New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-23
THE SOUTHERN REPUBLICANS.
Their Meeting Last Night.

Their Meeting Last Night.
Mechanics Institute was packed again
last evening, the occasion being the regular
weekly meeting of the Central Southern
Republican Club.
Applications for authority to organize
ward and parish subclubs were granted in
number of instances; others were referred
to the executive committee.
The Fourth District Club, it was formally
announced, will assemble at No. Isl Rous-
seau street, on Friday evening next, at
seven o'clock. After that the club will enter
into possession of their new club rooms.
Secretary Sewell officially announced a
meeting of the first ward club for this
evening, at seven o'clock, corner Of Maga-
zine and Orange streets.
A communication was received from the
American Union Club, embodying resclu-
tions in consonance with the tenets Of the
Southern Republicans, which were ordered
to bs spread upon the minutes.
Colonel j. w. Fairfax, president of the
Fourth District Southern Republican Club,
in terse and forcibls manner, called the
attention of the association to the evils
growing out Of the license laws. and sub
rnitted the following resolution:
Resoired, That the Southern Republican
Association is uualterabl.y opposed to taxa
tion by licenses, whether upon trades, pro-
fessions, calllngs or occupations, as it cor
stltues not solely tax upon property, but
upon brains, popularity, energy and busi-
ness capacity, the elements which make
communities prosperous.
In submitting this resolution the speaker
said his purpose was to strike at an evil
which observation and experience had
shown him to be one of great magnitude.
1t was especially one grievous to be borne
by small dealers and persons of limited
capital, and is violative of the spirit of the
fundamental law, which declares that tax
alton shall be equal and uniform. For illus
tration, said the speaker, under existing
laws, both city and State, the rich grocer,
whose daily sales may equal in value the
entire stock in trade of his rival on the
next corner. pays not dollar more than
him for the privilege of carrying on his
business The poor widow who ekes out a
miserable living by selling to the tired
laborer his glass Of beer is mulcted for
Incense to do so as much as the owner of
the finest gilded gin palace in the town.
The fashionable belle buys her silks and
satins and costly lAces in the palstial store
of the wealthy dealer who pays no more
license tax than the retailer of tapes, but
tons and himsy ribbons, whose parlor, shop
and oft-times sleeping apartment could be
put in the show-window Of the aristocratic
rival.
After citing illustrative cases which had
come under his personal observation and
past official knowledge, the speaker con
cluded:
Many small industries are now crushed
out by license taxation, and l sincerely
hope, gentlemen, you will not only adopt
this resolution, but not flag in your reform
crusade until the system is abolished and
the fact emblazoned on your banners to
the glory of the Southern Republicans.
The resolution was unanimously adopted,
and ordered printed as expressive Of the
sentiments of the entire association.