Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-08-07
Political Notes.

General Banks has published letter, in
response to an invitation to address Grant
and Wilson meeting, in which he declares for
Greeley. The occasion for this change may
possibly be found in the fact that General
Banks has been recently redistricted into a
Democratic Congressional district We but
repeat the remark made to US by prominent
Liberal Republican editor Of Massachusetts,,
when we say that his conversion was unwished
for by the Liberals Of that State and there
is great fear among them there that his ac.
cession to that cause will hurt the Liberals
more than it will help them. They probably
know General Banks in that State better
than we do.
No sensible man, who has read the news.
papers Of the day, doubts that the Ku.Klux
were reality less than year ago. They
were an organization formed to prevent the
negroes voting the Republican ticket, aud to
this end they burned, whipped, muiilated and
murdered numberless victims. In support OF
this assertion we quote Horace Greeley
speech, made in June 1871, in which he said:
" | have been asked, are there any Ku-Kux
down South ? Yes, gentlemen, there are.
| am moved with profound dis
gust when | think Of these men covering
themselves up with second.rate calico, mask
ing their faces, arming themselves to the
teeth ard riding around to the cabins Of poor,
harmless negroes, dragging them from their
beds, and whipping aud manning them till
they are compelled to swear they will never
again vote the Republican ticket"
Mr.. Greeley has theory Of his own in
regard to taxation and the payment Of the
national debt, which cannot but be interest
ing to all mcneyed men. Mr.. Greeley said
in June, 1867 We believe in taxing so
as to pay the debt in ten years. To do this
the national revenue should be about $500.
100000 per annum, or the same as in 1866
Had it been kept there we might have cele
brated our country's centenary on the 4th day
of july 1876, completely out Of debt. And
we hold that this might have been done by
taxing with steady purpose to diminish the
number of oilers or uselessly employed per-
sons, and increase the proportion Of product
i've workers, without prejudice to the national
growth or prosperity. Here, for example,
are a good many thousands of our people who
have incomes of $4,000 to 81 100000 per
annum. Suppose these were to pay ten per
cent, income tax, what of it a.? They will live
less sumptuously or board less bounteousy
for few years-that is ALL They will still
enjoy every comfort, and will be growing
richer, if they choose" All men of means
who are in favor Of an income tax of ten per
cent. are requested to step right up and cast
their votes for Horace Greeley, Dontcro
around the polls
The New York Eceaing Post shows in
the following article that great proportion
of the supporters of Mr.. Greeley are in
false position I'VE are free to confess for |
ourselves, to begu with, that having thought
some reform necessary in party management.
the one protfered is so abominably bad that
we fly back to the old status as infinitely to
be preferred; but the position, for all that, is
not OF the pleasantest. Take, for example,
the World, which lately demonstrated, with
more than customary eoquence and logic the /
cowardlce the folly and the Standardization
of course which. having been adopted at
Baltimore, it now shows with equal eloqueuce
and logic to be marked by many aud signal
advantages Or take the TriJnne-once
the most free and outspoken of independent
journals, whose criticisms Of Democratic faith
and practice were like the discharges Of ord.
nance, and whose vindications of its protec.
live fallacies were constant, loud aud reverber-
iting. Now it roars you on those topics as
gently as any sucking dove But most la.
and ludicrous Of all, mark the state
IF these Liberal Republican journals which
vent in for grand, dignided, elevated politi-
,al reformation, and hnd themselves cheek by
owl with the Republican 'sore.heads,' the
rammany ring and Southern Bourbons, upon
my and all of whom the very thought of re-
orm acts like acid upon alkal--prolucng
urious aud angry efivivescence."
--MinnesDta il hnlldino nina na,v .a;.o.l. | /,