Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-09

they do 80 following the war VIII thcy |
continue through generations TO come
to carry these gigantic burdens? ! say |
generations to come, for in the case OF |
our own very modest Civil War debt.
after fifty years more than ono hird /
remains unpaid aud that in country /
the richest upon the face OF The earth.
WILL THE RICH MIGRATE.
It is certain that II the interest charges
upon the colossal debts now existing ana
the gigantic additions Net to he created
are TO he paid, this can only be done ny
so large charge uron the income from,
capital az TO amount to partial confie-
ca ion Under the heavy charge. VIII
the rich begin to migrate tp other coun-
tries to escape the burden? Already we
near that such n movement has begun.
and the English papers are crihcizirg
certain OF their citizens for leaving Ems
land and going to New York. II, follow
ing the war such migration continues
and the capital avaia bic to pay the
interest on the national debit continues
TO he reduced. will the nations involved
be obliged 20 scale their debts or 10
confiscste the wealth of the migrants:
I DO not answer the question, bat do
say that there Is no possible way 10
handle the war debts except by taxation
so far beyond any imposed before the
war as 10 amount to partial conftsca tiou.
l am no more a prophet In this matter
than the reader. lay the problem be-
fore him for his consideration. No man
can safely predict.
In writing OF the burden % debt upon
the warning nations. have hit touch
I'd their obvious and immediate effects.
| Tie more remote and far reaching ones
no ore Is wise enough to foresee. 1t has
sometimes been suggested for the United
States that for certain ella sses of in
dustries regulation might in the future
extend to control the prices; but thus
far this has been limited to the public
utilities. But at tho present time in Ger
many the prices are regula ed by the
government for food and clothing and for
almost every other essential article OF
war. Not only so, but each person,
whether soldier or civilian, is told
what and how much to cat and what
to wear. Finally. he must do tho things
the State directs. Regulation has also
gone far in Great Britain and France.
! At the end Of the war. will the people
have become so accustomed ia these
restrictions that they will continue In
force"
WILL THE PEOPLE BECOME ANTS
II the governmentYs meet their obli-
cations. II they make provision for the
payment Of their interest charges and
for the final liquidation OF their debts
it is certain that the heavy hand of the
government will he upon the individual
for all these 4npooC.rO OF people to All
extent not before equaled among modern
civilized nations. The ant exists for the
colony alone his controlling instinct
makes him do what is good for the col
ony: as an individual he is nothing
VIII the people Of the warning nations
become ants? Or shall they have free
dom in which individual privileges and
rights and duties and responsibilities
and initiative count
How the reader will answer this cues
ton will probably depend somewhat or
his social philosophy II he Is Inclined
to socialism. he will say that the situa
ton Will result in State socialism; ant
there is no 0uestion-there is absolutely
no uuestion--that in Europe the move
ment for State socialism during this wal
, has gone forward with a speed never
before Appropriated or, he may say
that State domination Of the individual
is not progress. that ii Is truly anti
, social. and that human beings canno
, reach their development under II; ne
may say that the people will rebe! agalns
the CALLING bonds and reassert their free
| dom.
! don't know, | don't pretend to know
which will happen, but certain 1t is tina
, the social transforma tions during anC
after the war will be Al speed neVe
before approached. The people OF tn'
nations involved have problems 10 solve
both social and econonic-so FAR ne
yond those which confront other nations
that we cannot predict whether or no
, they will be able IN this generation %
, this century to free themseles from tn
awful calamites which rest upon then
| because of the world war,