The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-11

pie and the future looks bright for the
establishment of.a Democratic party on
whose standard will l'e emhlazone.l No
North, mo south, u" East, no West. Our
country, our leOple-a NATION whose in.
teTsts arr identical.
Pessssal assessment 1 Practical 1eps.
dlstleo 81 obllgsllss 70 he State.
When Hon. W. Malone, Of Virginia,
defined his position in the United States
Senate. there broke forth over the length
and breadth Of the country, one Of the
most exciting political discussions Of the
times. Itrventnated in arraignment Of W.
rious State governments, on the question
Of Reputation Of public obligations, in
which Louisiana figured rather conspicn-
onSly, a. well ~ Tennessee, Virginia and
Mississippi. The august Senators Of these
United States in extra session convened,
whilel away the precious hours which
should have been devoted tn the transac-
ton Of public business, inlulging in in
nentloes, personal abuse, invrctives and
epithets, against what they conceived af-
fectcd the honor and honesty Of their
various State governments. They were
ready at all times to hnrl back with in
finite scorn, and deny in words Of burning
cl@quence any such foul impntation a.
would tarnish the fair name and blacken
the purity Of State escutcheons, when
charged with disclaiming any part or
mOiety Of public indebtedness.
DID il ever strike the average reader
that there is species Of repn,liati"n black
or, deeper and darker than such ~ aroused
the ire Of Honorable Senator's! Did it
ever enter into the minds Of individuals,
VIII" compose the ''lear people" Of these
States, that they arr the inccptors Of the
very c"n'lemnat"ry measures which they
NJ strnn"asly inveigh against in their
neutrality-suspicious.: And yet it is
verify the truth.
The whole matter is contained in q nut
shell. We refer to the yearly assessments
made in this State under the provisions OF
thy new Constitution. The Colf.x CmEoN.
ICLE has been exposing the matter in q
manner which reflects no credit on prop
erty holders. That Journal says:
Every man who gives in his prolnrt,
snbScribes to the following oath:
l do further swear or affirm
that the valuation affixed opposite cacl
item Of said property in said list il the &C
tnal cash value thereof, according to tn.
Hest Of my Judgment, knowledge aud b.
lief.
So help me God.
| No man can honestly give in his proper
ty ut One-fONrth or One-half its value
And for the reason that all men will no
be honest h giving in their assessments
We advocate State board for the equal
cation Of assessments"
! Yet, in view Of this solemn oath, som
men who own property have no hesitanc,
in giving in valuation, to the ASSESSED
Of one-iourth and one.half its real worth
and then deliberately subscribe thei
names to this oath with its afix of IS
help me G@l." They must assurelly he
lieve conscientiously, that it il their kose'
duty to defraul the State of ~ much q
their equitable indebtedness m they no.
sibly can.
Prefer to one Of these citizens q paltr
80 or 500 to 60 into court of justic
and deliberately commit perjury, aud IL,
tender would Ike considered deadly in
suit, which would result in an attack u,
on and perhaps serious bodily injury {
the person who made the protfer. But fl
less than the amount specified, these sam
persons do not hesitate to subscribe to q
,, oath, the requirements Of which they a,
fully aware are far from correct. We ca,
not understand the elasticity Of conscienc,
or personal motive which actnates ,,eopl
l. in one case, which in the other they wonl
r consider direct attack upon their hol
i esty, truth and high standing in societ,
G These are plain words, yet the gravit
8 Of the situation, the palpablc wrong il
= flicted upon the conscientious tax-paye
. the depletion Of State revenues on accom-,
n of low and simulated assessments, rsauil
Y that the subject should Ike handled witt
" out gloves.
It The dear people, who complain Of ring
u official ottenness and corruption, the b.
l. gaining, trading and traficking anon
o politicians, Of the sale Of Offices, and Il
% preparation Of huge ''star ronte fraud
70 and other gigantic plumbers, may rail
u their selected officials, while they fail
= realize the utter decentralization which g
> lists in their own ranks, and the conscienc
9 less disregard Of truth ~ typiaed and pr
mnlgstcd by the Assessment rolls of Lo
70 isiana. IS
$ Twas but recently that some Of the r
: rsl journals expressed regret at the deart
" Of subjects for editorial thought and di
ID cusaion. Great God! where are the
; thoughts and brainsi Here il one (al
= there are many others) which they c,
,. ring the changes" upon for months