Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-19
The End MOI Doubtful Though Delayed
BY Bishop w. A. Gambler

When I was in Korea some years ago
observed the great prostration of all
Industries and the deep poverty of the
people. Before going there 1 had read
of how the Japanese had learned many
of their arts from the Koreans original
ly, and 1 was not prepared, therefore,
for the great contrast between the In
dustries of Japan and the industries of
Korea which 1 observed. Inquirng the
cause of conditions in Korea L was told
that for generations the reigning sover
eigns and the nobility of the land had
been accustomed TO take from producers
the fruit of their industry without COM
pensation. If, for example, there was a
notable manufacturer of china. the King
would order many OF his valuable wares
sent to the palace and for the goods
thus taken the manufacturer received
little or no compensation. In like man
ner sword-maker would be robbed by
royalty and by the nobility. The eff
feet OF the process (aptly called in the
Orient "squeezing'D was to discourage
industry by taking away the motive for
skill and diligence III business.
My mind reverted to this condition OF
things in Korea a few days ago when
reading recent utterance of Mr.. James
] Hill. That very thoughtful man was
reported as speakir as follows:
Examine political nostrums now
most talked of as saviors of society,
humane in intent though many of
them be, and it win be found that
they all involve the continued ex-
penditure of large sums Of money to
be collected by taxation. The men
who pay these taxes are the hold
ers of property. The men who vote
these expenditures are the taxpay-
ers plus that considerably more nu-
merous body of electors who either
pay no taxes or share so inconsid- -
cradle that it's increase or decrease is
not felt. Hence constantly in
creasing disposition in the nation
and the States to change the distri-
button of wealth by legislation; TAX
ing 1t by enormous appropriations
from those who have accumulated 1t
and scattering it among those who
did not. The end of such a system
may be delayed, trnt it is not doubt
full. Capital is exhausted and is not
renewed. The motive vanishes. The
public is educated to refuse work. to
spend lavishly, to look to the State
as the COW that an keep everybody /
want indefinitely. Labor suffers in
the end
In this country we have no king or
hereditary class of titled nobility. The
people are sovereign, and their elected 4
Representatives answer to the nobility
of an absolute monarchy. But notwith-
standing the popular FORM of our govern
ment, may we not do In effect what the
rulers of Korea have done? May we not
NawfNy NNVnfH
drive capital from productive invest
ments and take from labour Its incentive
to toll and it's inspiration to skill and
inventiveness? Do not the words of Mr..
Hill show that this peril Is not so re-
mote as some might suppose?
There is too great disposition to look
to the government for every thing that
some classes want, and to lay taxes
for the relief of every popular demand.
Members Of Congress take pride in say
ing how many appropriations they have
secured for their districts, not stopping
to think that nee dless appropriations are
at bottom robbery of the people who
pay taxes into the treasury. BY conse-
ouence the River and Harbor Bill, the
Pension BILL and the bill which carries
appropriations for public buildings are
Justly called pork barrels. once
heard General Robert Toombs boast that
gia in both the House Of Representatives
and the Senate Of the United States he
never secured, or attempted to secure,
the extraction of dollar from the ma
tional treasury not required for the gen.
eral welfare of the nation and justified
by the constitution under strict con-
struction of federal powers and obliga-
tons. But this type of statesmen has
become nearly extinct, and we now have
many representatives at Washington
who boast of their ability to get things
for their constituents, or. in other words,
who are proud of using the public funds
to buy popular favour with the thought
less and the venal. 1t is passing strange
that one claiming to be an honest man
should take pride irf bribing some Of the
people with funds needlessly taxed from
all the people.
In the legislation of the several states
we see the same trend. All sorts of
proposals are brought forward to spend
the money which is forcibly taken from
the people by taxation. There are vision
airy educational schemes, plans for pro-
noting various humane projects of
more or less valuable character, and all
sorts of devices for spending money on
plausibly defended enterprises. The APP
propriations being made, it then becomes
necessary to find the money to meet
them: and forthwith legislators begin
looking about to ascertain whose money
they can take by taxation with the least