, 1872-03-16

SUCH people 90 complain, ana tney VIII commune
to complain and cry out for reforms and retrench-
ments even when there is nothing more left to be
retrenched.
The fault rests with themselves. Their com
plants are as unreasonable and quite as unjust as
the drunkard's, who complains of the existence of
s%pirituous liquors, instead of seeking within HIM
self for the reason CT his degraded condition.
AS yet we have never heard any sensible and
quiet-working man complain, for the good reason,
that such q man has no cause of complaint; al
though he might have cause to wish the public
burdens more impartially distributed; improve
ments effected, and economy observed.
But this is a thing far different from idle COM
plants, which merely express dissatisfaction on
account of difficulties in private affairs, tending
only to demolish without building up again.
Complaints are becoming to women and chlI-
dren steady work and improvements, without too
much idle talk, are more proper for men.
Yet there is one class of men, deserving every
praise for their industry and economy, who COM
plain of too heavy taxation, and who cry for re-
trenchments in the public expenditure.
These men are some planters of Englsh or Irish
extraction. Now it might be supposed, that these
gentlemen who for some reason or reasons, being
dissatisfied with the condition of their own coun-
try, like the pilgrims of former times vino settled
in New-England, had realised their ancestral pro-
Derties and invested their large capitals in sugar
estates in this Island, but instead Of having a rea-
sonable profit from their capitals SO invested, they
found themselves reduced to beggars by the OK
horbitant taxation for the benefit of q superttuous
and misruling administration.
We are sorry to say this is not exactly tho case.
These gentlemen, on the contrary, generally arrived
with very modest capitals, if any at all but, by their
praiseworthy industry and economy, go peculiar to
themselves, as we'll as by mutual help, they have in
few years become well-to-do owners OF estates, and
find themselves all in q very tlourishlng condition.
Hence we may conclude that the island is not so
badly governed after all, and that the condition Of tho
country is not to be considered US =" a most deplorablc
one.'
But why then do these men complain
If under the existing regulations, they have from
nothing, risen to be property hOlders, and if they have
made a great deal of money, what more do they require?
WHY, they must want to make still more!
Now, it is certainly most praiseWorthy not 10 stop
on the path of progress, but to persevero in improving
ones condition, yet, " we must always have, the suli-
Gent regard for the p%rejudices of society" as the show
man said, when referring to the parrots behaviour
towards the monkey and one of these P~rejndices is,
that a citizen is under obligation 10 share the burthen5
of that community in which ne lives, and among
whom he makes his livelihood and his fortune.
This obligation, we are sorry TO say, is too sadly
neglected, and disregarded by many among whom
there are many of the gentlemen referred to in the
above.
There is a deplorable misunderstanding in the idea,
that one can reap all the benefit connected with his
living in a community without sharing It's burdens to
a reasonable and proportionable degree.
1t is certainly a most commendabie occupation to
make moneY, but In a Civilized society there are other
interests to be taken care of also, such as administra-
ton of Justice, preservation of public security, edu-
cation. sanitary regulations, and many other things,
that require an enlightened and effective government.
Our enlightened, social Institutions not the tilling
of the soil, give us the superiority over the savage
tribes of other parts OF the world.
But an administration costs some money, and schools
do SO too. and all other branches of the management
of a community do so also; and these costs are to be
betrayed by a proportioDate contribution of the citizens.
Although the deficit OF this years Budget is OF no
importance, vet there ought not to be a deficit, not
even an apparent one and not even in a year like this.
Prosperous years should leave a surplus to be &C.
cumulated to a reserve fund for improvements, and
moor wears should be able to bear their expenses.
: This object can be reached very easly by a more
equitable direct taxation.
At present we have the strange view of persons,
who ought to pay a large contribution to the public
expenditure, being entirely exempt from doing so, and
ofpeople, who in fact are too poor to pay any tax at
all. being compelled to pay comparatively heavy taxes.
An income-tax must of ali direct taxes be consid-
-ered as the most fair and just, so that the lowest IN
comes TO a certain amount are entirely exempt from
taxation, whilst the higher ones are taxed on a pro-
oressive scale, that's to say, that the highest income
navs a greater percentage as income-tax, than the
lower ones, and so down in proportion, so that the
lowest income taxed pays only l or Il percent.
In this way, the burdens of the public expenses
will be e~ouitably and fairly distributed over all the
inhabitants in proportion to their means, and the pub
lie treasury would soon feel the benefit OF it, as well
20 tho poopIo-