Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-10
TIE PROPERTY QUALIFTCA
TTON FOR

Editors AppedI.-It would seem that
100 many men mistake the design and
mission of government, or rather the
various kinds Of government existing
among nEn, especially in our country.
Our national government is organized
FOR the purpose of regulating on al
fairs abroad, aud resisting foreign in.
vasiOn or aggression in any form 10
legislate upon subjects or questions OF
national Importance. Our State gov
ernments provide for the protection
If person and the right of property.
/ refer only 10 the leading features.
The existence of a municipal gov
eminent implies that a considerable
number of persons have located in
close proximity to each either; have
erected upon their lands Tor lots as
they are termed) substantial and val
liable buildings for their use or
for Others who pay rent for them.
When a-town becomes a city, its cOn-
merce Of course has increased to an
indefinite extent, and to facilitate this
commerce, streets and river landings
must be graded and paved, the city
must be lighted, fire engines provided
to check CONGREGATIONS, etc. To ac-
cOmplish all this, vast OUTLAWS OF
money are required, and to raise which
taxes must be levied upon real estate
and privileges.
such being the basis upon which a
municipal government is constructed
and depends for support and exist
ence, l would ask in common justice
why should not the real estate owners,
,-I. a,vkNrshpfA Erllxr thrna- E.rrWfh1 Of
the money necessary for its existence,
have a potent and well defined voice
in conducting its municipal affairs.
Reckless advice leads to agrarianism,
anarchy and domestic turmoil. Why
should a man who pays no taxes
whatever have power, unrestricted, TO
tax the property of one who has toiled
for years to accumulate it? Property
holders, look TO your rights, whether
you shall tax yourselves, OF be taxed
by men who pay no taxes, and have
no control over your own property IN
terests. Urge the adoption of your
new city charter, with the ''real es-
tate" qualification for your Alder
men, whether for $1,000 or $1,000.
JUSTICE.
We are fully appraised of the evils of
which property holders complain.
But we do not think property quail
fication for office will reach those
evils, or be likely to give satisfaction
to the mas Of voters. The true rem
edy is in eIecting good men, whether
are rich or poor. We have seen
rich mel in Office play the fool with
property interests quite as often as we
have poor men in office. What we
want for Aldermen, and other officers,
IS that they should be "honest, capa-
Die and faithful to the Constitution"
That is all which is required
1y our theory of government,
md all which will meet the
sanction Of u people. If that
will not do, the fault is in our whole
governmental system, and the remedy
5 in changing the form of govern
nent. The measure proposed by our
correspondent is partial, impractical
BE, and will be fruitless. four prop
,rty-holders would not scout politics
md elections just as they do manuiac-
ures and railroads, and would give
hat attention to public affairs which is
.bsolutely necessary in a country
where the people govern themselves,
hey would have less to complain of.
he best citizens must attend TO pub
.c matters, or the worst will manage
hem, whether they be rich or poor.
We suggest, therefore, that instead of
Oh temporary and partial ex-
edients, they put their shoulders to
he wheel and work in the election of
rs If it was their own business.
his Will produce general reform, give
10 private interests as well as
ublic affairs, and do more for the
ubiic good than property ~qualiiea-
.ons for officers can ever do. 1t will F,
e easier to select good officers from
ne people than to carry measures of
estriction. And when you have good
you have all you want. And
lese are TO be found in quite as large /
roportion at this day among the poor {
the rich. {