Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-18
POLITICAL.

The finance committee of the senate
are opposed to Senator Summers bill
for abolishing the revenue bureau.
Mr.. Lynch's bill for the resumption
Of specie payments, and General But
ler's bill for funding greenbacks into
bonds, bearing three per cent. inter.
est, have been discussed in the COM
mittee on banking and currency, but
no conclusion will be arrived at or an
nOuneed until after the holidays.
1t is to the credit Of human ma
ture, that the execution Of the Ooms
munist leaders is generally regarded
as bloody blgnder. 1t is like the
act by which the Radicals endeavored
to inaugurate reign of ferocity after
the late war, when Jefferson Davis
was manacled in his cell, and public
sentiment wasi outraged, instead oi
being gratifed, byit.
Mr.. Sumner has struck his first
blow at the Grant administration. He
has moved to abolish horde of use
less office-holders on whom, next to
the regular army, President Grant re-
lies to renominate and re-elect him.
He was the father of the present in
come tax. 1t was he who suggested
its renewal after its expiration aS 9
war tax. He said in his message:
also suggest the renewal Of the tax on
incomes, but at q reduced rate, say
three per cent. 1t was renewed at
two and half per cent, and General
Pleasonton had the imprudent frank
ness to reveal the result. The amount
raised about paid the salaries Of the
officers employed to collect il, and
nothing came into the public treasury.
This revelation cost Pleasonton his
place; the whole army of office
holders, and the chief, felt themselves
touched in the tenderest point OF their
interests, and commissioner PleaSon-
ton paid the penalty of his indiscre-
tion-he was removed. Now, Mr..
Sumner proposes to disband the
brigade of superfiuOus officials. On
this part Of his proposal there ought
to be no difference OF opinion. In
raising the tax to very high rate on
a few specific articles, there is, how
ever, this difficulty-that fraud is
stimulated by the heavy tax which it
escapes, and the honest dealer is una
BILE TO compete with his numerous
competitors. Thus, too large a tax
defeats its object, and is less product
i've than one which this mass even of
unscrQp9lous dealers will prefer to
pay, rsthsr than take the risk and in
convenience Of elUding il.
We have always thought that the
coolest exhibition of impudence on
record was the joining OF Radicals in
the hue and cry of corruption against
the Tammany Ring. 1t was pot call
ing kettle black face with a ven
geanee' Just take c LOOK at the other
side. Says the Philadelphis Age;
The New York frauds, over which
the Radical IresS of the nation have
shrieked for the Pesi three months,
sink into insignihcanee when com
pared with the rssoslites and stealings
of Radical officials. The recapit1la-
ton OF these robberies, swindles and
deialcations, aceGrding to Official re-
ports. show these figures: revenue
collector, $40, ,700, ,983 80; golden rule,
Sc, ,OO6, ,005; Ohorpening, $500 900; Ma
ior Hodge, $3.50, ,6Oo; George o. Evans,
1856, ,535 So; General Whitaker, 500, ;
uJUt y. w. NOIbOuy SlIO,UOVs bUtdl,
$25, ,z50, sos 33. Since these state
ments came before the public others
of startling character have come to
light. The robbery of the southern
States TO the amount OF SO, 100, 900;
the cotton swindle of $l0, 1000, 600; the
recent swiddle In the South Caro-
Ina bonds, with numerous other de-
falcations Of less importance and
amount, are all matters Of reconi, and
ali show an aggregate of over one
hundred and eighty-eight millions of
.ollars as the Radical robberies OF
.sss than o year"
The thirty-nine articles are no longer
q part Of the studies of Oxford Uni
versity. The late votes of the convo-
cation are regarded as a recognition
Of the great ideas of progress by one Of
the most conservative authorities of
the English Church. Not only is the
right OF the legislature recognised to
repeal or modify all legal settlements
Of religion, but Guch modification
aoeFna fo he invited. The EnQlish