Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-03-21
The Discomfort Of Europe.

a
situation at the end Of 1894, finds
the worlds outlook somewhat I'M
satisfactory. The civilized world, it
is suggested, is apparently in the pO-
sitiOn Of the Roman empire when
the powers of government fell into
the hands Of semi-civilizcd or in
competent men, who undertook to
govern without knowledge of, or re-
spect for, recorded human expert
enCe. The ideas now gaining as
tendency in most States in regard to
the functions of government, taxa
ton and finance are such as care
full students of history cOntem-
plate with dtsmay. According to
the Journal des EcOnOmiSteS the ex.
penses of government in Europe
have increased % per cent, while
population has increased but 10 per
cent. In ten years the public debts
of Europe have been Swoolen by
50, SEQ, ,000,0 900, while the basis of
taxation has not increased to that
extent, but in some States has, on
the contrary, decreased. In certain
States, which have become restless
under the taX-gatherer's eXactions,
there has been compulsory lower
ing of interest on public debts,
ca ed euphemistically "cOnver-
sion" Greece and Portugal are
bankrupt, and Italy and Spain are
on the verge of bankruptcy. In all
countries except England the tax.
gathercr lays his hand on nearly
every article in use. Everywhere
the income tax is being invoked to
reach second time people who al
ready pay once on what they con-
sumo. Industries that are specially
prOfitable-the manufacture of liq-
uors, tobacco, &c, and the transpor-
tatiOn of letters, packages and mes
sages-are seized upon by the gov
ernmcnt. Some States have seized
the railroads, and more opperate
telegraph and telephone lines. So
cialism urges the appropriation of
all industries and their operation by
the State. Hard times bring about
no abatement of expenditure, but
rather an increase, in consequence of
the new conceptions Of the duty of
State to its citizens.
In France, Germany, Italy and
Spain there has been in recent years
a heavy increase of taxes to protect
home industries. The tax paid
in France yearly on wheat for the
benefit of 500, 900 landholders is es-
timated by the Journal at Sl50,OO0,-
600. Protection to French meat,
fish, sugar, tools, &C., imposes a
further tax of 400, 100000 Like
burdens are borne in the other coun-
tries named, with the result that the
condition of large masses of the peo-
pie possessed of ballots becomes
steadily worse and worse. Only the
extraordinary fruitfulness Of science
and invention in the last few decades
has sustained the people under the
dead weight of heavy taxes mis-
chievously applied.
Naturally the average European
voter in periods of stress takes more
interest in proposals that promise
Improvement of his present mate
| rial interest than in the mainte-
nance of general principles of gov
ernment or administration that he
has never studied and does not un-
derstand. In good times he allows
themselves, but when his income
falls short he listens to the dema-
gogue. Accordingly, at present he
gives ear to extremists of all sorts.
Socialists promise him millennium
and are aided by well-meaning
economists, whose science is water
logged with emotionalism. In Ger
many the old-age pensons have
tended to create desire on the part
of many able-bodied people to un-
load the care of themselves and fami-
lies upon the state. The individual
laborer is lost in his organization,
and he relies upon 1T rather than
upon his good conduct and the value
of his services for the retention of
employment. 1t is a short step
further to think the State, if organ
lied wholly in the interest of labor,
would vastly improve its condition.
That socialism implies slavery un-
der the rule Of autOcrats Of doubt
ful wisdom and honesty is not per-
celved, since agitatOrs do not discuss
that branch of their subject.
Upon the whole, the outlook, as
paihtSu oy bhO C'tIhut uco LItcfto-
nlistes, is not an inspiriting one. The
tendencies of the time are toward
the domination in affairs of cOnceit
and ignorance animated by selfish
greed and unrestained by religious
conviction. But the JOarnaL fOrgets
to dwell upon the fact that the re-
turn of prosperity may arrest pres
ent tendencies to very material ex
tent. There is no danger of relaps
ing into barbarism or socialism. Eu
rope may have much to undergo be-
fore its social status is placed agair
on firm basis, but in the modern
, world, with the press, the ballot anC
freedom of movement from one par
' of the globe to another, there is {
depth of distress beyond which nC
country can sink. The folly Of one
part of the world will be tempered
} by the sanity of the rest and there
: still remain vast areas of productive
r territory to which the discontenteC
Of Europe may emigrate when the
situation at home becomes desper
ate.- Baltimore S,m.
| ROUGH ON THE VET.-The pre-
cOcious son of Maine veteran wa
recently examining SOme medaIS hi