The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-01
monr the citizens of the country.

among the citizens Of the country. It
was the policy of the Democrats of
old. we mean those who were Demo
Gratis in principle regardless OF party
name. to collect in taxes only enough
money to pay the expenses Of govern
ment economically administered, and to
have just as little law and Just as lit
tie of interference on the part of gov
eminent with the affairs OF the people
as was consistent with good order and
the protection Of society. It was their
idea that the wealth Of the country
and the power Of the country should
be and rest in the people, and that the
government should have only enough
money and power to enable it to serve
the interests of the people.
But in modern times the disposition
has been to make a strong and power
full and rich government, to collect
large sums of money from the people
and spend it eStrayagantly ID paying
high salaried officers, in making all
sorts of internal improvements and III
maintaining by far the largest and
most expensive pension list that the
world ever knew. It is all contrary TO
good told Democratic doctrine and the
principles upon which our government
was founded. We talk great deal
about Socialism. and whenever 1t IS
suggested that the government take
charge OF the business Of the country
and operate the railroads and the tele-
graph lines and the factories anG give
everybody Il job, every man WIN d
spark Of Democracy in him enters
vigorous protest. Yet, when we count
up the number Of men employed III the
government service and the number OF
pensioners on the list, we cannot put
come TO the conclusion that there IS
already Il good bit Of Socialism III the
conduct of our government AFFAIRS.
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The death of William NJ. Eyarts re-
moves a man who played 4 conspicu-
Gus part in the affairs OF this country
a generation ago. Mr.. Evarts dlstln-
crushed himself at the bar and in poll
tics. and showed himself to be u man
of force and ability. AS lawyer ne
maintained with successful Io6o ana
'GG-before the corts the unconstltu-
tionality of the State laws taxing
United States bonds or national Dank
stock without the authorization OF
Congress: in 1872 be acted as cotnscl
for the Government before the III
bunal of arbitration on the AlaDana
claims at Geneva. and presented lhe
arguments upon which the decision
favorable 10 the United States We're
to a large extent based: in 1910 he was
counsel for Henry Ward Beecher III
the suit against him in Brooklyn. lie
was perhaps chiefly distinguished as
advocate Of the Republican party be
fore the Electoral Commission. and he
subsequently entered President Hayes
Cabinet rs Secretary of State. In 1889
he became a member Of the United
STATES Senate from New YoRll and was
Il leading member Of that body. lie
was an intense partisan and viewed
national politics from the Northern
standpoint. but he was an amiable man
and was in full accord with President
Hayes in his policy of reconciliation.
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In discussing the suggestion OF MI.
kilby, of Norfolk. that the ConSutu-
ton should be SO changed as to permit
churches 10 be Incorporated, we said
that while we agreed with Mr.. hilby
we thought that there ought TO be
some restriction as to how much prop
erty a church organization could hold
without paying taxes thereon. The
Norfolk Ledger reproduces our re-
marks, and adds:
That is the very point made by the
Public Ledger. There will be no Serl-
Gus opposition, we think, to MI kilbys
proposition. but in making the change
extreme care should be taken that the
property Of 4 church from Which an
income is derived or which is held for
The purpose Of gain. Shall not be
exempt from taxation. 1t will be much
better to settle this matter properly at
the outset than to have legal contests.
or perhaps agitationS, i'll after years,
as has recently been the case III the
city Of Chicago.
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Sneaker Henderson is catcniu" it all