of taxes-第2章

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himself；　be　enabled　to　pay；　by　superior　industry　and　frugality；
without　raising　the　price　of　his　labour。
　　　　I　shall　conclude　this　subject　with　observing；　that　we　have；
with　regard　to　taxes；　an　instance　of　what　frequently　happens　in
political　institutions；　that　the　consequences　of　things　are
diametrically　opposite　to　what　we　should　expect　on　the　first
appearance。　It　is　regarded　as　a　fundamental　maxim　of　the　TURKISH
government；　that　the　Grand　Signior；　though　absolute　master　of　the
lives　and　fortunes　of　each　individual；　has　no　authority　to　impose
a　new　tax；　and　every　OTTOMAN　prince；　who　has　made　such　an
attempt；　either　has　been　obliged　to　retract；　or　has　found　the
fatal　effects　of　his　perseverance。　One　would　imagine；　that　this
prejudice　or　established　opinion　were　the　firmest　barrier　in　the
world　against　oppression；　yet　it　is　certain；　that　its　effect　is
quite　contrary。　The　emperor；　having　no　regular　method　of
encreasing　his　revenue；　must　allow　all　the　bashaws　and　governors
to　oppress　and　abuse　the　subjects：　And　these　he　squeezes　after
their　return　from　their　government。　Whereas；　if　he　could　impose　a
new　tax；　like　our　EUROPEAN　princes；　his　interest　would　so　far　be
united　with　that　of　his　people；　that　he　would　immediately　feel
the　bad　effects　of　these　disorderly　levies　of　money；　and　would
find；　that　a　pound；　raised　by　a　general　imposition；　would　have
less　pernicious　effects；　than　a　shilling　taken　in　so　unequal　and
arbitrary　a　manner。





the　End