New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-23
OBLIGATIONS OF WEALTH.
EX-PREs1DENT HARRISON DISCUSSES
EQUAL TAXATION.
ADDRESS BEFORE THE UNION LEAGUE CLUp OF
CHICAGO AT THE CELEBRATION OF WASH
rNGroN's BIRrHpAY-No RIGHT TO
EyADE PAYMENT OF TAXES.

CHICAGO AT THE CELEBRATION OF WASH
rNGToN's BIRTHDAY-No RIGHT no
EvADE PAYMENT OF TAXES.
Chicago Feb 22-Ex- President Benjamin
Harrison spoke to-day in the Auditorium at
the central meeting OF the annual celebration OF
the Union League Club in honor OF Washing
ton. All the historic and civic societies OF the
CITY were fully represented Among the dis
tineulshed guests Of the Union League Clup
present at the meeting were DR.. John NJ. I'm
lev. president OF Knox College: General Jonn H.
Palmer. Major General John r. Borrke. Richarn
+ Oglesby former Governor. and Charies r"oi'
Smith OF Philadelphia. The Apollo Cluo OF FOUR
hundred voices furnished the music TOT the w
cason Ex-Presdent Harrison TOOK 10Y HIS
subject "Obngations Of Wealth. he sa'u !"
part:
Monuments and birthday anniversaries shou'u ."
o,ernorat,ve OF the virtues that are sun imi'ape
,,.,. ,a,,e renroduced some OF the gigantic anil
,o,s ond rent,es OF the worlds early history We
,oo, q, ,hen with fear and wonder and coneratu-
Ia,s ourselves that they extinct types we "''
no needs that they could supply They cum "o'
1--we in our environments nor we IN the''' ~
have heen among men monsters OF power az"
lance We cannot forget them. but We are gao
tb.v lived in another epoch Tho almanac-InaNer
=, ~ ,sonls ~ monuments have been ouideo 10
,boro .hev are liable to be overturned "neh inc
dvnastv changes or the Commune suppiah's inv
state But there are men who nave 30 "o" ur
heart. that We would recall them II we couiu VIC
Feel the need Of them No change ~ ashasUes' ~
outbreak OF the mob, threatens their monument
one can hardly conceive OF any civil revolution OF
~. ,lo,o,,s outbreak in our country that would not
ros,ao, tho monuments OF washington and or I-ih-
coln While they lived they were ut times ha'eu p'
mon and by communities. hut, when inc iu' s'oi''
~ .,o,- lives were unfoded when motives and pur-
noses were explored. when the universal oehe'oeN.e
~ their public services seen In the establish
rnent by one and the rescue by the other OF Tree
constitutional government, all their countrymeh rem
soros ,bon, homage We assemble on this anniver-
eary ~ the birth o, Washington not so mucn, II az
all 10 bring tribute to him. as to learn AZ MS iee'
the lessons OF conscientious citizenship Inc NM
sble qualities OF Washingtons character ana me-
thos. that did not exhaust themselves on iocah'y
ar neriod: that are instructive only 70 military
commanders and chief magistrates, but 20 the unoi-
ncial citizen the lessons that he taught not for the
march and battle but FOR quiet days when no drum
heat calls 20 duty-these are the qualities ana les
son. that should engage our thought To-Day
DUTIES OF WEALTH
.r, .,oo.,ne for nv theme The Obligations OF
Wealth am not wrestling this anniversary from
its legitimate use We do not need 20 roreeu-'h-
deed We cannot forget-Washington wheh we re-
nec- upon our obligations TO the state HIS ne
teaches no lesson strongly than tha' the c',i-
20, 1. under obligation TO serve the State never 20
h,-,, lie s,, share OF burden and labor ana sacri-
hce but rather DO more.
THE word wealth IN its modern use has suffered
a limitation II no: psrversion. Originally ana
strictly Il means veal or welfare. external hapPi-
ns.s When Paul admonished the Cornthan Chris
t,an.. lie, no man seek his own. but every man
he OF
Urn law Of the wheatpit and the stock exchange
Wealth Is a comparative term. and my address Is
not for that very limited body OF multi-nilionares
called by the Populist orators putocrats'
smaller audience chamber would have suficed for
them and perhaps the orator should have been OF
the guild want TO speak OF the oohsauohs OF '"e
.ueII-to-do' people, the forehanded prosperous men
"a ror.n ., our communities whether their es-
,,,as ara reckoned by thousands or by millions Ne
live in time OF great agitation or war OF ciash-
ing thoughts and interests Men. no longer sausiei
with what appears above ground. are uncoVerihs
roots There Is feeling that some men are haha'-
canned. that the race is sold: that the old and
rchvaun.ed equality OF opportunity and OF night
has been submerged More bitter and threatening
things are being said and written against accumu-
lated property and corporate power than ever oe-
,ors II seems 70 many that. moro and more small
me, small stores and small factories are being
thrown upon the shore as financial DRIFT or wreck
pursuit or cheapness HdS leaSi"" a
stage where only enormous combinations OF captal,
doing an enormous business are sure OF returns
The seams which mar the face OF the social land
scane seem 70 he widening chasms. and II these
CULTS are 70 be filed we must establish dumps on
hoth side. Of them II will aid the work II those on
either side use tho bridges get view OF II from
~. o+her aide Wealth should neither be the object
n. mir enuity nor the basis OF our consideration
The indiscrminate denunciation OF the rich Is mis-
he
and furnishes an excuse for crime. No poor man
was ever made richer or happier by IT, II is quite
a. Illogical despise man because he is rlcn as
because ne Is poor. Not what a man has but what
ne is settles his class In the discussion OF all these
soc,aI ouestions good temper is essential Men must
Get together and use facts not rhetoric. The special
nurpose OF my address to-day 4. to press home this
though, upon the prosperous. well-to-do people OF
our community and especially Of our great cities:
that one Of the conditions OF the security OF wealth
is a proportlonate and full contribution 70 the ex-
penses OF the and local governments II Is not
only wrong but Il is unsafe TO make a show IN our
home. and on tn. that is made in the tax
returns.
EQUALITY OF RIGHTS
Equality is the golden thread that runs all
through the fabric OF our civil institutions-the
dominating note in the swelling symphony Of liberty.
Equality not Of conditions not OF natural endow-
ment but OF rights. Is the foundation stone % our
governmental structure. And as corollary neces-
sary and imperative. 10 this doctrine OF equality
OF rights Is the doctrine OF proportions,e and rat
able contribution 10 the cost OF administering the
Government. The duty Of the State 10 protect life.
liberty and property is conditioned upon fair con-
ribution 10 the cos, OF government A full and
scentlous discharge OF that duty by the citizen IL
one OF the OF good citizenship TO evade that
duty 4. moral delinquency, an unpatriotic act II
we do not hold by this rule OF proportion. which
think s an essential part Of the definition OF taxes
then everything becomes subject 10 the whm Of the
Legislature. The whole revenue OF q State may be
derived from contributions exacted from very
small minority OF It's population. the majority going
free. To allow such system ia not only 20 rob the
minority thus unduy burdened. but Is to rob the
state OF that which is essential TO its healthy
istence and indeed. the lfe OF republican IN