north america-2-第73章
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ally made in the mercantile City of New York； and when the matter was discussed it seemed as though no American realized the iniquity of such a threat。 It was not apparently understood that such a confiscation on account of a war would be an act of national robbery justified simply by the fact that the power of committing it would be in the hands of the robbers。 Confiscation of so large an amount of wealth would be a smart thing； and men did not seem to perceive that any disgrace would attach to it in the eyes of the world at large。 I am very anxious not to speak harsh words of the Americans； but when questions arise as to pecuniary arrangements； I find myself forced to acknowledge that great precaution is at any rate necessary。 But； nevertheless； I am not sure that we shall be fair if we allow ourselves to argue as to the national purpose in this matter from such individual instances of dishonesty as those which I have mentioned。 I do not think it is to be presumed that the United States as a nation will repudiate its debts because two separate States may have been guilty of repudiation。 Nor am I disposed to judge of the honesty of the people generally from the dishonest threatenings of New York； made at a moment in which a war with England was considered imminent。 I do believe that the nation； as a nation； will be as ready to pay for the war as it has been ready to carry on the war。 That 〃ignorant impatience of taxation；〃 to which it is supposed that we Britons are subject； has not been a complaint rife among the Americans generally。 We； in England； are inclined to believe that hitherto they have known nothing of the merits and demerits of taxation； and have felt none of its annoyances； because their entire national expenditure has been defrayed by light custom duties； but the levies made in the separate States for State purposes； or chiefly for municipal purposes； have been very heavy。 They are； however； collected easily； and； as far as I am aware； without any display of ignorant impatience。 Indeed； an American is rarely impatient of any ordained law。 Whether he be told to do this； or to pay for that； or to abstain from the other； he does do and pay and abstain without grumbling； provided that he has had a hand in voting for those who made the law and for those who carry out the law。 The people generally have； I think； recognized the fact that they will have to put their necks beneath the yoke； as the peoples of other nations have put theirs； and support the weight of a great national debt。 When the time comes for the struggle； for the first uphill heaving against the terrible load which they will henceforth have to drag with them in their career； I think it will be found that they are not ill inclined to put their shoulders to the work。 Then as to their power of paying the bill！ We are told that the wealth of a nation consists in its labor； and that that nation is the most wealthy which can turn out of hand the greatest amount of work。 If this be so； the American States must form a very wealthy nation； and as such be able to support a very heavy burden。 No one； I presume； doubts that that nation which works the most； or works rather to the best effect； is the richest。 On this account England is richer than other countries； and is able to bear； almost without the sign of an effort； a burden which would crush any other land。 But of this wealth the States own almost as much as Great Britain owns。 The population of the Northern States is industrious； ambitious of wealth； and capable of work as is our population。 It possesses； or is possessed by； that restless longing for labor which creates wealth almost unconsciously。 Whether this man be rich or be a bankrupt； whether the bankers of that city fail or make their millions； the creative energies of the American people will not become dull。 Idleness is impossible to them； and therefore poverty is impossible。 Industry and intellect together will always produce wealth； and neither industry nor intellect is ever wanting to an American。 They are the two gifts with which the fairy has endowed him。 When she shall have added honesty as a third； the tax…gatherer can desire no better country in which to exercise his calling。 I cannot myself think that all the millions that are being spent would weigh upon the country with much oppression； if the weight were once properly placed upon the muscles that will have to bear it。 The difficulty will be in the placing of the weight。 It has； I know； been argued that the circumstances under which our national debt has extended itself to its present magnificent dimensions cannot be quoted as parallel to those of the present American debt； because we； while we were creating the debt； were taxing ourselves very heavily； whereas the Americans have gone ahead with the creation of their debt before they have levied a shilling on themselves toward the payment of those expenses for which the debt has been encountered。 But this argument； even if it were true in its gist； goes no way toward proving that the Americans will be unable to pay。 The population of the present free…soil States is above eighteen millions； that of the States which will probably belong to the Union if secession be accomplished is about twenty…two millions。 At a time when our debt had amounted to six hundred millions sterling we had no population such as that to bear the burden。 It may be said that we had more amassed wealth than they have。 But I take it that the amassed wealth of any country can go but a very little way in defraying the wants or in paying the debts of a people。 We again come back to the old maxim； that the labor of a country is its wealth； and that a country will be rich or poor in accordance with the intellectual industry of its people。 But the argument drawn from that comparison between our own conduct when we were creating our debt； and the conduct of the Americans while they have been creating their debtduring the twelve months from April 1； 1861； to March 31； 1862； let us sayis hardly a fair argument。 We； at any rate； knew how to tax ourselvesif only the taxes might be forthcoming。 We were already well used to the work； and a minister with a willing House of Commons had all his material ready to his hand。 It has not been so in the United States。 The difficulty has not been with the people who should pay the taxes； but with the minister and the Congress which did not know how to levy them。 Certainly not as yet have those who are now criticising the doings on the other side of the water a right to say that the American people are unwilling to make personal sacrifices for the carrying out of this war。 No sign has as yet been shown of an unwillingness on the part of the people to be taxed。 But wherever a sign could be given； it has been given on the other side。 The separate States have taxed themselves very heavily for the support of the families of the absent soldiers。 The extra allowances made to maimed men； amounting generally to twenty…four shillings a month； have been paid by the States themselves； and have been paid almost with too much alacrity。 I am of opinion that the Americans will show no unwillingness to pay the amount of taxation which must be exacted from them； and I also think that as regards their actual means they will have the power to pay it。 But as regards their power of obtaining access to those means； I must confess that I see many difficulties in their way。 In the first place they have no financier； no man who by natural aptitude and by long…continued contact with great questions of finance； has enabled himself to handle the money affairs of a nation with a master's hand。 In saying this I do not intend to impute any blame to Mr。 Chase； the present Secretary of the Treasury。 Of his ability to do the work properly had he received the proper training； I am not able to judge。 It is not that Mr。 Chase is incapable。 He may be capable or incapable。 But it is that he has not had the education of a national financier； and that he has no one at his elbow to help him who has had that advantage。 And here we are again brought to that general absence of statecraft which has been the result of the American system of governm
