The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-11

| IAAES FEN HEAD
Federal Ia.aeI .... ''s I, 80 1al ~ {,
Total........ 81 81 $3.50 sis Of
AGGREGATE TAXATION OF ELEVEN YEARS.
| The aggregate Federal taxation Of the
eleven years now closing, computed In
currency, from the official statements,
Is more than $4,000, 100000. The local
taxation, assuming the census state
ment for 1870 as an average. Is more
than 10, DOC, 000,OO The aggregate tax
alton exceed $7,5W,OOO 900.
| The duly wants OF the masses Of
mankind, even in the most productive
and prosperous countries. press closely
upon their daily earnings. It is only a
small portion Of their current income
which they are able to save and to ac-
cumulate. In Great Britain and Ire
land, despite the wealth WHICH the peo-
pie have long been storing up, espe-
cially in machinery and moneyed cnpi-
tai despite the yearly influx of $780,
OOO, 900 from interest ON investments in
other counties, the annual growth Of
wealth from the savings OF all their peo-
pie Is not deemed by the best authori-
ties to exceed 5000, 0O0, 900 or 800, OOO, 900.
is the result OF q shorter period OF
growth, and Is less In amount. We
have to pay to foreign creditors annu-
ally i'm coin more than $tO0, 1000, 900. We
are richer in the natural powers of the
soil, and our labor Is. on the whole,
more efficient. We earn more, but have
lest diseosition to save and less of the
habit to save.
A governmental consumption In every
year, i'm bad as we'll as good years, must
be considered greatly excessive when it
ings larger than the whole people are
able to save In prosperous times for all
new Investments; for erecting dwell
ings and other buildings; for improv-
ing farms, increasing the stock Of live
animals and Of agricultural nipple
merts for all manufacturing and me-
chanical constructions and machinery
for all warehouses and stores, and in
creased supplies Of merchandise; for
ships and steamers, and telegraphs,
and railroads, and their equipments
for all objects which individual aud cor
porate enterprise provide for the future,
in the progress OF u populous md rapid
ly growing community.
INCIDENTAL EVILS or TAXATION.
Such taxation is In itself monstrous
evil; and its Incidents aggravate its
direct injuries. When the exaction from
the people was, as in 1860, one-quarter
OF its present amount per lead, even Ii
it were unscientific and unskllful in the
levy, the mischief was comparatively
inconsiderable. But with the quadrup-
LEGATION of the exaction, the difficulty Of
obtaining good methods Of imposing it
is greatly increased, and the fnischiefs
of bad methods become well nigh
intolerable.
When governments take from the
people for official expenditure nearly
all the surplus earnings OF individuals,
science and skill In the art Of taxation
become necessary necessary to pre-
serve and enlarge the revenue; neccs-
sary to gid the infliction to the tax
payers. Our present situation is that
we have more than European burdens,
as seen In the most costly governments
of the richest of modern nations sup
porting immense navies and armies and |
public debts and to. these burdens we
have conjoined an ignorance and in
in dealing with them, I
which Is peculiarly our own. We have |
not yet acquired the arts belonging to a
system which the founders OF American
warned us against, and
fondly believed would never exist in
this country.
The consequence is that the pecuniary
vi Jlt jtODtS dlG jIob W Dc
by the receipts into the Treas
lry. They are vastly greater. A tax
hat starts In its career by disturbing
he natural courses OF private industry,
md impairing the productive power OF
abor, and then comes to the consumer,
iistended by profits Of successive inter
and by insurance against the
'isks Of tickle or uncertain govern
mental policy, and Of tluctuatiDg gov
standard Of value, blights
human well-being at every step. When
{ reaches the hapless child Of toll, who
Buys bread by the single loaf and his
uel by the basket, it devours his earn
Dgs and infiicts starvation.
GOVERNMENTAL CLASS or TAX CoNs6MERs.
Another evil Of such system OF ex-
essive taxation is, that it creates and !
lourishes a governmental class--with
endencies TO lessen services aud to en-
arge compensation, TO multiply re-
ainers, to invent jobs and foster all {
orms OF expenditure-ten unre- I
trained by the watchful eye and firm I
and OF personal interest, which alone
nables private business to be carried |
b successfully. In other countries |
UGH class has found itself able, some ]
ines by its own influence and some
ines In alliance with the army, to rule s
ne unorganized masses. In our \
ountry IT has become great /