Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-28
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Down WITH THE TAXES.

DOWN WITH THE TAXES.
The popular sentiment of the people
of the North is becoming so oyerwhelm-
ing in its opposition to the extravaganza
of the present Administration, and the
policy of Gen. Grant and his Secretary
of the Treasury to keep up the rate of
taxation and speedily pay off the public
debt, that the Radical press are forced to
speak out in unmistakable language in
favor Of change in the policy of the
Administration. The following from
Radical papers viii show the drift of
public sentiment against Gen. Grant, even
in his own party.
The Worcester (AIass.) Spy directs at
tention to the fact that the country, by
doubling its wealth and population, will
soon become twice as able to bear taxa
ton; and, moreover, that as the money
which the debt represents was used to
save the life of the republic, coming gen
erations are rightfully entitled to share the
burden.
The Bangor (Me.) Wig insists on the
wisdom of yielding to the almost universal
demand for a reduction of taxation. It
can find no danger to the national credit
or the ultimate liquidation of the debt in
such a course; on the contrary, ii main
tains that the most vital interests of the
nation demand such a reduction. The
tariff must be made to bear less heavily on
the common people, and those in moder-
ate circumstances must be relieved from
the oppressive burden of Internal taxation.
The Albany On. y EUening Journal
exposes the fallacy of those theorists who
imagine that we have got to break our
backs with heavy tariff and heavy in
ternal taxation in order to negotiate a
national loan on advantageous terms. The
continuance of heavy taxes is crushing
our industries, and any possible good
attending it is more than counterbalanced
by its accompanying evils.
The Troy Wing objects to Mr.. Bout
wells financial scheme, because he pro-
poses no reduction of the present rate Of
taxation. 1t denies the necessity Of can
ceiling the whole debt in twenty or twenty
five years, and proposes fifty or a more
reasonable period for its liquidation.
The Hartford Comm Coerant puts
the question very tersely as follows:
Dayby day the popular demand for a
reduction of the taxes grows louder, and
even the deafest Congressman will pres
emily hear it. The people who fought the
war, giving blood and money without
stint to their country so long as the need
lasted, have at least as good a claim upon
the Government as posterity. The sooner
Congress recognizes the justice % this
claim the better.
The Indianapolis Journal reminds III.
Boutwell, that his ideas with reference to
the payment of the national debt are at
tracing but few adherents. 1t considers
the policy Of immediate payment as IN
qucstionably hostile TO the sentiment of
the people, as it is to the true interests Of
the country.
The Chicago Republican says; No
relief from existing commercial pressure
is possible until the iron grippe of the tax
gatherer is relaxed. In the choice of
means, the people is the final arbitcr, and
Mr.. Boutwel's policy must yield to the
public necessities.
The Cleveland, O., Herald insists that
both the reduction of the debt and the
resumption of specie payments must hold
a secondary place beside the great ques-
ton of tightening of taxation.
The St. Joseph (Mo.) Herald swells
the Universal cry, "The taxes must be re-
duced." The country looks to Congress
for relief, and demands that
at make provision for the payment of
the interest on the debt, moderate annual
reduction of the principal. and then give
to the people all the relief from taxation
that can be had. The present condition
of the country demands this and it should
be done.
The NcwburG N. " Journal AYERS
that it is unwisc TO attempt a rate of pay
ment Of the debt which will be oppressively
felt by the people. The United States,
can now, if it choose, make its
own terms with its creditors as to time,
and to fair extent as to the rate of inter-
est. The people are entitled to expect
that large amount should be taken from
the taxes of the coming fiscal year. Such
a reduction would at once be felt in the