AN EVIL SYSTEM OF TAXATION. 171 



system constantly augment its power ; while " expectant 

 ones " who hope, sooner or later, to have a share in 

 " manipulating the state control," — even down to the day 

 laborer, — are ever putting themselves in line to give it 

 support. Do away with indirect taxation, and place direct 

 taxation upon a proper basis, and the paternal govern- 

 ment of a civilized country would be shorn of its greatest 

 power, and the leaders of its forces know this only too 

 well. The twenty or more millionaires in the Senate of the 

 United States are thoroughly imbued with the idea that 

 wealth and government are inseparable ; they know just 

 how specially serviceable government may be to wealth, 

 and how specially serviceable wealth may be to govern- 

 ment, and they, like their fellows in every department of 

 the political machine, govern themselves accordingly. 

 The result is that against reform in our system of taxa- 

 tion and the evils it occasions there is a well consoli- 

 dated force, commanded by well-trained, experienced, 

 and self-interested officers. 



But it is not only this regular army of active forces 

 which opposes this reform, there is also a force of nega- 

 tives, more or less irregular, who are most effective 

 impediments to wholesome efforts to effect this purpose. 

 They object to the policies of the actives, but they 

 formulate nothing to stimulate hope in the breasts of 

 those who long for remedial action. Worthless as are 

 their objections to action on the lines of their professions, 

 they are really grave stumbling-blocks to the many who 

 may desire a better state of things, for their ever ready 

 " wet blanket " is a constant check to weak-hearted 

 though honest reformers.' Yet reform is imperative. 



* One of the most effective objections to radical changes in fiscal 

 policies made by its assumed friends, is that the necessity for large 



