The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-16
SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT.
Tho Inception, Development and Perfecting
of Its Great Revenue system.


Tribune, aside from its acknowledged
functions of teacher of history and NJ
inspiration to patriotism, has been an in
direct but highly effective instructor IL
some valuable features of the science o.
Government Periodical offers of tempt
ing rewards, always fairly adjudcatet
and promptly paid, have stimulated thou
sands of its patrons to study more or less
carefully the sources of governmental
money supplies with view to the closest
possible estimate of their volume at some
given point in the not remote future. The
logistics of such an estimate, to rest OIL
an intelligent basis, must involve some
knowledge of fundamental principles. The
inquiry as to those principles, once en-
tered upon. becomes fascinating pursuit
and inevitably leads the student to a
broader comprehension of National re-
sources. the methods of acquiring revenues
and the conditions under which these
revenues may properly be expended tor
the promotion of the general welfare.
TIE SCIENCE OF GOVERNMENT.
IS matter of general information, as
an integral part of our individual culture,
we ought to know more about the Gov
WHICH we lNSs anu hpous
the fundamental principles of all Govern
ments. The origin of Government, and
of the ideas inherent Herewith, have been
the theme of much curious theory. Ii
we assume the existence Of man, no great
mystery attends the beginning of States,
for we find order existing everywhere i'll
nature. With the lowest forms of life,
system appears: the grasses grow with
the regularity of an army; the forests
L e,
or scattered like scouts on duty: the
fight of birds probably suggested the
Greek phalanX and the battle lines of
other peoples. Even amid birds of prey
a system is apparent in their excursions
and their life together. The excellence
of the organization sprang out Of the eX-
igencies of the situation. Government in
its last analysis is little more than the
family or the tribe organized. Add to
the swarm of bees, to the Gock of sheep,
to the herd of cattle, to the den of lions
intelligence and a moral sense, and the
result is Government. the development of
leadership, the genesis of concentrated eff
fort.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONALITY.
As the conservators of personal rights
and individual property nations are the
great facts of history. They are distinct
and they must be recognized. They must
continue to stand so long as various in
terests and diverse tongues divide them.
They have sprung out of the necessities
and conveniences of peoples, as well as
out of the strifes and ambitions of rulers.
They are q necessary cOrollary, for, while
Government is natural development, the
sphere within which it acts can not ex-
tend over the globe. There must be diYi-
sions; on the family tribes grew up, then
races. Nations were evolved by leaders
on natural lines formed by rivers and
mountains and oceans. The differentia-
ton of language helped to intensity the
separations. Nations attained to in
dividuality: they learned the need of self
defense, of independent care, of separate
lines of action, of special Developments
The man is most useful to the family who
is well-balanced and self-reliant and in
dustrious; the family is most an ornament
to the State when it develops all that is
best within itself, and seeks to raise itself
and all its members to the highest useful
ness and culture.
That State is nearest to the ideal stand
ard which employs all of its energies,
which builds up every enc of its own re-
sources, which adds everything possible
to the sum of human wealth and mower
and progress. And thus. willie the Town
or Parish, the County, the State, are ele-
ments of the Nation, the specific sphere
of each may vary for local convenience.
To the outside world the nation is the
representative of sovereignty, whether in
the Republic of the United States. the
Empire of Britain or Germany, the King
dom of Italy or the Asiatic Governments
of China and Japan. Its flag il the sym:
Dol of n power which acknowledges no
allegiance to any other power. but claims
an equality Of rights with each and all.
OUR NATIONS BRoADESED HORIZON.
Speaking of our own country-how
wonderfully has its horizon of oppOrtuni-
ty and responsibility been broadened with
in the past six years! And with that en-
largement has come something similar to
all our contemporary kingdoms. empires
and republics. All peoples. it may fairly
be said. now live in n wider word than
ever before-a world brought together in
closer and closer association by the ocean
steamer, and telegraph. and the CONT
mental railroad. Our own commerce with
foreign peoples reaches everywhere over
the surface of the globe. 1t has grown
into proportions not dreamed of so or
even 10 years ago. Our exports in some
recent years have doubled our imports.
and both now aggregate twenty-three hun
dred millions of dollars per annum. Our
foreign trade is absolutely COSMOPOLITAN.
peryading all the seas and continents of
The earth, and comprehending as many
varieties of commodities as there are
climates and soils and industries in the
world. The upbuilding of this peerless.
this transcendent nationality, thus domi-
mating the world in commerce rs it does
in natural resources, intelligent popula-
tion and aggressive energy, has neccssi-
fated somewhat corresponding expan-
sion of the public revenues and expendi-
ture. Expenditure presupp0ses revenue.
hence, TO maintain our prestige and com
plete the peaceful industrial conquest we
have thus far handsomely advanced. we
must expect, through nj! the disceruible
future, to provide ample revenues for
legitimate National uses and exgercies.
TIE PRODUCTION or NATIONAL
REVENUES.
The revenues Of a nation are derived
from various forms of taxation levied ON
its people. The development of taxation
has kept pace with the industrial develop
ment Of society. In primitive and I'M
developed State taxes are not to be found:
the only thing corresponding TO them is
The voluntary contribution or gift to the
head OF the State on special occasions.
The Government is expected to pay ex-
penses." The spells resulting from the
conquest of other nations, the proceeds
of the public domains, etc, are ordinarily
adequate 10 financial necessities On the
other hand society makes but few de-
m1nls Ia