Year: 1871

dence may be absurd, but it contains n
great secret, nevertheless. The nnisfor-
tune of the foreigners who fill our work
shops and ptrform our drudgery, is that
they are able to do but one kind of work


The remedy for these evils is then
stated to be, education; education-which
breeds independence by making men their
own employers. This sounds little in
definite, but we think it will not be found
50 when considered as it ought to be. 1t
is through education that mankind will
at length come to reject the wages system
as bad for both employer and employee;
through it, that the truth will yet be
learned that wounds and scars received in
honest work are as honorable as those OBJ
tanned in battle. 1t is through this great
moral renoyator that we shall ultimately
he could for the society in which he lives,
is entitled, when supcrannuated, to be
held as something better than Il mere
pauper, whether his "dN' has been much
or little 1t is through education that the
masses will be taught to array themselves
against large and greedy monopolies, and
overthrow them, as all things which OPP
press the many to pamper few must ul
timately be oyerthrOwn. 1t is through
education that the world will advance to
the adjustment of its inconsistencies and
l.. G,Nfx
ton? Not that of books alone, but by
the experience, Of centuries to come, of
suffering, of fierce combat, of famine, of
the gradual growth Of the consciousness
of power in the down trodden, and of the
futility Of persistence on the part of those
who oppress them. The time is coming,
perhaps sooner than any of US think, when
they who do The work of the world shall
rule in council, and divide unto themselves
the fruits Of their toll


1t is vain to shut our eyes TO the plain
fact that the labor question is pre- -emin-
entity the question that now most presses
for solution. Who will be the prophet
that shall lead us out Of the wilderness ?
Scientific -4meyicGn.


Ed REPUBLICAN: In a previous letter
| said that Nebraska would this fall con
duct her election under the new constitu
ton, so confident was that the instru-
ment TO be submitted by the convention
would be one worthy Of the ability that
framed it. and one that would meet the
unqualified appreciation OF the people OF
the State 1t was the general belief that
such would be the case, little dreaming
that we would be called upon to sanction
a document so odious in many respects.
But such is the case, and the natural
result is an almost universal condcmna-
ton of the unhoiy thing" Although
wrote exclusively of The new constitution,
last week, yet there is one other point oi
which desire to speak, not that it viii be
of any interest to you in Indiana, but
lnerely TO expose Tie absuidity Of such a
constitutional enactment and the princi-
pie involved. In the enumeration of the
subjects and objects of taxation, public
cemeteries are mentioned? Would you
believe it? Levying a tax upon the graves
of the dead, Yes, this is what the con
stitution proposes to do-impose tax
upon all public cemeteries of a valuation
over five thousand dollars. Each oN rer Of
q lot or grave--it might lie difficult to
! H. 7,
compelled to pay his or her portion of the
tax


/ CHANGED to overhear the following
discussion, which give in substance, as
near as my memory serves me, in order to
show you the depth Of the argument used
in defence of this unholy, unprecedented
proposition to dcsecrate the graves of the
dead


\. You surely do not believe it is com
patible with the ideas and institutions OF
our free government to impose tax upon
| the tombstones and monuments erected
over the graves of the dead out Of respect
to their memory?


B. If rich man erects a monument
| worth say two thousand dollars, he should
be made TO pay tax Gu it, to support Tic
State.


4. But must person be restrained in
this manner in his manifestation of re
spect for the dead?


B. The idea is to compel the rich to
pay the taxes.


\. Allow me to state case, and / ask
| you to answer ii you can. Here is man
of wealth, paying enormous taxes. Over
the grave of his wife he has placed mon
ument costly and magnificent in the ex-
tremc, on which ne must pay heavy tax.
Imagine him suddenly reduced to poverty,
utter destitution-all his worldly effects
are gone. like the wind, except that mon
ament in yonder graveyard. That spot
over which he has placed it is consecra-
ted to her memory, and it is almost as
dear to him as was she in her compan-
ionship with him in life How can hc
pay that heavy tax? In case he cannot
what then?


b. 1t would be sold, OF course; 1t Is
nothing more than useless ornament.


A. But who would be likely to pur
chase such thing?


b. 1t would in all probability sell for ;


nominal price, and there would be no diff


ficulty in finding buyer.


A. But then here is difficulty; thert


is inscribed on it the name, age, and date


of death of the person to whose memory


it was erected.


B. Oh, that could be very easily erased


and the monument remodeled


A. As plain as you have made this il


theory, do you believe it is right and JUS


in principle?


! failed to hear an answer to the latte


question, but no doubt ii was answered


equal in force with the preceding. 1t il


not strange that men claiming moderate