Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1892-10-26

TAXES.

The actual state of matters in Ameri-
ca through which we are now passing
were prophesied over 20 years ago by
Sydney Smith in communication
which was published in the Edinburgh
Review, January, 1920. AS this
prophesy seems to be so pertinent 10
the present political status Of this Coun.
try, the article is given here entire
"David Porter aud Stephen Decatur
are very brave men; but they will
prove an unspeakabIe misfortune to the
country, if they influence Jonathan in
to a love of manual glory, aud inspire
him with any other love OF war than
that which is founded upon deieriniDa-
tion not to submit to serious insult aud
injury
We can inform jonathan what are
tie inevitable consequences Of being
too fond Of glory: Taxes upon every
article which enters into the mouth,
or covers the back. OF is placed under
the foot, TAXES upon everything which
it is pleasant TO see, hear, feel, smell,
or taste, taxes upon warmth, light,
and loComOlion, taxes on everything
on earth, and the waters under the
earth--in everything that comes from
abroad, or is crown AZ home, takes on
the raw material--taXcs on any fresh
value that is added to it by the Industry
Of man,---taXes on the sauce which
pamperS the rich mans appetite, and
the drug that restores him to health
on the crmine which decorates the
Judge, aud the rope which hams the
criminal; on the poor mans salt and
the rich man's spice; on the brass
uails of the cCtin and the ribbon OF the
bride at bed or board. cOuhu}t or
}er00t, we must pay. The school.boy
whips his taxed top, the beardless youth
manages his taxed horse, with a taxed
bride, on taxed road and the dying
NngIishman pouring his medicine,
which has paid seven per cent, into Il
spoon that has paid fifteen per cent,
filings himself upon his chntz bed,
which has paid twenty-five per cent,
and expires in the arms of his apothe
cary, who has paid Il license of a fl00
for 1.-The privilege of putting him to
death.
His whole property is then taxed
from two to ten per cent. Besides the
Probate, large fees arc demanded for
bnryin4 him in the chancrl, his virtues
are handed down 20 posterity on taxed
marble aud thea he is gathered to hi:
fathers to be taxed no more
In addition to all this, the habit o.
dealing with large sums will make the
government avnricious and proiuse
and the system itself will intallibly
generate the base yermin of spies ant
iniormels, and a still more pesilent
lace of political tools and retaiuers Of
the n cauest aud most odi0us descrip.
ton while the prodgious patronage
which the collecting of this splendid
revenue will throw into the hands o.
The government, will invest it with SC
vast an influence. and hold out sucl
means and temptations TO corruption.
~ all the virtue, public spirit, and mel
OF the 'RepubIicaus' will be unable to
resist"
We mnst bear in mind, that the
JetIersonian democracy of those days
were known as democratic Republi.
cans and in common with tie Demo-
Gratis of to-day, always fought the
Capitalization Of power, principle that
was doing all possible things to destroy
the Rights of the States so distinctly
defined 10 the Constitution.
All we have to do is, to insert the
dying American in place Of the "dying
Englishman," and the parable is com.
plete, requiring, however, the duty
tax of 7, - and % per cent to be
raised to 40, GO, and 100 pc, cent
respectively. SENYAn.
T,rp D,Ncv rpp NnyrupuU 10 nt