New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-03
THE CENTRAL REtupIIoAN oo1(rfrrEr

haps more comprehensive and conclu-
sive exposition Of Republican measures
and merits than was necessary upon the
application of special interest for relief.
Out OF the fullness of the heart the mouth
speaketh, and SO the worthy president
could not perhaps permit such an oppor-
tunity for indicating the Republican
party from most unfounded obloquy to
pass without availing himself Of it.
The property holders represent one very
important interest. They avail themselves
OF an invaluable right to demand of their
public servants review and reduction of
the burdens resting upon their property.
Under our theory of government, how
ever, the owner Of house is of no more
consideration than the tenant who owns
no house, nor is tax resting on inanimate
brick and mortar more onerous than that
which weighs upon the arm of labor or
the brain of enterprise. The obvious re-
ply to the special landed interest has been
made by Mr.. Packard. 1t is that the Re-
publican party represents the rights of
persons as well as of property. The cost
of protecting persons and property, of
paying the debt, preserving the faith, and
educating the children must be provided
for, and that the Republican party can
neither pledge itself to forego the per-
Torrance of these duties, nor agree to
take the tax necessary for this performance
off of real estate to impose it upon per-
sonal property or personal enterprise.
In strictness Of Republican principle
and Democratic professions, all taxes
should rest on that concrete of labor
property. In practical justice all taxation
should be imposed at least ratably upon
real, personal and mixed property, and
upon enterprise and labor. A proposition
for such ratable adjustment, apportion-
ment and reduction of taxation to any ex-
tent compatible with the public obliga-
tons referred to will be entertained by the
Republican party. Placed in power in
great part by the suffrages of labor and
enterprise, it could not be expected to
prefer or exonerate any one subject of
taxation at the expense of others or in
derogation of those dulles which law and
social safety have cast upon the public au-
thorities intrusted with State and NUM-
ciral administrations.
1t was, perhaps, in this point of view
logical that Mr.. Packard should cite the
the past action of the Republican party as
an evidence Of the sincerity of its assur-
ances. If the Republican party were re-
sponsibe for inficting a wound, it has
certainly effected great deal in stopping
the hemorrhage. An improvident system
of legislation arrested measures of econ
omy and reform enacted, when the whole
opposition refused to be represented in
the Legislature; the State debt and taxa
ton reduced; the city deprived of the
power to accumulate further debt upon
the people, with tender of services to
examine the city debt and grant any legis-
lative relief proper in the premises, were
all evidences of sincerity. If the Repub-
Ecan party was charged with having COM
mitted error, here was the highest evil
dence of virtue--to reform their own
errors. To reform those of others is com.
paratively easy.
But having achieved these reforms sun
aided, and even against opposition, the
Republican party is still prepared to go as
far as he who goes furthest in securing
the blessings Of peace and good govern
ment at the smallest cost to the citizen.
President Packard then proceeds to ex.
plain how the tax on real estate may be |
reduced by increasing the aggregate tax
able value, and by reducing the cost Of |
collecting the tax. He calls the attention
of the property holders to large amount
of property held in the name of religious
but dedicated to secular
profit This property, he contends, should
not be excluded from taxation. The same
idea has come into the mind of the Gov.
ernor Of Virginia who, in his message,
"the TAXATION of church
when it exceeds value of two
dollars"
It is also made plain that if the prop.
erty holders will unite in attracting people
and capital, in building railroads and
opening new avenues of trade, property
will increase in value, and improve in
ability to pay taxes.
The true test, however, of what parties
are willing to do, will come up at the
session Of the Legislature. The Repub-
liesn party has, through the central CON-
mittee, published its programme of
policy. 1t will not go back on this. We
want no convention TO unsettle the basis
Of right and representation a. it exists,
but when the Democratic majority shall
present its measures Of reform, to be /
embodied In the constitution by amend.
nent the Democratic party win be
to pass the most radical re,
'orms, or to confess that it has been
'niy denouncing the Republicans for
aolding ONCE and exeycidng patronage
. which the Democracy il entitled. The
will be rejoiced at an oppor-
unity Of testing the ssineexity OF their
'pponents, and contrasting the poai-
ire economy and reforms which they