The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-31
Reputation.

RepudlatlODs
The Courier charges the Evansville
JOURNAL with reputation. As US
ual, however, it fails to produce any
proof. It says the JOURNAL 10 1858
when there was Democratic Council
came squarely out in favor of repu
diation. by making the most malevo'
lent appeals to the taxpayers to re-
pudiate the payment of their taxes,
and that "the pretense set up for this
extraordinary demand, was that the
Council had raised the rate Of taxa,
ton up to 81 43 upon each 800 val,
nation Of property" Every reader Of
the JOURNAL knows that all the above
il lie, while those acquainted with
the CoVrier's habit of lying. will
readily suspectthat it is so.
The Democratic Council of 1868,
like its successor in 1870. squandered
On awful sight of money, and raised
the peoples taxes frightfully. In it's
eagern0ss to tax, it went beyond the
law, and for so doing was sharply criti-
cised oy the JOURNAL. The correct
ness of these criticisms was after.
wards tacitly conceded by the Coun-
oil by changing some of us IeUies so as
to conform to the lao. We respectful
ly suggest to the present Council that
it will act wisely to emulate the good
sense of its Democratic predecessor
In this particular. The JOURNAL
never urged any man not to pay taxes
legally assessed against him. The
JOURNAL firm have always paid their
taxes promptly. They have never de-
layed payment. or resisted payment,
in order to exact reductions, as has
been done by members of the present
Council, who now sheer at remon-
frances as political maneuvering.
There are two kinds of repudia-
tors. One who resist the payment of
all honest claims by every subterfuge
and arti6ce known to the law, of
which the present Council can furnish
a most shining example. The other,
who adopts a course Of business or
policy, the ultimate object of which.
and the only result of which, will be
reputation. OF this latter class no
better examples can be found than
the present Council. and its hacker,
the Courier. We remember that, in
1862, the editor of the Courier can
vassed this county in behalf of his
rarty, and cried down the curren-
cy Of the country. predicting that
the day would come when a man
would have to attend market
with basket on one arm in which to
carry the greenbacks, and one on the
other in which to put the eatables
bought. He insisted that tAe time
was not far distant when itWould take
hatfull of greenbacks to purchase a
breakfast. Here was a sample of re-
pudiation worth considering, for by |
no possibility could the money ever
become so worthless until it was
evident the people did not intend |
to pay the obligations of their
government. Time rolled on, and |
in the year 1858 we ind tnis Same |
distinguished repudiator canvassing
this county, demanding that green |
backs be strewsd over the country,
thick as leaves In Vallambrosa, for
the very purpose no doubt of making
good his predictions in 1862. In both
instances success in his endeavors
would have resulted in reputation
We now find the Courier, under his
administration, advocating a policy
that is seriously endangering the
credit of the city, aud, unless checked
by more prudent men and counsels,
must result in bankruptcy and repu-
diation. Those who attempt to check
him and his partisans in their mad
financial career are howled at as re-
pudiators.
For our part, we have become so ao
eustomed to the insane rawlings of
this original repudiator, in years past.
that they do not disturb our euua-
nimity in the slightest now. We shall
for the purpose of protecting the
credit of our city, freely oriticise and
protest against any and all unlawful
acts of the Council. Silence on our
part would be cowardly. and contrib
ute towards bringing about the very
thing the Courier pretends to depre-
cate-repudiation.
The tax payers, whose treatment
by Messrs. Van Ripper and Carpenter
was so shameful, on Monday evening,
are among our oldest and best citi-
zens. They have, by their efforts,
contributed to the growth of our city.
They have been laboring for its pros.
peritY and paying for its Improvement
while Mr.. Van Ripper, who snubs
them, was taking his first lessons in
municipal chicanery from the Tam
many Hall managers in the slums of