New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-05
NEEDED REFORMS.


EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
Si-Since January 1866 | have been
striving to learn how it is that liquors are
sold below the tax of two dollars per gal
Ion. Early in the year 1 wrote to gentle
men in high positions, hoping that they
would exert such an influence upon con-
gress at this session as to effect an entire re-
peal of the tax upon spirits, upon cotton,
and certain kinds of medicines
My reasons are simply these: In the first
place high taxes on manufactured articles
are temptations to fraud. 2. They oppress
the poor, who should be favored that they
may earn property to be taxed.
Cigars being only luxury, the tax does
no great injury to the public except as a
temptation to fraud, deception, trickery,
opposition to the government by the class
of men who formerly manufactured them,
an Indifference to its prosperity, and finally
hatred. Again, tobacco is only q recent
article of commerce, while wines, cordials,
DAUhulCos uhu Tvs ulC NNtNul Win uAslO-
ry, therefore we are more interested in
lowering the price of liquor than toboceo.
The spirit of the vegetable kingdom is
assimilated by the animal economy; it is
a sustainer, a preserver, aud proiractor Of
human life when properly used. In sick
ness spirits are indispensable. and We might
almost as well discard drug stores as them
In the arts and manufacture they ais Iss-
ful, in the preservation Of mrliginr~
have no equal, aud an occasion ~
may be useful even when no. holiing 10
solution ether medicines. And NJ the poor
are most often sick this tax falls most
heavily upon them, who, as we have al.
ready said, should be exempted from taxa
ton until they have something worth n tax.
To tempt our neighbor is not Christian
like; ; for the good book " says: Lead
us not into temptation, but deliver US from
evil.1
Let then the conservators Of the nation
be careful not to pass laws likely to de-
moralize the people. If one thing more
than another has lowered the respect OF
the Irish for their government, it is the
excise laws of England.
With respect to spirits, it can be proven
by distillers and thousand witnesses that
for the last two years the "small fry dis
tillers have had to sell to the large ones and
to the rectifers for from sixty cents to onC
dollar and sixty cents per gallon, according
to the location and the season while The
latter put on "sBborned brandsh and sci
to the city dealers for from one dollar t
one dollar and ninety cents per gallon, anC
to the country merchants from two dollar
and fifteen cents to two dollars and thirty
cents per gallon, according ID time, lat
itude, and longitude.
Spirits are even sent to Europe to bt
returned brandy. 1t may be drawn from
the bonded warehouses upon orders, and
smuggled into the contraband market
where it ranges as said before at from sixty
cents to 81 60. Empty barrels will
brands on are bought up, and rectifel
will occasionally buy barrel or two a
50 per gallon for show casks in his shop
But when once furnished their removal il
very rare.
Much more might be said in favor o
abolishing the tax On liquors, for it il
| huOMn tubb uuby 10 uOb pau Ou OuO BullOL
in ten that is made, while the consumer hai
10 pay as dear for his drinks as ii the tal
was paid on all. Besides the demoralizin(
effect on the dealers is wonderful. 1t il
acknowledged by allithat the tax can no
be made equal throughout the United
States, as three gallons can be made il
Cincinnati for two in New York, one ant
three-fourths in New England, and one il
New Orleans.
The Republican party will be held re-
sponsible by the people for this demoral
izaton, although 1 believe very few Re
pubIicans are engaged in the contrabanC
trade. A different class of people, VIII,
have not the respect of the nation at heart
and who generally oppose that party.
The Republican party may stagger for
short time under these heavy charges, bu
if it does not soon throw them off it
bound to fall by the hands of the very mel
who are now enriching themselves and dis
. affecting the people against reforms, b,
their licentiousness and open violation Q
the excise law,
We do not know how soon, but we
know that the democratic party are
! stealthily picking up every missile Of thi
kind to hurl at the Republican party at tn
next presidential election. Therefore it
the more necessary that there be no della,
in the repeal of the liquor tax and the cotto
tax, while at the same time congress shoul
J provide bureau Of the levees of the Unite
States, having a commissioner at Washing
ton and one at the capital of each state, tn
latter to cooperate with another selecte
by each state. These to employ survey
ors, feremen, ETC., and report to Washing
} ton once month. And at the end of eac
year charge to each state one-third or one
, half Of the expense Of the construction an
repairs Of the leyees, and the governmeu
: to lOse the remainder for the general we
fare of the nation.
The Democratic party will have thei
} hobby in free trade or a more moderate To
! on imports and productions Of the esuntrl
| am in favor Of taxing money and propert
} rather than the half-starVed bones, sinew
} and brains that create capital.
j Finally, my dear Editor, let us not slande
. and abuse the blessings we have, one {
] which, properly used, spirits certainly is.
For any man with well-balanced min
5 can use them temperately, and when b
: system needeth, without 10 the least injufin
! his most ascetio neighbor who may be oI
posed thereto. Let us, then, put or
| shoulder to the wheel Of consistency, an
, strive by preeept and example to teach OF
+ kind neighboTs and partizans how to US
and not abuse the choicest Of God 8 bles
t ings bestowed Dpen man. Let US FIR
' overcome our own Ignorance and prejudic
: and others will see it. -