Year: 1868

VIII the People Bear the Enor-


NOUS Taxation.


There is probably NO greater anomaly
in modern times than is seen in this coun-
try; that the people under popular re-
publican governments government clo-
sen by themselves and changed every few
years-should submit to burden of taxa
ton without parallel in the world. That
they submitted to this cheerfully in time
OF a great civil war for the sake of pre-
serving the life and unity Of the republic
showed their patriotism. They were vii
ling, too, to give the government a rea-
sonable time to adjust the finances and to
discharge the floating obligations arising
from, the war. But it is likely they will
continue to bear war taxes and ezpen IL
lures years after peace has been establish
ed? Over three years have elapsed since
since the war ended, and the taxes amount
to more than four hundred and sixty mil
lions of dollars year-a larger sum than
that raised and expended by the most
costly monarchial government in
the worll. 1t is monstrous.
The people are becoming restless and dis
gusted, aud will certainly seek remedy
either in change of their public servants
or in reputation of the deb. Unless
abler and more honest men be elected to
congress-men who will see the necessity
of economy, and have the courage to cut
down all unnecessary expenditures and
bring them to something near like what
they were before the war-it will not be
long bafore we shall hear significant and
deep mutterings of reputation from
one end of the country to the other.


The present Congress is without ability
to grasp the subject of national finance
and taxation, and is withal recklessly ex.
travagant in making appropriations for all
sorts of things and jobs, Even when ii
took off about hundred millions of taxa.
tioH this was done for the benefit of manu-.
facturers, and for the manufacturers oil
New England especially, who are but a
small part of the community. The peo
pie generally will not feel the reduction
The effect will be merely to increase ths
profits of the manufacturers Had the
tax on tea, coffee, sugar and other articles
of prime necessity and general use among
the laborng classes been greatly reduced
or abolished, the people everywhere woulc
have been benefited. That would have
been lessening the burden of taxation in
way to be felt by every workingl1an'


family. But the late acts Of Congress re
ducing taxes will be of advantage only f.


a few manufacturers. Congress began a
the wrong end. 1t is of no use, however


to reduce the taxes while the expendi
lures are so enormous, for that will onl
bring depleted Treasury and bankrup
Government. The first thing to be don
is to reduce the expenditures two hundre


millions or more. The whole cost Of tn
Government in all departments and ex
peuse, Independent of the national debt
ought not to DC over hundred millions
year. Indeed, it ought to be less. Tw
hundred and fifty millions revenue is an
, pie. Yet we see it was over four hundre


and sixty millions last year. This is tn
. great question for the American peopl
j.. now to consider. And in the coming CJr
gressional elections they should take ca.
f that the incapable, reckless and extrav;
giant members of the present Congress J


left at home to cultivate potatoes, whic
= they may understand better, and that fres
and more capable men be sent to Washing


ton-NeW York Herald.