obituary OF our merchant navy is written
otiH 4 ol,f IL
enternrise and daring that once brought
wealth to our shores aud pride to our people,
and that furnished congenial employment
to thousands of our brave aud hardy sons, is
now buried in the treasury vaults under
those four millions of which Mr. Calklns
vaunts.
In referring to the disgraceful condition
of our navy, Mr.. Hendricks pointed out and
made clear to every one of his hearers how
important and necessary it is that the Ma
ton should maintain strong and efficient
naval armament. This the Nation should
have, as we'll as coast defenses strong enough
to resist any attack from would-be invader.
But, said he.
The time is coming. | trust, when war
shall be no more. and when international
arbitrament shall supercede the sword. It
over disputes that reason, tempered with
justice, may settle peaceably. But a nation,
itself Just and peaceablv disposed can better
preserve its peace and honor and can better
secure its citizens, wherever they may be on
the face of the earth, from wrong and insult,
when its flag is a symbol of power adequate
to the Vindication of any right or the re-
dress OF any wrong.
To the question whether there ought to be
a change IN the control of public affairs Mr..
Hendricks puts this query for the answer
What other remedy for the correction of
possible abuses have the citizens of a free
republic? Even in England change is the
remedy. When the Commons disapprove an
important measure, or censure maladmi MIS-
tration, the Cabinet, headed by the Prime
Minister, retire from Office, and others in
harmony with the will of the people succeed
them. There are many valuable reforms
that can not be accomplished by party that
has long been in power.
Where among all the great state papers OF
the age shall W. search for a clearer, loftier
or more comprehensive view of what the
basis of Government of the people and by
the people should be? He who seeks for a
better solution of the great problem of q
Government whose power is delegated by a
laid down in Mr.. Hendricks Saturday night
| speech, will seek in vain. 1t can not be
| found.