The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1872-06-02
Politics and Business.

1t is to be hoped that our business me
are convinced by this time that they La,
duty to perform in going to the polls az
voting. The present condition of busiue
OF all Kinds III our city is SO deplorable IN
us prosfrati"n is so evidently connecte
with bad legislation that the truth M us
be commencing to make itself visible eve
to eyes that can see nothing but greer
backs-except gold.
From New York to st. Louis, if you pas
along the streets of any populous city
Mort, East or West, your senses are bur
dened witch the din and rush of bust
ness; iii New Orleans tue grass will 500,
have possession of most of our streets, a,
things now 60. II any invalid wants
quiet, noiseless, village, in which to pas
the summer, ours can certainly be recon
mended as to quality, though overgrown il
size. He can buy real estate cheaply, too
though as to that he would probably dc
better by waiting longer. 1t is safe to say
that, II business remains for two years
more as it has been for twelve months, one
quarter or one third of the white pcpula-
~-~AA Va A>O" OAACou6 WILL nave lcIC TO I'M u
employment elsewhere.
Now let us ask our business men, who
have been 80 Indifferent about voting,
whether politics has nothing to do with all
this. On every hand We hear the opinion
that the immense burden Of our own taxa
tion-both direct and in the shape of licenses
lis the cause of the fatal stagnation.> True,
the influence of this cause is probably over
stated. If the production of Southern
lands tributary to New Orleans were as
remunerative as formerly, business would
probably be something near it's. former
standard, even with the taxation that
exists here. But production is greatly
and from the same causes NAV
continue to grow less and less. These causes
are also to some extent political. First,
there is the eoverweening pride of the laboring
negroes, engendered by their ideas OF free
dom. and importance so sedulously in.
stilled into them by political adventures,
who exist upon their credulity. On ac-
count of this they are unwilling to work
on reasonable terms, or to abide by their
contracts; hence high prices for labor and
scarcity of it, sometimes ut the moment
when most needed. The crop is, therefore,
badly made and does not pay we'll,
Secondly, on tue top Of this poor farming
and its scant result, comes an enormous
taxation. The profits, already small, are
either greatly reduced or entirely consumed
~ the unwise and destructive burden
placed on them by 1evenue laws. Plant
rs are discouraged; many quit; produc-
ion diminishes and New Orleans loses
'usiness. II
1t is true that tile laziness aud unpro-
uctiyeness Of the negro is beyond the
ontroi of the Southern white vote, but
,at vote might have effectualiy regulated
le question of taxation and public econ
ny in this State, as 1t has done in others,
lereby helping the productiveness of our
antations in one very important ele-
ent.
But, although the planting inter
its of our tributary country should be I
.ippled permanently, considerable !
opulation in our city could subsist upon 6
le small Industries and enterprises of /
kind. Where freedom to
zperiment exists apd a population is poor,
andreds and thousands oflittle beginnings .
business of that nature may be seen
bringing up like grass, some to perish, ,
hers to grow and flourish, bringing I
erceptible increase of prosperity and ac- !
vity. Bat here come in our six per cent. +
xation, and our exterminator of license &
W. The ground is sown thick with salt a
I'D vitality completely extinguished 10 c
7erything of tender growth.
Thus the city loses directly in its manu-
ctures by over-taxatiop, and indirectly
: the encouragement of rural produc- =
'ns, and, as money draws money, SO q
verty grows poorer. The city being i'm Il
verished, has not the means to furnish is
sistance in cropping and facilities of Il
SO that St Louis, Cincin- b
ii and Louisville outbid US and take al
ay part even of the trade which we NJ
ght to have~ " '.
Nl,..- l.