Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-09-07

How many Of us stop to realize,
says The Sc. Augustine Record, that
We are now taxed AS we ware when
the nation was struggling for exist
ence-we Of the South attempting to
set up in business for ourselves and
the other States Of the Union engaged
in tremendous struggle against
men Of like race, strength Of charac-
ter and physical endurance? Can any
good reason be given why the business
OF the country should be taxed in a
time Of profound peace" as it was
10 maintain the most tremendous
war Of history Can any good rea-
son be given why the expense Of con-
ducting this government in time Of
peacs should be one billion dollars per
annum one thousand million dollars?
Is that system worth defending
which hakesfit profitable and sound
policy for the party IN power TO M
crease the expenses OF the Govern
ment, year after year? With an APP
preparation Of billion a year from
Congress can II be explained with
any appearance OF decency why we
find It necessary TO Issue bonds for
the construction Of the canal, bonds
for irrighting lands while millions OF
acres are stu without inhabitants.
bonds for reclaimIng swanps and
bonds for controlling our rivers? Can
a deficiency aggregating q million a
day be explained on any other princI-
pie than that waste and extravaganza
characterize every operation OF Gov
eminent?
Why are not the American people
awake TO the evils Of excessive taxa
tIon7 For centuries we have been
trained to selfgovernment; for little
more than one generation the Japan
ese have felt the responsibility. but
when the evils under which our backs
are bent fall upon Japan are her peo-
pie careless? An American after
months OF observation IN the East
says;
THE entire Japanese nation els
growing under the heavy taxation.
and a wave OF Socialism is sweeping
over the empire. Since the war with
Russia the standard OF living in Japan
has increased 200 per cent. and owing
10 the heavy debt incurred in the
struggle against the Russians the
government officials have placed the
taxes at an extremely high figure.
Everything Is taxed IN Japan. and the
people are beginning to feel the ef.
fects OF such taxation. Among the
farmers there Is much bitterness
against the authorities. and trouble Is
bound 70 result"
We have been invited to study the
Japanese IN war--it might be welt II
we copied them In peace as we'll Is
Il because Americans no longer care
for their country that they are cal
lous 70 their own tToublesg We are
told that the farmers OF the West are
content 10 let well enough alone
we are assured that the people OF
Kansas who ride In automobiles and
have fat bank accounts viii not heed
the warnings OF Bryan or any other;
they have no sympathy for others
while they are happy. but this n the
temper that goes before a fan: tits
not because our territories are wide
and our cities rich and our fields pro
ductive that we are safe.
Living in this country has greatly
increased In cost; the practice OF tax.
Ing one man for the benefit OF another
has been crystailised into a aystem;
the division Of the whole people into
two classes who are favored and dis
criminated against goes steadily on.
Il IA time there was a change. No re-
public can continue without an OPP
position party; n the Republican me-
chine ~ now powerful enough 10 over
ride an opposition--lf a President. by
commanding hia army Of oficials. can
control national conventions. dictate
policies and name his successor then
Il v time even for those who ride In
automobiles and carry ias hank ac.
counts 70 sit up and take notice The
President says our military organiEa.
tion Is not equal 10 that OF Japan:
our Indifference leads a. 70 suspect