The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-23
THE MAYORS MESSAGE AGAIN.

We are greatly surprised that, while
the Picavune and Times find room quite
handsomely, ~ o matter Of news, FOL
the most highly important message OF
the Chief Magistrate OF our City TO the
Council, neither OF these Conservative
journals deem II apparently matter OF
such gravity ~ to be noticed editorial.
ly. On the other hand, the Bulletin has
been able % find space for somewhat
| more than half the document, and has
invited attention to IL, In a very polite
and sympathetic sort Of style. but not
ut al encouraging either to taxpayers
or 10 the patriotic expectations of the
Mayor. In other words, our good friend
freely recognizes Mr.. Leeds good In.
tentions." but shrugs the shoulder,
talks very blandly. and bows reverently
TO Mr.. Kellogg's expected mandamus.
Well, suppose that suggested and fear
| ful mandamus should be applied, II 1t
must be 50. IN violation OF the great
principle OF local sclf-government, held
dearest OF all others necessary to free
dom. by every part Of tho American
people. still II must come, II at all, clad
In the form Of prostituted judicial
power rcmorsclcssly welded by those,
who every one has felt designed, from the
beginning, to insult the civic pride, true
interests and just rights OF our citizens.
II will come too, II ut all, In despite of
tho words OF solemn warning and official
recommendation OF the Mayor as 70 the
povcrty-reduced condition OF tho tux
paying classes now proposed to be
hunted up everywhere in the city: and
Il will come, no matter under what
pretencc, as nothing less than the
"sic j,tbco" Of some greedy and cruel
despot who listens to no appeal
either OF reason or mercy, but in
ssts on his pound Of flesh from every
victim, even should death itself ensle.
IN truth, knowing md feeling all this.
tho DEMOCRAT takes the liberty OF re-
Winding its con)ycres of the Press that
we cannot help from also understand
Ing that what Mr.. Leeds has spoken,
after matured conviction, Is perfectly
true, "that the taxes, II levied, can
not be collected from this impoverished
people," Here IL n text upon which
an exhaustive column or two might we'll
DO written, and should be written
mandamus or not, He has further
stated In effect, too. that two strictly
speaking municipal institutions, the
Police and the Public Schools, instead
Of being under the natural md rightful
control and management Of tho City,
and, therefore, conducted by those most
Immediately Interested upon scale OF
expense proportioned to their wants
and means, are so perversoly contrived
MS to have the City under their feet,
with the authority OF taxing the citizens
without limitation In tho interest OF u
and hated central usurpation.
We are pretty sure that there Is
not one man In thousand In Now
Orleans pretending to conservatism. or
having u proper regard for the honor
and welfare Of the people. who ap-
proves Of a rate Of taxation, for any
purpose, which the population cannot
bear, and who supposes ana intends
that the taxes they are required to pay
shall be extorted even from their neces-
,itics. Much less. under these circum
stances, nro they content, without ut
cast proclaiming their opposition, that
,hese taxes shall be wrung from their
poverty to support a Metropolitan Po-
leo and tho Public Schools although
here be worthy persons among them,
by political enemies as in
'truments OF insult and oppression.
We must not forget that what was a
mere insult ut first, has become at this
ime, pecuniarily, an uncomfortable bur-
lon. The Mayor declares his opinion,
that the people IRE too
,oor to pay the taxes demanded, even II
evied. and with this thing staring us
n the face and admitted by all thought
I'll men, are we to go on without
rord ofprotest or proper representation
rom persons whose duty 1t Is to speak
ut upon tho subject, and is no defense
0 be made against such lamcntable
rievanccs and crushing wrongs, and
% sort Of appeal to the sympathy and
lstice OF our fellow people OF the Uni
cd States to be invoked, because it is
expected that no Radical Judge in the
lily OF New Orleans will listen to any
hing which Is reasonable in the facts !
( the case, or enlightened in the ld,C? ,
re we to be deferred from right
al complaint, because some Radical
filce-holder will not turn aside in his I
REF hour OF petty despotism2 No, in q
eed; our opponents cannot go on q
uietly hlbricating the particular way c
! which they may move, while holding t
ut rewards to any, or cunning and a
sductive promises Of a present or flu +
ire delusive business, if the people a
i'll only give up their old ideas OF free t
ON and cease thinking about theme t
hey want quiet and silence leading to t
and submission in hopeless e
ess and despair. We wish and n
Iust shave, not unnecessary agita- t
on. but motion, determined action +
+ the right, argument, protest, in Il
gnation. which have kept life in the &
,dies Of our sister Southern States, and h
nally achieved their delivernnce. =
holden Drawings" and Pacific Rail-
nv POrnOrafnrS coakinu Gnnrrae.;or,I 4