The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-09

not simply asked fort was imperatively re-
ouired To have withheld il would have been
10 consign important interests to a condition
little short of ruin. Congress came to the
rescue. The benefits it conferred were more
limited than they should have been, but they
were timely and most valuable. 1t left some
portion of its work for the present session
and for the next Congress. The repeal of the
income tax was singled out for this session.
The popular voice, never in its favor, now
asks imperatively for its repeal The country
wants no more of it. And the Ways and
Means Committee, following General Grants
maxim, reports that it has no policy to en-
force against the will of the people.
There is, however, one man to whom the
peoples will has no significance. Wrapped
in self-complacency that is almost incom-
prehensible Mr. Boutwell, not only recon-
mended a policy, but has by all possi-
BILE methods endeavored to enforce it with O
sullen indifference to the wants and wishes
Of the country. We can imagine Secre-
tary in whom such conduct, for a brief
period, would not be intolerable. A profound
master of finance, intimately acquainted
with the condition of industry and COM
merce, with broad and clear views in rela-
ton to the course which must be followed
to extricate the country from fiscal and politi-
cal difficulties, might be excused if, for a
single session, he pressed his facts and logic
upon the attention of Congress. But Mr..
Boutwell, is not such a Secretary, He has
shown himself destitute of knowledge and
capacity on financial subjects. He has neither
information or resource. One idea, and one
only, has possession of his head. He holds
that his mission is to fund the debt, and to
this end he covets a large and constant sur
plus to be applied to the redemption of
obligations years in advance of their
maturity. The buying Of bonds and
selling of gold constitute the begin
ming and end of his theory of depart
mental management The more bonds he
buys the more successful he fancies himself
to be. And to buy bonds he needs large
revenue in excess of the legitimate require
ments of the Government. policy so much
at variance with the teachings of expert
ence and the welfare of the people would
be contemplate, if it were not disastrous
AS a financial theory, it is pitiful. AS
the basis of policy by which to regulate
the nature and amount of the revenues COL
lected it is mischievous. On all possible
occasions, however, he urges it upon Con-
gress. He recommends it in his report
He thrusts it upon committees, by speech
and letter. He buttonholes Senator'S and
Representatives, and begs of them to support
his one idea. In all conceivable ways, session
after session, he has exerted the influence
attaching to his position in systematic opposi-
tion to the will of the people. sensitive,
high minded man would retire when he found
his recommendations disregardedlby Congress
and secuted by the people. He would dis
cover that he occupied false position, and
would escape from it as best he could. Mr..
Boutwell, has taken another course. The more
he advocated the retention of taxes the
louder the people shouted 'rDown with
the taxes" Congress needed the peo-
pie rather than the Secretary Still
he has cluug to his office, his head
all the time occupied with the solitary idea.
And still he throws his weight, be it much or
little, on the side of the income tax. We
submit in all frankpess that the country has
had quite enough of Mr.. Boutwell, and his
policy He has been tried and found want
ing. He does nothing toward solving fnan-
cial problems, and does all he can to keep on
the taxes. He is like Andrew Johnson in
his preferen ce for his own policy over the
will of the people. He brings discredit on
the administration, and wins no glory for
himself. The only atonement he can offer is
to retire from the Treasury without more
ado,