, 1876-07-06

1NCEND1AR18M AND REPUTATION.
The Chicago Times devoses its Issue on
the 4th of July to IN appeal to tho people Of
Chicago to pay no taxes, mud followed this
up on tho eth by demand for the abolition
Of ali City Government. Tho second prop
ostion is Of course natural consequence of
tho first, and the two are consistent and in.
separable. In support Of tho first proposi-
ton, that paper says:
Tho cxtortonate levy OF over 81, 900, 900 for
1875. upon which application for Judgment will bo
made In about two weeks, wilt 10 rcp[sted, and tt
IL carncatly to be hoped that the army Of resist
ants will b. double thu number Of rcastautA Inst
year. 1ast year tho number OF tax.hghte1s wRa
much greater than in any preceding year since
Chicago nrst became an Incorporated town, The
amount Of taxes included in last ycars resistance
was more than ST. 500, COG, ,-Aln,ost uno. third Of
the whole tax-lcvy. This year tho resistance
ought To include two.thlrtts Of the tax-lavy. In.
decd, It ought to Include the whole tar -leyy TINT
is 10 say, every payer ought add bis strength
and influence to the nrmy Of tax-nghtcrs whose
battle agalnst m extortlonnte City Government IL
battle for the salvation Of Chicago and Of every
owner Of tho estato upon which Chicago exists.
It must bo borne in mind that the tax
lovics Of 1873 and 1874 have beon set asitlo
by the Courts, not becauso they were unjust,
or excessive, or untair, or imposed for Illegal
purposes, but because the City Government,
supposing it had m option as to which of
tho two laws it would proceed under, with
proverbial stupidity selected the wrong one.
All heroics over the defeat Of the tar on the
ground Of injustice, or axtortion, or oppres-
sion, ars absurd, because 10 such objections
were mado to or considered by the Court
The mistake in the law which defeated the
lssies Of 1873 and 1874 was not repeated in
tho case Of the ta1 Of 1876, and, therefore,
leviea Of formor years will not apply to the
tax Of 1876. So the attempt to Nuke Of
each new taxpayer another uAMrpES must
provo abortivs. Those who have escaped
taxation by ths decision Of tho Supreme
Court occupy about tho same position as the
man who pleads MONACO against bill for hts
board, lodging, and wasbing.
But wh1t Lave these men escapet13 The
tar which the Court has SGT asido will have
to be paid. Thoy hayo merely postponed
tho day Of reckoning, The 81 $780, 0o0 OF
taxes set aside nre represented by au equal
deficit in tho City Treasury, and this deficit
must be made good by taxation. Tho in
juBtico and robbery aro in tho fact that this
million and six hundred thousand dollara,
thus avoided by those who can best afford to
pay It, will have to be collected by taxation
from the citizens generally; these mon have
escaped taxation To throw tho burden on
their noiyhborH.
The argument that tho non-payment Of
taxes will cure any evil is tho argument Of
mal,nan or kuayo. This city has to pay
annually ovor ono million dollara interest On
its debit. VIII the non-payment Of taxea
STOP tho interest falling duo, or defeat the
ulti1nate payment OF both intorest and psin-
cipat? VIII tho non-payment Of taxes have
any other effect than to destroy public aud
private credit, and llnve tho people OF Ohica-
go all rnnkod with tho author Of tho propo-
sition as raco Of scurvy demagogucs and
knayes? Tho man who proposes to rcpu,li-
ato QUO dollar Of tho public dobt is public
onemy,-n curse to tho persons ho may do
cciyo, and curse to tho community which
hs wonld destroy. There il 10 way to c.
cape from public debt except by payment,
ind there IL no way to pay public debt ox-
cept by tho proceeds OF taxation. Tho debt
will not DO extinguIshed, Theoretically or In
fac1 by tho non-paymant Of taxes. II Chi
cago proposoa 10 continue a. civilized city,
and not to bo moro abiding place for .ruil-
anism md crime, we must maintin paved
streets, water supply, schools, and sewors;
md VIC must keep thtso In repair and In
operation, and, to do this, employ mon mud
pay they; have lava to protect lives and
property. and courts an1 officers to enforce
these laws. In fact, wo must havo some
recognized Gove1nmnut, with the power at
hand TO compel obedience to ita authority.
10 support aud maintain this Govern
mens mud to provide such permanent
improvements rs water, aewers, stroots, and
bridges, wo must have money, and that
money can only DO had through tho process
Of taxation. Tho man who refuses to pay q
tax levled for o lawfal purpose nocoasarily
tries to foist upon others the payment Of
his debta. ue wants oil tho advantages Of
government, but wants to compel others to
pay for them. The man who refuses to pay
taxes levied for lawful purpose Ia ike q
man who refuses to perform military duty
when required Ho is political doatl.beat.
1t ia proposed In the Common Council Ia
publish the names OF thoYe who hare g.
capped payment Of tbs ta1es OF 1874 through
tho legal blunder Of the city authorities. 4
much better and far moro etlcaotoua mode
Of reaching Ill these parties Ia to have TO-
corded in tho Record Of Deeds that the own.
ers Of the property on which these taxes
were levied having failod to pay ths came
and the Court having refused to give judg-
ment Of sale therefor, the city nevertheless
claims q llen On all the property, and gives
this uotlco to al purchasers that 1t will en-
force that claim. Subsequent purchaser.