The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-10-03

people is prepared by the officers of the
crown, and the religious and political
views of the professors are satisfactory tC
the government.
These three departments - streets OF
roads, justice and police, and public schools
are the general heads that comprehend
all the services Of Democratic government
The cleaning and lighting of streets, the
parks and markets. are simple extensions
of the department of streets, and 1t is in q
certain sense true that this department
comprises all other services of government
The police are distributed on the streets
and SO is the fire department and the
water. And even the school system is de
pendent upon this.
In fact every service Of our city govern
ment is q street service.
And so also in the counties the road com
prehends the services of government re
turned to the people.
Public charities are not to he Included as
a Service to the individual taxpayer, but
are occasioned by the accidents of social
conditions, and so may be regarded as an
act of voluntary sacrifice of the people for
thoee who are physically or mentally in
ca5gacitated; 5,se aaas .,oxo
only the first act of government, but the
only act, as every additional service is but
an elaboration of this primary service.
have named every service of city gov.
eminent, and they are, without exception
chosen by free people for the economy OF
labor to the taxpayer.
With this idea of government, and it is
the American idea, the system of taxation
is matter of individual interest. If it is
a Just system it is not an evil but an
actual economy, the money spent is re-
turned more than double to the taxpayer.
This idea of government is an instru-
ment OF voluntary association, admits OF
the free expression of that first general
law of justice, Benefits shall be according
to worthiness." Instead of blindly follow
Ing that delusive fallacy-the rich should be
taxed and the poor go free, the Mosaic rule
ofejustice is possible-"respect neither the
person of the poor nor of the rich," but
all be treated as equal before the law.
II the rich alone support the government
they will also control it to their advantage
and the oppression of the poor. and if the
poor are exempt from their proper share
of taxes then they will not concern them
selves about the government, and their
| oppression Is made more certain. Solon
required by law that every citizen should
impracticable but it is undemocratic; it is
democratic, however, that every citizen
should contribute to the support of govern
ment, and II every one was a conscious
taxpayer 1t would not be necessary to
make laws requiring him to vote. Our
national and local governments are ON the
| Democratic or Republican model.
This is a government of the people, by
the people and for the people. No vague,
non-natural person conceals his purposes
amid clouds of mystery; this is not a
great almsgiving institution, and the
people are not beneficaries. 1t Ia a volun-
tary compact of association chosen for its
economy of labor, and the status of the in
dividual citizen is the index Of our national
prosperity. Here is no higher title than
good citizenship, and the corner stone
OF our government is self government, or
the equal right of every man to life. liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. The full de-
velopment of individual intelligence, mo-
rallty and physical strength Is only posi-
BILE where the fullest liberty and response
bility of the individual is maintained
1t is thoughtlessly said that the right of
the individual is subordinated to society;
that he surrenders his privileges when he
enters into association with others; but
this is not even partly true. The demo-
cratic association offers the individual
more liberty and more privilege than is
possible to him when outside. of society.
On entering this association he simply
exchanges his weakness for the strength
of many.
The roads increase his powers of locomo-
ton; the department of justice increases
his power of self protection, and the pub
lie schools enlarge his opportunities for
education. There is not legitimate func-
tion of democratic government that does
not add to and multiply the powers and
privileges Of the individuals forming the
association.
The most important act of, government
| Is taxation
On this rests the integrity of the legisla-
tive, judicial and executive branches of
government. For taxation, more than
declarations, determines the status of the
individual as related 20 the compact of as
sociation. Whatever may be the eloquent
words that express the dignity and equality
OF the individuals forming the govern
ment, and consenting thereto the real
character of each individuals relation is
determined by the method of supporting
the government so formed.
If one is unequally taxed it Is an empty
thing to talk of equal rights.
1t is not enough that the laws respecting
contracts between individuals be just if the
terms OF the original compact that uphold
the administration of justice are UNEQUAL.
II one is taxed for public services which
are not returned to him, but are given to
another who is not taxed to pay for them,
the inequality that is wrought by this in
Justice is not recOmpensed by the fact that
| the courts are imDartial
Ii the system of taxation differentiates
the people into a class that receives much
from the government and gives little, and
the masses that give much and receive lit
tie, then the first general law of justice is
contradicted and benefits are not given ac-
cording to worthiness. Such a system
would tend to create q class who would be
rewarded without labor and another class
who would labor without reward, and the
evil would work both ways-a rich effemi-
nate class Of aristocratic paupers supported
by government, and poor, ignorant class
fit only to be their servants.
The practical example of such a system
is seen in the Old World today-it exists in
Ireland and Russia. There the status OF
the individual is expressed in the degrees
of citizenship, from the many peasants and
tradespeople to the few lords and gentle
men. Where the purpose of government
Is to maintain an aristocracy this purpose
Is expressed in the system Of taxation. No
one would expect to find the doctrine OF
equal rights to all and special privileges
to none" expressed In the system of taxa
tion in use in Russia or in England; yet,