The New York herald., 1865-01-21

save this property, or to sacrifice 1t for n0thingf
His dreams of Southern confederacy are
ended What further interest has he in JEFF.
Davis or in this war? These reflections, mani
testing themselves in various ways throughout
the rebellious States, are at length reaching
the point of "treason" against Davis In the
secret and in the open sessions Of his own Con-
gress. The plot thickens against him on every
side, and we may soon expect to hear Of his
mysterious disappearance for parts unknown,
and of the proclamation at Richmond Of Gen
eral Lee as provisional Confederate Dictator In
behalf of treaty of submission and peace.
The Income Tax-PrOgross OF tho Country
In Individual Wealth.
A good deal of objection has been raised in
this city to the publication of the incomes upon
which the internal revenue tax Is paid, and 1t
Is singular that this objection does not extend
to the Eastern or Western cities, but is confined
to New York alone. There are great many
men of large income In the metropolis who do
not object to see their names in print in this
connection; but it seems that there are many
who for some reason or other, make great
excitement about it. Now, it is clearly within
the contemplation Of the law that the public
should have access 10 these lists, and, whether
In the Office of the assessor or collector or In
the columns Of q newspaper, makes very little
difference. The object Of the provision Of tho
law on this subject was to prevent fraud, and
this certainly can be best accomplished by
laying the lists before as many people as pos
sible. The only way, then, TO prevent this pub
| licity Is to repeal the law
One thing the publication Of these names has
effected, which Is OF much interest both at home
and abroad--it has revealed the immense indi-
vidual wealth Of the country. It has shown
that we can now count our millionaires by hun
dreds, while twenty years ago, or less, we might
count them on our fingers. To quote at that time
the familiar phrase that man "was worth his
weight in god'' was to illustrate something rare
and wonderful Now, there arc In this city and
in the leading cities Of the Eastern and Western
States thousands Of mon whose yearly incomes
alone, not TO speak of their aggregate wealth,
would outweigh them in gold, and they are
almost as plenty as greenbacks.
Some years ago to say that a man had "ten
thousand year" implied that he enjoyed o
very handsome fortune in fact, almost
| nabob. The old NJ locracy of this country,
slightingly denomnaled the "codGsh," were re-
gardcd as wealthy on an income Of ten thou
| sand year. Then came the second order, the
gold aristocracy Of California, who rated their
income by the hundred thousand Later, We
have the shoddy and the petroleum aristocra-
cies and they count their incomes by the mil
lion. These men arc TO be found everywhere.
They are plenty in the cities Of New England
as well as this metropolis; on Pennsylvania
farms; on the Western slopes; by the great
lakes and rivers; in the gulchos Of California;
in Wall street, where they are up 10 their eyes
in mines and oil wells. Our millionaires are
the growth Of one generation. Many people
have been accustomed 10 look with great
veneration upon the Rothchilds, and the Barings,
and Tho Hopes, Of Europe, as monuments Of
successful enterprise, because they control the
finances Of many great nations; but they have
grown rich from generation TO generation. Our
Rolhschilds, some Of whom could buy out the
European millionaires, had no hereditary for
tune-no legacy Of gold, or family, or name.
They cut their own fortunes out Of tho hard
rock Of circumstances, grew with the country,
and within their own lifetime became Its flnan-
cial masters. There Is one gentleman in this
city to-day, enjoying an income Of million,
who came to this country q poor Irish
boy; another, who has an income Of three
quarters Of q million, tho founder Of
whose family came here from Germany PEN
niless youth; and yet another, with an income
Of q half Of q million, who commenced life as
Whitehall boatman.
II the story Of the ARABIAN Nights" was to
be written at this day Il would DO regarded as
fiat and uninteresting compared with the real
histories Of our living men. In those days Of
Haroun al Raschid men acquired fortunes by
rubbing wonderful lamp or an enchanted
ring, which raised mighty genii from the earth
to do their bidding. In our days we appeal to
! the virtues Of industry and perseverance,; and
It Is tho pick, the shovel and the shaft, which
raise the genii from the ground in tho shape Of
substantial gold and rich petroleum.
Not only Is the publication Of the names Of
our wealthy men an evidence TO tho world of
our extraordinary prosperity, but II Is highly
interesting to those who arc acquainted with
the personal history Of our miIlionaires, and at
the same time furnishes valuable moral 70 The