The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-31
A LESSON FROM THE WHISKY TAX.

Many Republicans say the whisky ring is
too strong for the government, and must be
crippled by reducing the tax" So states
Washington dispatch of yesterday. There is
in the words quoted suggestive significance
far wiser, no doubt, than was meant. This
significance involves the condemnation of the
whole revenue system of the United States.
The whisky ring plethoric with illegitimate
gain, is only one variety of an order of pesti-
ferrous parasites who prey upon the finances
of the government on the one hand, and upon
the consuming masses on the other hand. The
effect of taxing whisky at the rate of five or six
times the cost of its production has been to
quadruple its market price, to stimulate its
manufacture, and almost to dry it up as a
source of national revenue. Its price was
never before so high, so much of it was never
before manufactured, and of this amount two
thirds, perhaps, are actually exempt from tax
alton. This is a scandalous paradox, most
assuredly; but not a whit more scandal
lous than the general effect of the other
parts sof the revenue system organized
by body of law makers who have pro-
ceeded on the maxim that the first
step in financial legislation should be to re-
pudiate the fundamental principles of fnan-
cial economy. In other lines of its opera
ton, this system has raised in an unhealthy
degree both the price and the production of
certain commodities without corresponding
yield of revenue, OF it has depressed, if not
paralyzed, important industries to the great
positive detriment of the people and of the
public finances. The tax ON imported mer-
ehandise illustrates, more or less conspicu-
ously, all of these evils. 1t may be described,
indeed, as the sum of current folly and in
justice perpetrated under the guise of taxa
ton for the general good of the country.
Nominally confined to imports, it is in reality
a tax also upon exports-that Is TO say, upon
the whole foreign commerce of the country,
and upon all industries which are in SYM
pathy with this commerce. A resulting de-
preston is felt by every interest in the land
except the ring of manufacturers who
thrive as commerce withers, as the
finances collapse, and as the general
prosperity decays As in the case
of the whisky combination, there is but one
way to break up this ring to rid legislation of
its pestilent influence, and that is either to
abolish the tariff, or to reduce it to the basis of
strict revenue purposes. But is it likely that
the party in control of Congress will take any
step in such a direction? Scarcely. 1t has
had full swing in legislation for eight years,
| and during that time its steps have been di-
rectly the other way. Its national conven-
ton, to be sure has just uttered some vague
| generalities about economy and moderate
taxation. These utterances remind one of
prayers for life made at sea, in the face of
imminent shipwreck, by ungodly and bias
| phemous men, who have, Immediately upon
escaping, returned to their ungodliness and
blasphemy with all their former JUNCTION. The
authors must be judged, if judged truly, by
their acts, and their acts condemn them with
the grave emphasis of history.