The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-04
Labor and Militarism.

The resolution. adopetd by various labor or.
CARNATIONS in condemnation Of militarism and
Imperialism Justify Inc in making brief refer
ence to those questions. No class contributes
more than the laboring class in proportion to
its numbers, TO the rank and file OF the army;
no class Of the army, and no class is more men
accd by the existence Of a large army. Most Of
the countries in Europe which maintain large
military establishments collect an income tax
which adjusts tho burden Of the government to
the income Of the citizen. Here our federal
taxes are largely collected upon consumption.
and while they are income taxes, in the sense
that they must be paid out Of the incomes OF
the people, yet the exactions are prOportionate to
the income. The taxes upon consumption bear
heaviest upon the poor and lightest upon the
rich and are, in fact graded income taxes Tho
per cent collected decreasing as the income in
cTeases.
II this nation adheres TO the doctrine that
governments derive their just powers from the
consent Of the governed, and the people have
an easy and ready means Of correcting all abuses,
the government will not need to be supported by
large permanent army for every citizen will he
ready to defend such government from attack.
The only domestic for a large standing army
is to suppress by force the discomfort which
should be cured by legislation
To support permanent army Of 10000 men
requires approximately one.half as much money
United States. How much cheaper it is to up
lift people by the gentle and peaceful process
OF intellectual development than to blow them
up with powder and dynamitei
Imperialism involves a departure from princi-
pies which were universally accepted in this
country until within two years ago. To know
that all men are created equal one needs not
the wisdom OF a sage or the learning Of the
schools. IL was declared to be a sef.evident
truth it was evident to those who pledged
their lives TO the maintenance OF the Declaration
Of independence, and it is evident still to those
who are not blinded by the glammor OF wealth
and the glittcring promises Of a colonial system.
II ali men are created equal and endowed with
inalicnable rights, ii follows as n logical and
necessary sequence that governments were in
stituted for the welfare of all and derive their
Just powers from the consent Of the governed.
on the preservation OF this doctrine our hopes
depend; II it Is abandoned there is no founda'
ton upon w."ch a government like ours can he
constructed. DO not allow yourselves to be de-
viewed by those who question the capacity OF this
people or that people for self government. Ma
cauley. in his essay on John Hilton, points out
the folly Of attempting TO prepare people for
self government lie said:
MANY politicians Of our time are in the
habit Of laying II down as a sclt-evident propo'
sition that no people ought TO be free until
they are dt to use their freedom. The maxim
IS worthy the fool Of the old story who
resolved not to go into the water until he had
learned to swim. II men are to wait for liberty
until they become wise and good in slavery,
they may indeed wait forever"