The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-02-20
The Day of Taxation.

country. 1t would seem MS if it had passed
| through q stormy winter, and was still
| struggling through the cold thaws and
rising waters of q late and slowly breaking
spring. The changes through which we,
her children, have passed have been sc
great that, when we think Of what we have
| been and what we are, we dread to think
of what we may be in the future. Once
the freest and lightest taxed people in
Christendom, we are now, perhaps, the
least free, and certainly the heaviest taxed
After all the incidental expenses caused by
| long and cruel war, and the confscations
and losses of property which followed it,
| the very labor by which we lived was
disorganized and rendered so ineffective
that there was a time when cry for food
went up from among our people. Impov-
erished by their losses in the past, and en-
barrassed by their difficulties in the pres
ent, system of taxation has been devel-
oped by those in power that is pressing the
very blood out of our people.
One would suppose that the Federal
taxes were heavy enough. The income
tax, the internal revenue and the tariff
duties leaye little in the country free from
their scrutiny. The internal revenue puts
its stamp on everything that is manufac-
tured in the country, and on nearly every
paper or document necessary to render
valid any business transaction. The i'm
port duties tax every thing that comes from
abroad, and enhances the price of similar
articles made in this country, and nearly
every thing we eat and drink and wear is
more or less subject to tax. Those who
import, or manufacture, or sell, properly
speaking, do not pay the tax. 1t is really
paid by those who buy and consume and
not only do they pay the tax, but they
have to pay also percentage on the tax,
which becomes part of the profits of the
importer, manufacturer or dealer. The
greater portion of the revenue coming from
those sources is paid by that part of our
population who are least able to pay it, not
only because they are the most numerous,
but also because their limited means and
their very necessities seem to give direc-
ton to their expenditures that render them
more exposed to taxation.
The widespread, almost universal, sys-
tenn of taxation, in addition to it's pressure
on the prosperity of the people, is attended
by other evils. The enormous revenue
thus distracted from the labor and sweat
of the people leads to extravaganza in
every branch of government expenditures,
and to an increase in the number of it's
agents. The salaries of public officers are
increased on the pretence of the increased
expenses of living, and those who are poor
are taxed that those who are already COM
Portable may Re enabled to live more luxu-
riously. In the early period of our history
q salary of $4,000, with the honor and dig
nifty of the Office, was thought sufficient
remuneration for the time, labor and learn
ing>of a Chief Justice. Now Sherman, the
General of the United States Army, in the
full enjoyment of peace, and all the honor,
dignity and power of his position, is said
to have salary of 900. The President,
in his opening message, if we mistake not,
recommended an increase of salary to some
special class Of public offices, which, NO
doubt, if carried out, will be extended to
all. 1t is bad thing for the people when
those who have the charge and disposal OF
the public money forget that they hold it
in trust for the public good, and not as a
fund for the support of partisan leaders.
But the Federal taxes are not the Only
ones we have to pay. There are the State
taxes, out Of which the Governor, the mem
bers of the Legislature, ard all the other
officers of the State are supported. There
are the local parish taxes, the municipal
taxes, and all the multiplied expenses
which the'exercise of our rights as citizens
| Chat is, of such as still remain to us) entail
upon us from the ovcr-done legislation OF
the times. Nobody can practice proies-
sion, enter upo.. new occupation, start IL
mandatory, nor any undertaking calcu-
lated to give employment to Others, unless
| it is placed under the protection, as it is
called, of II license OF special tax of some
! kind or other. No wonder that business
| languishes under the burden it has to carry.
No wonder that men of small capital, nc
CURED by the industry and economy OF
years, hesitate in venturing upon new en-
| terprises or opening new channels of trade
No wondsIAthat trade itself should, yeal
after year, partake more of the character
of wild speculations than of fair, legitimate
transactions, OF that SO many of our mer-
camille community should close a life ui
| industry, anxiety and broken hopes in