Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-02

need of them. We assemble on this an
niyersary of the birth of Washington, not
so much, If at ALL to bring tribute to him
as to learn at his feet the lessons of d
conscientious citizenship. The imitable
qualities of Washington's character and
'ife; those that did not exhaust them
lives on locality or a period; that are
Instructive not only TO military command
ers and chief magistrates, but to the I'M
otnclal citizen; the lessons that he taught,
not for the march and battle, but for
quiet days when no drum beat calls 10
duty-these are the qualities and lessons
that should engage our thought to-day.
In choosing for my theme THE obi
cations of Wealth." | am not wrestling this
anniversary from its legitimate use.
The word 'wealtn" in it's modern use
has suffered a imi alton if not a perver-
sion. Originally aud strictly it means
veal or welfare, external happiness.
We live in a time of great agitation, of
a war of c.ashing thoughts and interests.
The So ms which mar the face of the
soeial landscape seem TO be widening
cba SINS, and if these CULTS are to be filed
we must establish dumps on both sides
of them. 1t will aid the work if those
on either side use the bridge get view
of it from the other side. Wealth should
neither be the object of our enmity nor
the basis of our consideration.
The special purpose of my address to-
day is to press home this thought upon the
prosperous, well-to-do people of our COM
inunity, and especially of our great cities:
That one of the conditions of the security
of wealth is proportionate and full con-
tribution to the expenses of the State and
local governments. 1t is not only wrong,
but it is unsafe, to make a show in our
homes and on the street that is not made
in the tax returns.
Equality is the golden thread that runs
all through the fabric of our civil insti-
tutions-the dominating note in the swell
ing symphony of liberty. Equality, not
of conditions, not of natural endowment,
but of rights, is the foundation stone of
our governmental structure And as a
corollary, necessary and imperative, to
this doctrine of an equality of right, is the
doctrine of a propOrtonate and ratable
contribution to the cost of administering
the government. The duty of the State
to protect life, liberty and property is con-
ditioned upon a fair contribution TO the
cost of government. A full and consci-
entious discharge of that duty by the citi-
zen is one of the tests of good citizenship.
To evade that duty is moral delinquency,
an unpatriotic fact.
For very many years an opinion has
been prevalent that the great bulk of the
personal property of the States, especially
of the class denominated securities" in
Guiding stocks, bonds, notes, mortgages
nd EEO hoc 40
a very few exceptions the great fortunes
in this country are invested in such securi-
ties. The delinquency appears to be To-
Gated largely in our great cities. Recent
Investigations of students of political sci
ence, and recent tables prepared by State
officials have disclosed an appalling con-
dition of things. The evil seems to have
been progressing until, in some Of our
great centers of population and wealth,
these forms of personal property seem to
have been almost eliminated from the
tax list.
Taxes are a debt of highest obligation.
and no casuist can draw a sound moral
distinction between the man who hides
his property OF makes a false return in
order to escape the payment of his debt
to the State, and the man who conceaIs
his property from his private creditors.
When to this enormous and crying evil
is added the corruption which it is alleged
has characterized the appraisements of
real estate, we have a condition of things
with which we dare not palter. We must
inaugurate, and at once, a system that
shall equalize tax burdens. The men of
wealth in our great communities should
lead the movement. 1t is not within the
purpose of this address to propose in de-
tail the needed reforms in our tax laws,
but rather TO emphasize the need and to
suggest that our men of wealth and the
managers Of our great corporations should
themselves come forward and take the
lead in these reforms; that they should
not only show a willingness, but a zeal,
to bear their full proportionate share of
all public burdens. If they do not, the
sense of injury is so strong that ways will
be found to exact more than is equal. To
do justice is the best safeguard against
injustice.