New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-06
THE RICH AND THE POOR.

| We do not choose TO triumph upon thu
immense reduction in the State debt, ant
the comparative ease with which the State
taxes are collected and paid. It is on,
purpose to discuss the subject of this
heading in no partisan sense OF spirit But
we can not refrain from saying that, in our
sincere belief, Providence has spared the
Republican party from terrible response
! bility in having conferred the administra-
ton OF this city for four years past upon
the bitter and abusive opponents of Re.
publicanism. With Republican Mayo.
and Council, Republican civil sheriff, as
SCISSORS and collectors of taxes, the power
OF the rich might have been employed tc
overthrow the city government and repu.
date its obligations. The poor and Ia
boring classes. suffering from restitution,
might have been stimulated to arm them.
selves for relief BY destroying the men
to whom their restitution would have
been attributed. We put this hypothesis
because the whole blame for the same
debt and restitution was IN 1874 thrown
upon Governor Kellogg. Il is obvious
that the whole party influence Of the city
administration is insufficient to suppress
the threats of the rich and the mur,nurs
Of the poor. In proof Of this We cite the
petition Of the property holders for
certain extraordinary concessions, They
ask:
I. To pay back taxes in city scrip Or
''half cash IN evidence of debt
2. That legal proceedings against prop
erty be stayed until the fall.
3. That each holder of real estate be
authorized to keep a running account
with the tax collector, "to pay VIVA, he is
able upon any tax bill; to be "credited
on the face o: the tax BILL
The desperation OF this class in New
Orleans seems 20 look upon the possible
OF city credit with com.
posufe. if no: with complacency. The |
language Of their petition is. that they |
have now no refuge but despair. They |
say that they have been compelled to
withdraw tLeir capital and industry
rom the commerce. trade and manufac-
ures which once made the fortunes and
happiness Of :he citizens of this State
'efore the eril drys ,eere upon us. and they
LOUDLY intimate that !
The entire community IL fase dividing
lpon line which precludes friendliness of
ceiling or harmony in action, as one side
wells the advocates of oppression and the
ther increases in bitterness and resent.
nent, as the numbers are added OF those |
Who feel oppressed.
Without going further into the subject
re may say that such suspension of the
'ublic obligations would. even if lawful,
end to the destruction Of public credit.
The latest quotations show city sevens.
old. at thirty.six. and city tens at thirty.
even, while those Of the State. with an
pen refusal to provide for forty per cent {
its face securities, are quoted at fifty.
'ur or fifty-6ve, OF something near the
ar of the funded debt. The property =,
olders seem to behold with strange in. ,
ifference the restitution of those who ,
wn no property. Their sympathy is
exclusively upon their own ,
ass, and We have in the following para ,
raph the extraordinary spectacle of ,
holders" subsisted by relief 9
The fact is as well known to you as to us,
Quiring the most diligent efforts of relief
'mmittees in many instances to keep s
aviation from the door. These efforts are b
ltended in some cases to the smaller prop
ty holders, widows and orphans, who
I'VE exhausted themselves and their re- il
urces in meeting exorbi tant taxation in r
o past, and we have now no refuge but .
'spair, as they see taxation exacting and Il
cir property valueless and unremurera- b
re upon their hands. All classes of prop ,
ty holders, whether rich or poor, find
At their entire energies are expended in | e1
wing their property from the tax gatherer, =,
ID in their attempts to accomplish this y
d they arc compelled to withdraw their ST
pital and industry from the commerce,
ldos and manufactures which Dade the
pfu0oa and har.,iuoaa nf rho o;N,~~u >f h