Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-26

commerce among the peoples OF
the world; which raised the liv-
ing standard of the American
people beyond that ever before
known: and which elevated the
laborer. the farmer and the
tradesman to their rightful station
Iof dignity and relative prosperity
This adventurous spirit is now
threatened as it was in the days
of the Boston tea party by an un-
considerable burden of taxation
This is sapping the initiative and
energies of the people and leaves
little incentive for the assump-
ton of those risks which are in
herent and unacceptable in the
forging of progress under the sys-
tenn of free enterprise.
Worst of all it is throwing its
tentacleS around the low income
bracket sector of our society from
whom is now exacted the major
share OF the cost of government.
This renders its paper income
largely illusory. The so called
forgotten man" of the early thir-
ties now is indeed no longer for
gotten as the Government levies
upon his income as the main re-
manning source to defray reckless
spendthrift policies.
More and more we work not for
ourselves but for the State. In
time, if permitted to continue,
this trend cannot fail to be de-
structive. For no nation may sur
vive in freedom once its people
become the servants of the State,
a condition to which we are now
pointed with dreadful certainty.
Labor. as always, will be the first
to feel its frightful consequences.
Spending at Reckless Rate.
1t is quite true that some levy
upon the peoples earnings to pay
the cost of Government is I'M
avoidable. But the costs of Gov
eminent, even discounting extraor-
binary military requirements, have
risen at an accelerated, alarming
and reckless rate. Nothing is
heard from those in supreme
executive authority concerning
the possibility of a reduction or
even limitation upon these
mounting costs.
No suggestion deals with the
restoration of some semblance of
a healthy balance. No plan is
advanced for easing the crush
ing burden already resting upon
the people. To the contrary. all
that we hear are the plans by
which such costs progressively
may be increased. New means
are constantly being devised for
greater call upon the taxable
potential as though the resources
available were .inexhaustible.
We compound responsibility
by seeking to share what LIQUID
wealth we have with others. In
SO doing we recklessly speak of
the billions we would set aside
Tor the purpose, as though they
were inconsequential. There can
be no quarrel with altruism. Such
has ever beer a predominant
quality making up the nobility of
the merican chara ter.
We should do all in our power
TO alleviate the suffering and
hardship of other peoples, and to
support their own maximum effort
to preserve their freedom from the
assaults Of Communist imperial
ism. But when this effort is car
ried beyond the ability to pay. or
10 the point that the attendant
burden upon our own people be-
comes insufferable. or places our
own way Of life and freedom in
Jeopardy, then it ceases to be al
truism and becomes reckless i'm
prudence.
I have yet to see evidence that
such vast OUTLAWS were preceded
by the slightest concern for the
ultimate effect it will have upon
our own liberties and standards of
life.
Built on Vision and Courage.
This Nations material wealth is
built upon the vision and courage,
the sweat and toll, hope and faith
OF our people. There has been no
magic involved upon which we
might again call to replenish our
denuded Golfers. We can either
advance upon the security of
sound principles or we can plunge
on to the precipice of disaster to-
ward which we are now headed in
the dangerous Illusion that our
wealth is inexhaustible - and can
therefore be limitlessly shared with
others.
It is argued that we must give
boundlessly if we are to be insured
allies in an emergency, I reject
this reasoning as an unwarranted
calumny against well-tested
of long standing. The sur
vival of the free world is infinitely
more dependent upon the main
tenance of a strong, vigorous,
healthy and independent America
as leavening influence than upon
any financial aid which we might
provide under our own existing
stringencies.
The free worlds one great hope
for survival now rests upon the
maintaining and preserving of our
own strength. Continue to dissi-
pate it and that one hope is dead.
If the American people would pass
on the standard of life and the
heritage of opportunity they them
selves have enjoyed to their chill
dren and their children's children
they Sould ask their Representa-
tives in Government: What is
the plan for the easing of the tax
burden upon us?" What is the
plan for bringing to a halt this
mf1ationary movement which is