The Washington herald., 1913-02-09

possibility that the income tax. may
accentuate class distinction. There will
certainly be a division between those
who can pay and those who cannot.
There is already too much of the
aristocracy of wealth in this country.
When, under the new law, the people
who have money are compelled by the
government to pay for the privilege of
possessing it, they can hardly be blamed
for believing that they are in certain
class by themselves 1t may take some
time for this social separation to oc-
cur, but it seems as if it would be
the logical outcome. 1t is certainly
the case in Great Britain that there is
privileged class which is largely the
income tax-paying few, but its exist
ence is accepted as natural concomi-
tant of monarchical rule. We do not
want a similar situation in free re-
public.
1t will not be long before the amend
ment providing for the election of Sem
ators by popular vote instead OF by
the Legislatures will become part Of
the Constitution.
When il shall have been ratified, it
will mark significant departure from
our present system of government and
will be the first step toward the sub
stitution of a direct for a representa-
tive form of popular control. Like
the income tax, this amendment marks
the changing spirit of the times. The
people want more power, and led by
men who know how to excite the pop
ular Imagination, they will travel fur
ther and further away from the wise
and enduring principles upon which
this government was founded. Some of
these days, however, there will come
a great political battle between the
forces that would, on the one hand,
preserve present institutions, and those
who, on the other, would start a new
system. Unfortunately, while it is new,
so far as the United States is con-
cerned, it has been tried and proven
a signal failure in the republics of the
past. This fact is. apparently, with
out effect upon the mass of the peo-
pie, who seem inclined to believe that
experience should be thrown to the
winds.
So we will have direct election of
Senators, and then what will follow,
Heaven only knows.
1t remains to be seen how far Wood
row Wilson will, in his inaugural ad-
dress, touch upon these great questions
which so intimately concern our po-
litical life
He has an opportunity to take in
this address the advanced ground upon
which he stands in his recent maga-
zine articles. He may tell the country
that the common people have not for
many years past administered the gov
ernment, and he may advocate new
system whereby the butcher. the baker,
and the candlestickmaker may all be
personally consulted when legislation
is pending. If he does this, he will
give a unique favor to his initial dec
laration And why not? He believes
il, and the incorporation of his views
into his inaugural address would give
them a publicity they could not other
wise obtain The attention OF the
country would be riveted upon them,
and they would inspire editorial COM
ment by the column
Merely as a suggestion. it is to be
hoped that the inaugural address will
be bricf. A few concise. pithy SEN
tences would be a delightful contrast
to the long-windcd declarations in
which new Presidents generally indulge
Lincoln's second inaugural address is
model which Mr.. Wilson might fol-
low with great effect.