The herald., 1898-06-13
WAR, VOLUNTEERS AND TAXES


To carry on this war the United States
requires men and money. To secure the
first the president has called for 225,0O0
volunteers. The call has been answered
by patriotic men and citizens. The quota
has been filled and million more men
and citizens are ready, at the presidents
call, to volunteer their services, leave
their homes and families and jeopardiza
their lives upon the battlefield for the
country's cause.
To provide the means of paying the
a revenue law increasing the present ex-
else taxes, extending the list of taxable
articles and authorizing the issue Of in
terest bearing bonds.
With these facts before him the in
quisitive citizen may ask who have re-
sponded to the presidents call for volun-
teers and who have been taxed to provide
the sinews of war.
A candid and impartial presentation of
the facts upon which to base an intelli-
gent and honest answer to these ques-
tions may develop unpleasant situations
for a goodly number of people who are
patriotic and brave in times OF peace
and for the select few who have hitherto
claimed a monopoly of the stars and
stripes and advertised themselves to the
world as the only fit persons to guard
and preserve our majestic governmental
fabric as against the demands of reforms
and fair play, which they have cunningly
called all sorts of bad names for the
purpose of diverting the attention Of the
citizen from the true state of affairs.
The president called for volunteers, and
who have responded? Shall the wrath
Of men in high places and prominent in
public notice be aroused by speaking of
classes-social classes? If so, the answer
is the volunteers came from that humble
class whose breasts have been the safe
repository of true patriotism at all times
and in all countries; those men who, in
times of peace turn the wheels of indus
try and earn their bread in the sweat of
their faces, and who, from a property
standpoint, have less to lose ii the for
tunes of war than any other class.
But what shall we say of the other
classes, in which are included the mil
lionaires, the manufacturers and those in
the professions? How many of these
have volunteered? In justice to the pro-
fessions it should be said that a few
very few-lawyers. doctors, clergymen
and perhaps some others have enlisted.
But have any millionaires, bankers or
manufacturers offered their services al
privates? Not one, so far as I am aware.
They are safe at home, absorbed in their
private business, or perhaps at Washing
ton, advising national legislators upon
many and various schemes of legislation;
or again, to offer a guess, they may be
cornering food products, or the other nee
essary articles, of daily life in order to
make an honest dollar, while the volun-
teers shoulder their muskets and try to
support wives and families on cornered
wheat, monopoly sugar and provide trust
kerosene on a monthly salary Of $13.
This exhibition of patriotism has hap
PLY come at an opportune time. 1t stands
in bold contrast to a similar show
worked on the American people in
1896 under the leadership of the
astute Marke Hannas. These indi-
yiduals claimed for themselves all the
patriotism in this country, and they act
ually attempted to appropriate to their
selfish ends that flag which still flut-
ters over 75,0O0,O00 souls because it
has back of it the men who
have proved they are ready to
volunteer to defend it, and which, If
Of the cowardice and selfishness Of men
of the Hanna stripe.
In times of peace the Mark Hannas
may wrap the national emblem around
them and play the part of patriots, but
when the sound of battle is heard, when
the bullets of the enemy fly thick and
fast, their anatomies are securely incased
In bullet-proof armor and stationed as
sentinels at wheat pits or counting house
desks.
Who pay the taxes? Speculation is
unnecessary to answer this question.
Each branch of the national congress
has already passed bill which furnishes
the data necessary for an answer. Let
the statute speak for itself.
The articles taxed by this war meas
ure, as reported by the ways and means
committee of the house, may be general
lied as follows: Fermented liquors, to.
bacco, bonds and mortgages, checks, tel