National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-27
POPULAR DISCUSSION.
The Taxation Of Church Propert.


10 The Editor Of the National Republican:
Sir: gave nine reasons why churGn property
should be taxed; N. r. gives four why It
should not be taxed. Numerical bzlancs In nv
favor i've. But N. RS four reasons will not
bear close scrutiny
purity, encouraging intelliR ence Sc lessen taxa.
tion Hence they ought to 90 untaxed by way OF
reward Of merit. Now, II N. r. viii be kind
owe to the churches, tIis argument would be none
the worse for the Illustration but granted q
and asses On one SIDE and habdred sS 20
the other "4nculcating purity" and encouraging
intelligence and my word for It taxes would 20
ment, Il means that everybody who incuicatss
purity and encourages intelligence should 20 IN
taxed. That is, the saints shall pay no taxes, but
old Roundhead doctrine: 1.-THE earth belongs to
the saints, and we are the saints" There is some
benefits Of society without bearing its burdens.
IL Is eating good dinner with friends at tavern
and then sinking of and leaving the friends to
seti Is this the 'ipurityn and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the churches should teach9 Is q church which
DE Which Is oD I an e'e asal 10
teach honesty? In good society shlrks and dead
beats are not regarded as exemplars Of the viz
tues.
z But N. R. says churches should be exempted
for the same reason public schools are. Why are
public schools exemptedT Because they belong
TO the State, the system being part Of the admin
istrstiye system Of the State. The first duty Of
government being to protect the weak, the State
members. Is this true Of the churches? Does
the State own them2 Are they q part of its Ad-
ministrstive systemH N. R., without suspecting
II. Is IN favor Of the union Of Church and State.
3. Churches, says N. R., are not built for pri-
vate gain therefore they should not be taxed.
But this principle OF exempting every house not
built for gain would prevent nearly all revenue;
1t would exempt Stewards castle, Shepherds
dwelling and POllock's new eoekalorum, with its
taxed.
4. He asks, why make men pay on their churches
as well as on their private property? Why make
them pay double tRxes2 Answer, because they
own double property.
s. To tar churches, says N. R., would be to close
up the small and feeble ones. II this be sound
the property of no poor person should be taxed
Small lots and small dwellings generally should
be exempted. Is the State to shape its policy for
the purpose OF building up either small or large
churches? If so, we are separated BY thin walls
from the doctrine Of the State duty to build up
one church.
N. K. throws his heaviest cannon ball in his
last sentence. COnceding that the State should
not support religion, he claims that religion
should not support the State" This is q sOphis-
teal begging the question. It is not religion
that is taxed; it is church property This en-.
joys the protection Of the State, and should pay
for II. Cover IL up with hre phrases We may,
it is neither religion nor honest in q church to
make its unfortunate neighbOrs on the same
street pay for the road-paying, sidewalk and
parking which have added thousands in value 10
the church building. 1t is not honest to make
your neighbors pay for the gas light, sewerage
and water which you enjoy, and it Is enough to
going up TO Congress to ask IL to legIslate shirk-
ing duty, dead-headism and mean avoidance OF
responsibilities into respeetsbility.
FAIR PLAY.
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE CASE.
To the Editor of the National Republican:
SIR: IN. R., in your issue of the 18th instant,
maintains that church property should not be
taxed: LIST, they lessen taxation by encouraging
intelligence and conscientiousness, mculcating
principles of purity; I'd, cultivate morality; 81,
churches would be to close M the SesbIs onsS 90
respectfully deny the assumption Of the first
and second propositions, and believe could prove
exactly to the satisfaction of any Intelligent or
impartial audience. 1 know that It is commonly
assumed, as sell-eVident truth that churches
do promote morality, and some may suppose they
But when we come to test this matter by reason
and fact 1t will be found not only that these as
spmptions are incapable Of proof. but priori,
that the doctrines generally taught in churches
tend to immortality, and posteriori, (thOugh the
facts are difficult to reach on as large a scale as
mSIiq De GesiTa0le1 that they in point Of fact as
immortality, ignorance, crime, pauperism and in
sanity. Probably millions in the United States
to be taxed to support that which they conceive
IL at war with morality, intelligence civilization
and republicanism?
l challenge IN. R." or any other man or
woman, to public discussion, verbal or through
the press, on the subject, at any suitable time or
place where members Of orthodox churches will
commonly termed orthodox tend to promote in
tellfgence, morality and good government" I
for granted the positions taken by IN. r." bat
they are none the less false, even it decided
by the supreme Court Of the United States.
One palpable proof OF the immoral tendency OF
ecclesiastical teachings rs to be found in IN RS"
letter, defending the practice Of one set Of men
putting their hands Virtually into the pockets
q haR Hnf If Ikg I'll.
disseminate the doctrines of the first set People
whose moral sense has not been blunted by eccle-
siastical teachings call this stealing, whether
done legally or otherwise, directly by State
grants or Indirectly by exemption from taxation.
The fourth position may be correct; and It NAV
be proper with churches, as 1t unquestionably Is
with private real estate, to exempt limited
value from taxstiOn-this Irrespective Of the
moral or immoral character Of their teachings
that being point on which the State is rarely
P. ST. am willing to 90 into Heharges and
Epeeiteations" whenever assured that tbs waste
basket will not be the destination thereof
STILL ANOTHER VIEW.
To the Editor of the National Republicans
SIR: The article in Thursdays number faYoring
the taxation OF churches bears with It q tone or
spirit Of the dark ages. 1t CLASHES the sacred
established by Heavens authority
with those which man has established for pecu-
mary gains. May Heaven forbid that the day
shRll come when the people Of America or of the
District should retrograde so far from that reyer
ence that is due to the Almighty. How narrow
and unchaTitable must be the heart that would
murmur because citizens from other sections
while In Washington, crafty their desires by
attending Divine service. Is not this privilege
also enjoyed by citizens Of Washington when bust
ness or pleasure calls them from homer
Again, tax the churches, says cold heart be- |
cause 1t encourages a greedy aud eXacting |
pauper spirit among the clergy. How many OF |
the clergy with this greedy and exacting spirit |
will compare in wealth with men in other pur- |
suits, though they may be equal IN intelligence |
and labors more abundant
Why, Mr.. Editor, see nothing but inconsist- |
ancy in the whole article. To tax churches is to
lay greater burden on that class who are labor
Ing TO reform society, and though exempted from |
taxes imposed by the Government, they are taxed |
10 aid the SICK taxed to bury those Of the society
who die in poverty, taxed to maintain those who |
are set apart and whose duty It is to respond |
when called to perform burial service, taxed to /
sustain missions both home and abroad, taxed to
sustain educational institutions, and in numerous
other ways do churches feel the burden Of taxa
Ion.
How stupid must be the Individual that will
Jay that q thousand dollars expended in building
" sustaining church will return the same profit |
Is IL expended in grain to be manufactured and !
odd for the sustenance Of animal life, or If in
rested In carrying on manufactures, or any other
temporal pursuit.
May 1t not be said that this generation who are
be recipients Of the blessings derived from re-
igious Institutions be guilty Of the charge Of i'm
1ediDR Its progress by imposing upon the churches
ne burden OF taxation? 5. w.
Another Divorce Case.
Grace A. Falk obtained a divorce TODAY from