New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-05-10
ORR BURDENS.

thirty million dollars year for wines and
liquors, and boast Of our hospitality, So
ciability, refined taste, and iberality; We
consume twenty million dollars worth OF
tobacco, which is not only perfectly use
less, but greatly injurious; We throw away
probably ten millions on useless jewelry.
send loads of money to the North and
Europe for manufactures which our own
unemployed poor could furnish Us. to say
nothing of what We lavish on fast horses,
theatres, and spec.acles Fl. for the amuse-
ment of children. Our customs rather
discourage any young man or woman who
Is ambitious of engaging IN any Industrial
employment that borders on mental servi-
tudes We undertake to raise our children
as ladies' and gentlemen on small capital.
We, moreover. are required Is pay about
six million dollars for taxes. to defray
current expenses. and pay the interest on
the debts left us by our predecessors.
TLis last item, which is demanded BY
necessity and good faith. is the cause Of
more complaining than al the other items
put togethero We are called upon TO pay
our taxes but once a years which We DO
grudgingly, and take It out in grun bling
until the collector calls again. We thus
have the case presented of a. 0eopla eager
in their emulation for a share in the ex-
penditure of more than fifty millions
year for vicious and unnecessary objects,
a people who permit their pride of descent
to ostracise the pursuit of honest mental
labor; who consume their substance in
follies, laying all their troubles a: the door
Of taxation, which does not amount to
one fifth Of their needless expenses At
the rate at which We are living, the public
distress would not be perceptibly ale.
waited if'the taxes were abolished alto
gether. For the money now devoted
to that object would either go with
the rest and bring no substantial
return, or never be earned at all.
Our troubles come from want of en-
ployment among the middle classes, who
aspire to associa ton with the wealthy and
independent, and are determined to shun
the appellatiou of working people. They !
number more among the white people |
than both the others put together. and
are indebted to their friends in one or the !
Other for their maintenance. To keep !
them in idleness costs their friends
who are 50 fortunate Us to have
an income great portion of it. The
professions, the genteel occupations and
political positions are too much crowded
to receive any more applicants. and the
example Of more successful acquaintances
de.ers them from giving up the hope that
something will turn up." If they could
be persuaded that things will not turn Up
of their own accord. and if they could be
protected from the social ostracism that is
Visited upon the heads Of those who are
willing to secure their independence with
their own hands, BY honest work. they
voulS relieve the taxpayers Of i burden
to which the. State and city taxes
ne mere jasatel!e It has been claimed
hat white men can wosls in the open air
in Louisiana. am Sc: we impor: half
million barrels of potatoes from the West.
The women can saiss Lels enough to az
ford surplus Of eggs. and yet this mar
het alone buys steamboat! loads Of them
rom river traders every year. Money
md orders are sent to New York for
clothing. boots and shoes by people who
i've near poor taiiors and sloeinakers.
whose chief employment consists in re.
pairing old goods. The people want en-
oIoyment. 10 get it a demand must FIRST
De created. ana then it must he voted by
common consent that honest work is I:
Tery STYLISH sort Of amusement. Until
We can work out this simple problem OUR
BURDENS will increase as those who bear it
grow weaker and weaker I'LL they fall Under
he load When the grand wreck comes
upon US it vii! be found has ,he liquorand
,fgar bills. tie potato and IS, bills. the
ewelry bills, race, fair. theatre and circus
tickets will be In such overwhelming
numbers that it will be sery difficult to
ind a tax bill among theus without some
liligent searcho
If our politicians orators. newspapers
nd preachers would teach the people ,
economy, show up tie beauties Of inde- {
pendent industry, denounce sloth and
,enteel idlenesso make liquor drinking.
isar smoking, horse racing sight seeing
nd improbable Iunketing unpopular
nd vulgar, as they really are. ''poor Lou.
siana would very soon be In condition