The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-23
THE STATE DEBT.
The Question Considered In Ets IeEai
BearIBgs-A Reply to tD. q. H."

u
desire TO dwarf great ssbject by treating II
as an ordinary law suit and consider ~ wei
argued and disposed Of, when had written q
series Of briefs. The question before us Is not
confined within this narrow circle. 1t is above
n mere point Of law and belongs TO q broader
science one embracing law Gs branch, and
which necessarily constitutes one of the chief
practical interests of mankind Treating the
subject IN this broader sense public discussion
may be Of benefit, but If we confine the dis
cussion TO its legal elements we extend the
evil instead Of correcting 1t, the public not
being fully impressed with the gravity and
scope OF the matters before them. IT "D. G.
La really desires to perform patriotic SER
vice let him address the public on the follow
ing subjects and qualify us to judge intell-
gently of the action Of the convention:
l. On the scope and functions Of govern
mont.
2. On the general principles Of taxation.
8. On direct and Indirect taxation.
4. On the effects Of over-taxation.
s. On the effects of imperfect security of
person and property.
Q. On the effects Of imperfection In the adj
ministration Of justice
z, On public credit.
g. On the right of tho State to contract
loans to defray extraordinary expenses.
These topics are Of transcendent interest to
us now and If ID. @. L." Is the statesman he
evidently considers him self, his views on each
and every one OF them will be of exceeding
value. One Of the most disputed questions
In this community to-day is the proper
functions and agency of government, and as
we are now projecting change In the organic
law as means Of improving our condition,
the dispute Is more likely to increase than
diminish In Interest.
We have been SO much accustomed Of late
years by our. law makers, black and white
to governmental interference for the public
good, or under erroneous conceptions Of what
that good requires that there has grown up
school Of thinkers who condemn all inter
ference of government in questions OF pri-
vate nature and who would restrict its sphere
of action within the narrowest bounds. On
the other hand there are those who exagger-
ate the province OF government. investing It
with paternal character, etc. We laymen
require schooling on these points, and we
look to our professional luminaries for instruc-
ton. We want some Que b. state simply how
things are rs opposed to the Thousand aspects
under which Ignorance supposes them to be.
To lay down tho general principles under
which society prospers; TO point out the
sophsms which hide destruction. The refu-
tation of vulgar preiudices is much nobler
work than filling the papers with tortuQus
maxims Of jurisprudsnce. Let "D c. L." olose
his law books and consult his Say, Ricardo
and Mill, and rectify public opinion. We
want a few good economists to Lead popular
thought In proper direction, because. az
Bastiat says, There are sciences whose in
fIuence upon the public Ia proportional only
TO the information of that public ITSELF and
whose efficacy CONSISTS not IN the accumulated
knowledge of some few learned heads, but
In that which has diffused Itself In the reason
of man In the aggregate. Such are morals,
hygiene, social economy and lin countries
where men belong to themselvesl political
economy"
What does It profit "a That God has promui-
gated moral laws, II the minds OF men will
constantly mistake vice for virtue and virtue
for yicef What does IL benefit us II the great
political writer's of the world have proclaim
cd the ruinous effects OF excessive taxation, III
those who enact laws and those for whom
laws are made, are convinced of the contrary?
The sciences enumerated in the quotation
from Bastiat, and which are very properly
lienominated "socsdl' are peculiur In this
respect, that being or common application,
no one will confess himself ignorant of them.
III we desire to settle a question OF chemistry
or mathematics, we do not claim an innate
knowledge OF these sciences, but go to DR..
Jones for Information about the one, and Prof
Soule about the other. But in hygiene and.
politicai economy authorities are not wanted.
Each individual daily acts on his own ideas,
right or wrong, and thinks he has right to
decide and dictate In these matters. Do you
feel unwell2 There Is not a man you meet
who cannot cure you one had q
liver complaint, and condurango cured
him: you have rheumatism and he
prescribes condurango; or your kidneys are
deranged, take cOndurango. Are the COM
plaints anke2 On this subject he troubles
himself but little. Now this philanthropic
doser comes In my mind whenever hear an
attempt made to diagnose our political ills.
Some ascribe them to the disparity between
city and country assessments. others to tax
reSisters, Communism. etc errors from which
very serious consequences flow; errors which
show the necessity of the dissemination of
sound doctrine. Let me strengthen this last
proposition with another quotation from Bas-
that:
ssThe world Is not sufficiently conscious OF
the influence exercised over IT by s0phistfy.
When might ceases TO be right, and the gov
eminent Of mere strength is dethronad, so
phistry transfers the empire to cunning and
subtilty. 1t would be difficult to determine
which of the two tyrannies is most injurious
to mankind.
"Men have an immoderate love for pleasure,
influence, consideration, power-in word,
for riches; and they are, by an almost uncon
querable inclination, pushed to procure these
at the expense Of others.
''But these others, who form the public,
have no less strong inclination to keep what
they have acquired; and this they will do, if
they have the strength and the knowledge to
effect it.
''Spoliation, which plays so important a
agents: force and canning. She has also two
checks: courage and kaosledgc. But among
civilized nations surely the producers OF
riches are now become sufficiently numerous
and strong to defend themselves Does this
mean they are no longer robbed They are
as much so as ever. and. moreover they rob
one another The only difference is that spO-
hatlon has changed her agent She acts 10
longer BY force, but by cunning. To rob the
pubic 1t Is necessary to deceive them. 10
etsecelve them il is necessary to persuade
snen mat they are robbed for their own adj
vantage, and to lHtuca them 10 raaaix,, =