The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-03-17
THE RAILROAD TAX AGAIN.
EDITOR DEMOCRATS:
SOME PERSONAL REMARKS.

l have been threatened that II per-
sist in my opposition TO the railroad
tax, certain advocates of that tax pro-
pose to use whatever influence they
may have against me politically here
after. / am not to be deferred from
the expression of my convictions by
any such considerations. The matter
under discussion is one of local ma
ture affecting the two towns of Alex
andria and Pineville; the question in
volved is the exercise of the very high
est right of sovereignty-that of taxa
ton I have a direct personal interest
in the question because l would have
to pay the tax in both towns if it is
levied, and l have an equal interest
with any of the advocates of the tax in
the question so far as it may affect the
general welfare. If under these cir
cumstances am not to be permitted
to discuss the question openly, public
ly and fairly without mourning the po-
litical animosity of certain Of my fell
low citizens, so be it. If cannot sur
vive their animosity l shall have the
satisfaction of having at any rate exer-
cised the right of free speech regard
less of consequences. l may be per-
mitted to observe that only Error is in
tolerant of discussion, and that Truth
not only does not fear bnt invites full
investigation. 1t would be but poor
counsellor who shaped his advice to
meet every seeming breeze Of public
sentiment, and the convictions must be
weak indeed which lend themselves to
the pursuit of the ignus tatuus which
leads here to-day and there tomorrow.
| may be wrong, and unlike my CEN
sors do not arrogate to myself the
certainty of being right. But l shall
express the opinions l entertain be
they right or wrong. The public man
whose career rests upon no surer fonn-
dation than "policy," and who has no
higher conception of public duty than
"To bend the pregnant hinges of the knee
That thrift may follow fawning,"
wi surely have but a small hold upon
popular esteem, however nimbly he
may change bis opinions to suit the
passing breezes.
THE GENERAL GOOD.
But after all it is not question of
private benefit or injury, but of the
general public good, which is under
discussion, and it cannot be narrowed
down to the limits of the welfare of any
individual. The selfish personal in
terest which would prompt an endea-
vor to induce the whole people inter-
ested to do themselves lasting injury
in order that any individual may be
thereby benefited, belongs to the cate
CORY of foul wrong and base injustice.
On the other hand, the penurious and
equally selfish denial of the individual
to contribute his share to the general
good, and the spirit which suggests the
Withholding of the individual oontri-
button because, forsooth, his neighbor
might be thereby benefited, is con-
ternptible and mean. The first may
be likened to the instinct of the rob-
Der, without the merit, such as it may
be, of his bravery, which induces him
to take openly and by force, what IN
this instance would be sought to be
gained by threats and false induce
ments. The beggar is more honora-
BILE, because he asks in the name of
charity what such selfshness would
seek to obtain by hypocrisy and a
compliance with the forms of law. /
know of no comparison to suit the last
named disposition, unless it be that of
the surly dog in the manger There
is no room for self-interest, apart from
that of sharing in the general good, in
the discussion of this tax question. 1t
is a matter of public policy which is to
affect the people for good or evil
The discussion of the question should
be had in a generous spirit which will
give equal credit for honesty of pur-
pose and sincerity of motive to both
sides and the conclusion reached should
be the calm deliberate judgment of
the people.
WHAT Is THE QUESTION:
The right of direct taxation belongs
to the sovereign-the State. 1t is the
most supreme and the highest badge of
sovereignty. The State has limited
her exercise of the right for her own
purposes to mills. She has delega-
ted to the smaller political corpora
tons, the parishes and municipalities
the right to exercise this prerogative
of sovereignty within certain limits, up
to 10 mills, for the purposes of their
local governments. Going still further
the State, the sovereign, has under cer-
tain restrictions and up to the limit of
S mills annually for 10 years, given
the people themselves the right Of tax
alton for local improvements and in
aid of railroads.&c. two purposes be.
ing kept separate and distinct and
provided for in different and separate