New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-28

quiring what the law was and then |
rendering it full obedience, there has
been disposition on the part OF
inquire whether they liked the law
and If not to disregard it, seek to
override it, suspend it and prevent
ITS execution, sometimes by the
method of direct action, for the pur-
pose of securing their own selfish
ends. The observance of the law is
the greatest solvent of public Ills
Men speak of natural rights, but /
challenge any one to show where in
nature any rights ever existed or
were recognized until there was es-
tablished for their declaration and /
protection duly promulgated body +
of corresponding laws. The march of I
civilization has been ever under the
protecting ngis Of the law. 1t is
the strong defence of the weak the /
ever present refuge of innocence, q
mighty fortress of the righteous.
One with the law is a majority.
While the law is observed the prog
ress Of civilization will continue.
When such observance ceases chaos
and the ANCIENT night of despotism
will come again. Liberty goes UNI
supported Or relies in its entirely on
the main-enance of order and t -
execution of the law.
There Is yet another NANTES dj.s-
position which HIS pre.ed IN *hc
weakness Of the race from. itS IN
fancy. denounced alike by che ;ott lnr
and ihe spirit of the ..onss ;.,1t;or,
and repugnant to all LAT 5 Amori-
CT N-.the attens9t to ..reav class dis
t5hctlons. In Its full development
in such civili7 <sfw. as exists ,,0 is
r r.gldlty set ~ that elasticity SO
recognition = e equsitv w ade ' has
been the Avn and glory of our in
stltutlo IS. are destroyed and denied.
Socle' 10 advance must be not a
aeao form but a living organism,
PIE <tfc, inviting progress. There are
= classes here. There are different
occupations and different stations;
certainly there can be no class of
employer and employed All true
! Americans are working for each
other, exchanging the results of the
efforts of hand and brain wrought
through the unconsumed efforts of
yesterday, which we call capital, ali
paying and being paid by each other,
serving and being served. To do
otherwise is to stand disgraced and
alien to our institutions. This
means that government must look at
that legislation must be directed not
for private interest but for public
welfare, and that thereby alone will
each of our citizens find their great
est accomplishment and success.
If the great conflict has disturbed
oGr political conditions it has caused
an upheaval in our economic rela-
tions. The mounting prices of all
sorts of commodities has put we'll
nigh unbearable burden on every
home. Much of this is beyond relief
from law, but the forces of the gov
eminent can and must afford CON
siderable remedy.
For Reduced Taxation
The most obvious place to begin
retrenchment is by eliminating the
extravaganza of the government it
self. In this the Congress has made
a commendable beginning, but al
though the Congress makes the APP
preparations the departments make
the expenditures, which are not under
Legislative but executive control The
extravagant standards bred of re-
cent years must be eliminated. This
should show inlne diateiy in reduced
taxation. That great breeder of pub
lie and private extravaganza, the ex-
cess profits tax, should be revised
/ and recourse had to customs taxes
on imports, one of the most whole
some of all means Of raising revenue
for it is voluntary in effect, and taxes
consumption rather than production.
1t should be laid according to the
needs of a creditor nation. for the
protection of the public, with pur-
pose to render US both economically
and defensively independent.
revision of taxation must be &C
companied with a reduction of that
private extravaganza which the re-
turns from luxury taxes reveal as
surprising all comprehension. Wav-
ing the moral effect, the economic
effect of such extravaganza is to
withdraw needed capital and labor
from essential industries, greatly in
creasing the public distress and un-
rest
There has been profiteering. 1t
should be punished because it is
wrong. But it is idle to look to such
action for relief. This class profit by
scarcity, but they do not cause it.
AS every one knows now, the diff
Guilty is caused by scarcity of mate
rial. an abundance Of money, and in
sufficient production. The govern
ment must reduce the amount of
money as fast as 1t can without cur
failing necessary credits. Production
must be increased All easy to say
but difficult of accomplishment.
One of the chief hindrancas to pro-
duction is lack of adequate railroad
facilities. Transportation must be re-
established A few glaring Instances;
in the past of improper management
Joined with an improper public atti-
tade thereby created wrought great
harm to our railroads Government
operation left them dlsintegrated,