The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1917-03-14
Q o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Q REGARDING TAX REFORM o
o (By Layman) o
q o Q o q q o O o . Q o Q o Q


thoughtful and timely editorials on
TAX Reform" not only because
they are we'll written, but because
the question is of the gravest pub
lie concern. For, Of all the powers
granted by the people, the Taxing
Power opens widest the door to ex-
travagance and corruption. and
strikes deepest into the heart of hui
man energies by levying upon the
reward of effort.
All whose opinions have impress
ed the world as worth while, have
with singular unanimnity, agreed
that individual rights in property is
the only basis upon which the or
ganization of society can endure,
because the security of these rights,
depending so entirely upon peace,
order and justice, makes them the
staunchest ally or organization,
hence whatever touches these main
springs of enterprise, industry, an
thrift should command the widest
publicity, the fullest discussion, the
closest scrutiny and the maturest
Judgment.
Let him. (Mr. Madison) thun-
dered Patrick Henry, "candidly tell
me where and when did freedom ex-
list, when the sword and the purse
were given up from the people. I'm
less a miracle in human affairs shall
interpose, no nation ever did or ever
can retain its liberties after the loss
of these" Again he says, IF we
depart one toto from the compact,
We give dangerous precedent
which may impreceptibly and grad
ually introduce the most destruc-
tive encroachments on human
rights
1t was not by revolution but by
relentless grip on the purse-strings
that the people of England tanned
their despots and made of them the
mildest of monarchs.
Fully realizing the grave dangers
in delegating these powers, the au-
thors of our system, employed to
the utmost their genius and wisdom
in surrounding them with every
possible safeguard. A tax must be
by consent of the taxed, it must be
general, equitable and, above all,
for public purposes only The au-
thority can be delegated only to
agents who are fresh and direct
from and responsible to the people
and they cannot be vested with the
authority to redelegate it.
But in the nature of the plan'
which presupposes the will and
ability of the people to guard their
own interests, much was left to the
integrity and discretion OF the
courts, but with the warning that
safety lies in the strictest construc-
ion of these grants, and. at the same
time, charging upon the private cit
izen the profound duty OF watching
over all with a jealous, and eternal
vigilance. nay, with The untiring
love and devotion of the mother
pelican watching over her only on
spring-sleeping with one eye open
and feeding it her own blood.
Now, Mr.. Skipper, let's take our
hearings and see if you have been
living up to- the high standard SO
confidently set you, and upon which
all good government depends. ADJ
sorbed in private interests, haven't
YOU failed to look beyond your lire
side'' and abandoned to the gra1ter
and incompetent the far more I'M
portant AFFAIRS of State, left 1t TO
them to crowd the pilot house ana
crows nest and run the old Ship OF
State with an abandon that makes
her cordage wall, her timbers groan
and Liberty scream?
After all this civic neglect, aren't
YOU still relying upon our OLD de-
funct Bill of Rights to protect you
and yours, still hugging that anti
ouated conceit that the properly
now in your possession is all abso-
,utely your very own? Well, old
Rim yanWinkle, you'd better wake
up and look round, for all those
little comfortable fool notions are
only the fatuous and illusory stun
of which the most whimsical dreams
are made, and equally fantastic is
the notion that some where ABOUT
YOUR COSMOS still remain some tags
and tatters of those precious rights
and liberties bequeathed by heroic
fathers, not menaced. abridged OF
abrogated
Thanks to the sweeping ana oe-
structiye range now given those IN
..,n,ant. of oppressiOn, General