Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 5.djvu/81

Rh enormous private fortunes by means little, if at all, short of robbery.

But, undisturbed by all this, the people thought of their country. They bore the load of their taxes, a load such as hardly ever had been borne by any people, with the patriotic resolution that the Republic must be saved at any cost.

And had they not been told by statesmen whom they knew to be honorable that these tremendous measures of taxation were but “war measures,” that in their very nature they were only “temporary,” that the tariff taxes were only a “compensation” to the suffering manufacturer for the internal taxes, and that all this monstrous burden would be lifted off their aching shoulders with returning peace? And had they any reason to distrust such solemn declarations?

The people trusted and struggled on. And when in the presidential election of 1864 they were asked, “Will you continue to bear the heavy burdens you have borne so long for the salvation of the republic to the end, and will you continue to intrust those who imposed them upon you with your confidence and with the powers of your Government?” the solemn answer was, “We will.” The history of the world has no example of nobler confidence, of loftier patriotism, of a more exalted spirit of self-sacrifice, than this voluntary decision. Truly, such a people deserved that their confidence should be justified, and that they be dealt with in good faith; and those who had made the promises undoubtedly meant to do so.

Well, in 1865 the civil war came to an end. Peace was restored, and the internal-revenue taxes for which the manufacturers had received compensation in high tariff duties gradually disappeared. The protected industries were then expected to give up the compensation. What was the reply? “Oh, no: these tariff duties we must keep.