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WHO PAYS YOUR TAXES?

If that be true, we should refrain entirely from charities,lest we should seem to war with God . But the peoplegive a truer answer: we must work with God ; we mustpractice charity intelligently. When we see a wretchedbeggar, it is easy to give him a penny to still our ownconscience, and to go away with a false and degradingsense of virtue. We have done no good. Our duty isto look him up, to look after him, even to expose him ifnecessary. But to many of us, that is impracticable.Then, we must organize, and attack the roots of the evil.

Do not pass this by, thinking it is a matter for thosewho study political economy to decide. The communitylays the taxes ; you are a part of the community. If thetaxes are not just, they are unjust. If they are unjust,they are theft—for which you are partly responsible.You cannot shirk this responsibility, standing by, con-senting to the death of those whom thieves strip. Thereis a terrible sense, as well as a tender sense, in which itwill be said, “ Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one ofthe least of these my brethren, ye have done it untoMe.”