The Louisiana populist., 1897-01-22

anything about the subject knows that
the expenses of government are much
greater than is necessary. In the old
days OF Jefferson it cost the people
about 60 cents each per annum to be
governed, and they were governed
better than they are now for about 81
per head per annum. The secretary
thinks that both the tariff and currea-
cy questions should be taken out OF
politics and given to commission &c
settle. The danger of such a course
would be in getting commission OF
such men as Morton. Continuing his
interview he declared himself certain
that harmony would be restored be.
tween the two factions Of the demo
cratic party.
The Arkansas Democrat sizes up the
situation in pretty good shape in the
following spirited editorial:
Tho next twelve months might be
spent very profitably by the several
varieties OF democrats in getting to.
gether. That the several factions of
The party are now wide apart, and that
l great deal of friction exists, is not to
be doubted. LIE: US see, in the first
place, how many kinds of democrats
all claiming with great earnestness
That they are the best democrats, and
the only democrats, we find after the
wreck. First, there are the democrats
who voted for McKinley-a very large
NUMBER. Second, there are the demo.
Gratis who voted for Palmer and Buck.
ner-a small number. Third, the dem
ocrats who took to the woods-a very
considerable number. Fourth, the
democrats who voted for Bryan but
who would not swallow Watson; and
NTH, the democrats who voted fol-
Bryan with or without Watson. 1t is
easy enough to revile each other and
call hard names, but if we are ever tc
nave a democratic party again. the
tnlng to do is to get the warning fac
lions together on some common
ground. We shall never be reconcilea
Or harmonized so long as we 20 on ac
cuslng each other Of disloyalty and
treachery. We can never present a for
mldable front to our ancient enemy
while we are split up into hostile and
warning factions The need of the hou,
Is cool judgment. good temper and
sincere desire for a return to old-time
democratic principles. Certain It is
tnat abuse OF each other, elimination
and recrimllation. will not pave the
way to success in the future. In its
long career the democratic party has
had many dangers and perils to con.
tend with, but there was never a time
when wise and conservative counsel
was more In demand than the present.
The very existence Of the party de.
pends upon 1t.
New zealand is becoming an inter-
esting study for people who desire the
largest liberties consistent with the
public good.
1t Is OF interest to note how that
colony taxes its citizens, for if there is
one thing above another we need to
discover in the United States. 1t is a
system OF taxation which will work out
with absolute justice to every member
Of the commonwealth. The article
makes clear the extent to which New
Zealand has carried progressive taxa.
ton. The income tax is levied only
on incomes exceeding $1,50O a year.
Between that sum and $500 the tax Is
5 per cent. On larger incomes It is 10
per cent. The land tax, also, is not
levied upon persons OF small means.
Persons owning less than $2,50O worth
OF bare land are exempt from the tax,
which rises as high as w per cent on
holdings worth more than $1,000, 900.
In the taxation Of owners of mortgaged
lands, the amount Of the mortgage is
deducted, and the tax upon it is as
sessed to the owner Of the mortgage.
For the further relief Of mortgago-s
from their hardships during recent
years, the government lends money on
farms, up to three-ffths Of their value,
al per cent. The farmers must pay
6, but / per cent goes to the extinguish
ment of the debt. The average rate
Of interest on American farm mort.
cages is 71s per cent.
Here is an example Of farm loans
that the government of the United
States might do well to initiate. Some
Of our states already loan their school
funds on real estate, which is to all
intents and purposes a government
loan on real estate. The New Zealand
system OF taxation. also presents an
example worthy of imitation. It fol.
lows and is founded upon a we'll known
and generally accepted law OF nature
that the strongest shall bear the great
est burden. Mankind recognize this in
lower animals. but In this country our
system Of taxation places the creates,
burdens upon the poor
w. S. MORGAN.
A GOldite Hit Hard.
A cilyorifo cnH vnld;kn -