The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-07-21
Commissioner HeIts.

A newspaper occupying rank which
nlay be fairly called second in importance
among the Republican newspapers in the
United States says, in its issue of Saturday
last:
Technically, perhaps, Dir. Wells Yves
rot dismissed his Office expired ycstcr. -
by limitation. Tire country will put
different construction upon the occur
renee. The expiration of the office was
81 incident which nigh; have been averted,
and would have been averted had not Mr.
boutwell,, in obedience to the mOnOp-
olisfs, desired MS removal. There can be
no escape from that fact. And il is one
which viii bring no credit to the Admin
istraiion, 0nd no strength to tie Rcpubli
can party
This is 2 very easy and generous way
of dealing with the fact that the office OF
Special Commissioner of the Revenue ex
pired by law. it was an oflice which
ought to have been continued, or ought to
have been permitted to expire, as It's uiiii-
ty and the manner of its performance
demonstrated its capacity to be of pracii-
cal benefit, or proved it to be 4 mere sine
cure. No intf .iipcnt man in the country
will doubt ths- ,lr Wells has tried to
gather facts ard statistics which would
enable Congress 20 legislate iHtelligcntly
upon the financial problems coming before
u. There may well be differences OF
opinion concerning some Of the conciu-
siOns he has reached, but only blind, and
harsh, and unreasOning malevOlence Will
make any challenge oil the integrity OF bis
motives or ofthe great value of his Inves
legations as q statistician and financier.
We ask Republicans, not simply be-
cause they are Republicans, but because
they are taxpayers and because 1t IS a
matter in which they, in common with
ali taxpayers, are Interested. 10 think
carefully Of the observations above quoted
In well-considerei and guarded language
II is, liz fact, direct assertion that the
m0nopolsts." a class of men numbering
but an Insignificant proportion of the pop
ulaiion OF this country, have determined
to kill one of the most faithful, hard
working, and valuable civil officers in the
country. The moderate terms in which
the assertion is made does not touch its
significance.
What are the allegations of fact IN the
quotation? One IS, that the Secretary OF
the Treasury Of the United States has
made determined war on the continuance
OF the Office of Special Commissioner OF
the Revenue. Another is, that he has
demands Cf the InOnopOlists." Who arc
the monopolists ?" " hat are the mo
nopOl:sts," that their interests and theil
wishes should operate to strike down al
Office which has proven Itself 10 he o
direct, Immediate, practical, and great
bent st 10 ali men in the country WHIT
wish 10 get clear and practical knowl
edge of our systems Of taxation and of on
national resources? Be it remembers,
that we are quoting from the Republical
newspaper second IN prominence an,
circulation in the country, aud that its in
dignation in Witnessing tine retirement @
Mr.. Wells, and the action Of the men VIII
have abrogate1 his office, and have en-
deavOred To kill him, has served to over
ride its partisan tactics.
Somewhat less Of honesty and OF whole
some plainness Of speech might be OK
peeled from it was there an electioneer
ing campaign in progress, but it is an ex
cellent symptom of Improvement In pub
lie opinion that in the absence Of thos
selfish and partisan motives which to-
often control the political press of tn
country, when the day Of voting is no
far ahead, there is Il capacity and DISPOSE
ton to speak Of dishonesty and cOrrup
ton in civil life in about such words a
honest men ought to put together in deal
ing with the things.
The extract draws the matter very mil'
In treating of the retirement Of Mr.. Well.
The multitude of small men ard meal
men, commencing with Mr.. Grant an
working downward-so far as position
and salary are commemorative could b
spared from civil life with benefit to tn
country, may fairly be called legion, bu
of these Mr.. Wells is not one. His in
clination to work and his capacity I.
work have placed him in the front RAM
among statisticians and political econo
mists, aud every assault his enemies bay
made on BIN has only served to verify tb
accuracy OF the statements made in hi
annual reports NicGgo Times, JUN 6.