Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-12-21
TAXATIAN.

TAXATION.
While the rebellion lasted and the
national integrity was threatened, it
was natural that public thought should
be concentrated upon its preservation,
and that individual welfare should be
subordinated to gigantic effort for
that result; and even now, it is ap-
propria:e that taxpayers should
cheerfully contribute what is neces-
sary to sustain government, and ena-
BILE it to meet promptly and with
honor every responsibility that great
struggle entaile1 upon it, but, situated
as the country is at present without
external or internal danger, the main
object of government ought to be
how to promote as far as possible
personal prosperity.
What American populations are
aiming at is not how the largest sur
plus can be piled up in the treasury,
or how to secure party success and
put this democrat and that republican
into office, or how to heap concessions
and subsidies upon favored industries,
but to attain each for himself indiyid-
ual comfort and independence, to the
acquisition of which, if government,
parties and policies ought not to be
helps, they certainly should not be
hindrances. But this seems to be
the last thing the republican party
and itsdependencies are able to realize.
The unavoidable expenses of gov
ernment are enormous, but these
should not be increased until only
favored few can reach what all aim at.
Whether the readers of the LEDGER
are aware of it or not, our national
and local taxes amount to more than
the savings Of industry. The public
is regularly told how much is received
at the national treasury from excises
and duties paid directly to govern
ment but is never officially informed
how much the cost of the most COM
mon necessaries, Of food, of clothing
and Of the tools and implements of
industry is increased by imports lev
led for no other purpose than to keep
out imports and protect manufac-
turers.
Perhaps one of the most monstrous
present impositions ON taxpayers is
the employment of supernumeraries
by government, who are conspicuous
only at elections, and as subjects for
party assessment. Every dollar paid
such leeches and blood-suckers is
downright robbery, offensive alike to
every honest republican and democrat,
and, therefore, there is an almost
universal demand for civil service
reform that will purge the various
departments of idle and vicious de-
pendents.
Another formidable source of pres
ent trouble is the fact that a large
proportion of the republicans in this
congress have received great pecuni-
ary aid at elections from monopolists,
and feel they must, therefore, fight
to the death for the industries pecu-
liar to these districts, and of which
they are the chosen representatives.
The one upholds this monopoly. and
the other that, until there is scarce
one that has net its special advocate
and log-roller in the House. 1t mat
ters not to such that little or no rev.
e.:s:ee results to government from i'm
posts that inflict great general injury
upon consumers. The fact that they
have been thus fieeced for years is
the main argument for further fleec-
ing of them until, if ever such a con-
summation can be reached, the tariff
changes demanded can be made with
out injury to those who have fattened
these many years on popular exac-
tions.
In the meantime the whole country,
except the favored, suffers. Even
the farmer languishes. The most
the main body Of our agriculturists is
doing, even with the extraordinary
crops Of the past season, is to make
both ends meet. Only the exception
ally intelligent and energetic of them
have surplusses, and these, had they
devoted their attention and capital
during the past twenty years to the
favored industries, would have been
millionaires, and not the helpless VIC
Tins of taxation.
The rendition of "East Lynne" by
Miss Ada Gray last Friday evening
was general disappointment to those
present. 1t was very good fifty
cent show, but poor for one dollar.
In fact, we never heard the play as
badly handled, or shabily-we might
say vulgarly-presented. The reason
better houses do not greet our late
entertainments, which have been yerv
good is, that Mexico won't stand one
dollar shows unless they are of the
highest order, which was not the case.
Our worthy cotemporary is putting
and blowing about running their
presses by steam. If they want to
make the Entelligencer as good a pa
per as the LEDGER, they must not
only attach steam to their presses,
but they must apply steam to their
colonels, business managers, editors,
reporters, doctors, etc., etc. The