The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-05-21


act tribute ;ro;a the owners OF movable or
destructible property OH the gronad that
tho assistance of the state inits protection
is essential in in.uring it's continued
possession on the part of its owners. ~
these cases the justice Of taxation IS ap-
! parant, and it is m obligation, not u
favor, to devote the proceeds to the pre-
lection of individual liberty and life, ana
the maintenance Of schools, hospitals and
other institutions for the benefit Of society
at large But we arc agreed that in these
cases the trihn!a exaotal should lie III pro
porainn to the worth OF the land lease or
! the value of the personal property pro
| tectcA by tho COVE .'n;ont. haze seen
the proposition advanced by one Ct your
correspondents that as the cost OF the
purchase Of /, land lease or Of personal
property represented stored III, wages,
and rs secure possession Of wage 1uoncy
and ability TO use it in u way calculated
to promote one's own happiness requires
governments protection, tribute shoala be
cxactcd Of wage earners. ) lis proposi
ton colcedo to be correct but dissent
from The view that such tribute S!loull be
taken il sacha way fiat equal amounts
would lr cSacte,l d mel, who work for a
thousand dollars and ten dollars a month
respectively. BESIDES if tho object OF a
poll tax is to compel Wage carnors to assist
in the support onght not those who no
longer work for wages bat who live on
and pay taxes on the proceeds of real es-
ta.e or personal property to DO cxemp ted
from the payment Of poll taxes.
I havo supposed that the cxaction Of
poll taxes under this government was iii
part the result Of an impression that tie
elective franchise being an important
possession, and in the hands Of the ropr
as well Us tie rich, was !, fit subject fox
taxation since its protection formed q part
Of The business OF government. Ii no otl.-
or way coHIal see a reason why there
should be a tax imposed which was not
based upon HE commercial y"luc ofp:ap
erty or earnings receiving the protection
CT government
The poll tax prcreq;'is.. te was advocated
as probable constitutional means OF
placing the politics OF the State il The
control Of the Caucasian race without inn
bedding liz oar or.anic law q p:ovision
J fora privileged class. Tic superstition
i. that ks natural effect would be tho rrac.
teal elimination oe tie ,icsro from ! oil
tics was grounded upon belief III tbs
] superiority Of The ;s!A;!c susc, it having beer
\ hold that tie average white man wonls
/ value his irecn,an's prcrogatiyc far abcy;
;, paltry one OF two dollars, On tho ol!!c!
hand it Was supposed that the negro
from his we'll known disposition to ssl
J his vote, wo;;!d gladly dispense with it i
il It's retention were certain to cost some
9 thing and his ability to sell it uncertain.
This view the case is certainly NOS,
complimentary We the white msn of Lonisi
ana than .hc sHppO,ition that il it wcr,
left to the option Of the average Whit
man to pay lis poll tax OF lose his vote i;
w'onlA CHOSE the latter alternative an;
G thereby let The government fall inte th
!! hands of Il minority. naop'e raised Il;
!. under institutions radically different froa
ours can safely be in.rnstcl with til
sovereign powers oe American cit;zenahi
y when thoroughly ilHJtia;i with he SIR;
u %: free Institutions. Let rs receive tn
t. worthy and thor usAl,' Americana"
y, foreigner on the same footing given on
,r native born citi3ons, bllt the noble tlcc!'s
or tho claims upon o;t1 gratitude, Of ii,
- ,dividnal Foreigners c;ln afford no arm
- acnts for the exemption Of otin;.s fral
n proper tests Of fitness Tor citizenship.
y VIC admit that the merits Of tho Dist,
gnishe,l nlen OF thi, or tIlat nationality {
race eaiitlcd al Of its members to e,
cMntion from TIC tests required Of otllor
. we are closcly approaching pasitio
" which would o,lcrs premise from willie
y no Other conclusion can be drawn ti,a
~ that There can properly be no 1ualifc;
;inn exaatcl nfanynnc. | lolieye til;
The blood OF the negro Attacks WIS abo,
~ The lirst shed in the cause Of A.nericc
freedom, the toll Of Tie negro was ii
)c foundation upon which the high cuIts
II. OF 5onthcra society of ante ballum da,
vi Yostctl, but it does not suit our p,l'roso
;, all to admit that these facts entitlc II
nrgro to vote without qualification. J..
II us have no more of this exception OF q
eMp!on business, it is certainly III
American" and may yot prove "a ttelusis
and snare"
In conclusion one more plea for tho pc
lax prerequisite, it is not asserted by al
one that it is at var a &c with the fftcen1