The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-03-20
VOL. VIII.
THE TEMPEST RREwIEG.

Thoughtful members of the Legisla-
turc, contemplating the whole field Of
progressive legislation, confess not a
little nervousness and anxiety. Cumu-
lative enactments, involving expendI-
lures of large sums of money, are well
calculated to frighten party leaders as
well as statesmen. The average rate
of taxstion paid by citizens of Texas
frr s"Ine years past has been two and
quarter per cent In many incorpo-
rated places rates have been even
higher. Here, in Austin, where the
city aid county debts are compara-
lively light, the people pay in all sorts
of taxes, special and general, more
than two per cent. Demagogues in
former legislatures obeyed the Consti-
tuition after fashion, and the general
county tax is the same as that of the
State. Strange, but true it is, that
while every species of property and
even labor loses value by currency con-
traction, lawmakers still suffer county
courts to thwart constitutional inhIbi-
tions by indircctiOn, and even more
strange is it that lawgivers, when
money IS more valuable and rates of
interest lower than ever before, do not
reduce appropriations and suspend
charities. If present rates of taxation
be continued, with the protracted ex-
istence of the State W4r Department
and the worthless free schools, the
Legislature may we'll refuse to do JUS
tice in small matters and repudiate
even honest debts. The voting people
of Texas have borne taxation patiently
enough. While contraction lessencd
values, taxation has been lessened in
nothing. We acquired habits of ex-
traYagance when paper money was at
its flood tide; but contraction has done
its work until hard-pan has been
reached, and every article of trade is
cheaper than ever before. A great |
amount of realty placed upon the mar
ket reduces assessments upon farms to |
a minimum, and it is absolutely i'm
possible for the Legislature to lessen
rates of taxation. There will be no |
protection against the extraordinary |
exactions of counties and corporations |
except the people restrict the right to 1
vote, and the State will still exact |
one-fourth of the average net income
of each owner of realty. Half OF the /,
land of Texas is unproductive, and all |
tCld it does not produce revenue of
two per cent. The people would not |
have wrongs done those who have
trusted the State. They should be |
paid In full. They would practice no
little savings at the spiggot and leave
the bung-hole of the treasury wide |
open for treasure to be poured out
upon the unwlse war and school de-
partments. These vast and ruinous
drains should be stopped and price
placed upon school and university |
lands, which would in the end produce
funds contemplated by the Texas
fathers. 1t need only be added, if |
popular burdens be not lesseLed as de-
manded by the financial condition of
the United States, and in accordance
with the lessened volume of currency
and lessened value of property, that
there will be reputation or revolution.
The first step in this revolution will be
partisan, and then if barnacles must |
still prey upon public industry, and |
the fearful school and military systems |
be maintained, the dreadful end will |
come. Unless there be retrospective !
legislation, and these reliefs granted,
Governor Roberts's administr alton will |
be regarded in the light of failure
and political revolution will follow.