The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-04

the country from gloom and distress to
brightness and prosperity. has been mainly
the work of American legislation. fostering
American industry instead of allowing 1t
to be controlled by foreign legislation. cher
ishing foreign industry"
Gould the columns of the journal be
spared for this purpose 1T would be a Joy
to transcribe this entire speech. that re-
quired three lays for delivery, for the read
ers of the journal. At any rate the per-
sons who wish to advise themselves of the
wisdom and tatesmanslip of Eenry Clay
can have no better addition TO Their library
than the Speeches of Henry CLAY pub
lished by Greeley & McElrath, 1913, and
Colton's Life and Times OF Henry Clay
1916; Private Correspondence 1856. and
Last Years. 1856. If these books are not
in the public libraries of indianapolis, and
other libraries, no time shoald be wasted
to have them there where tho thoughtful
man or woman wishing TO fit themselves for
American duties may know how much
America is indebted to Henry Clay. the
steadfast author and pieader for the Amer
lean system, from which have proceeded
the benefits America now enjoys.
indianapolis, Feb. ?. JOHN w RAY.
Pleased with the Income Tax Law.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The readers of Sunday mornings Journal
will dobtless unite in thanking you for Civ
ing such a detailed review of the new in
come-tax law. The wisdom, the impartial
justice and the careful consideration for the
necessary comforts of life that stand out SO
prominently in this law give a most pleas
urable feeling of respect for the men who
framed it and a thoughtful appreciation Of
the difficult mental labor that WAS neces-
sary to bring the law TO its present degree
of perfection. The penalty of Imprisonment
for a violation of confidence on the part
of the collector is a decided advance upon
a simple fine, and a progressive step OF
Hiawathean proportions is shown in his
disfranchisement for life. But why did
the government lapse from this high stand
ard? Instead Of the 'ironclad affidavits'' to
which you refer. why did not Uncle Sam
reach to the ultimate at once and disfran-
chise all who willfully violate this income
law? / have often wondered why all laws
old not have disfranchiSement as one Of
the penalties of their violation. Could any
more natural punishment than this exist?
The much-talked-of poetic Justice thus
displayed would tend to the idealization of
law. And in what more just, natural and
rapid manner could the ballot box be purf-
fed? Nothing can be clearer than that a
violator should be Invested of the power
to help to make laws. The exemption OF
municipalities from taxation will doubtless
lead in an easy, natural way to the owner
ship by them of water, light, fuel and trans
portation facilities. The rigid system OF
bookkeeping which the law Will require of
the private individual, as we'll of corpora
of great wealth, inasmuch as an annual
investigation and full comprehension of
ones financial status gives a sure and safe
basis upon which to calculate the experd-
lures of the following years. The chief re-
oret lies in the fact that so few beginners
have the $1,000, or at least the 1000, income,
and so are. in consequence, debarred from
the rigid moral and educational require
ments of the new law.
HESTER NJ. McCLUNG.
Indianapolis, Ind, Feb. 3.