The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-09-28
From the Pittsburgh Telegraph.
Gov. Tilden's Income Tax.

that if Governor Tilden would only
PLANTATION, the entire correctness and
honesty of his returns would be mani
fest to the mcanest capacity. We
know that this has been the belief Of
some Republicans who have never
been able to regard the charge of fraud
or perjury with patience or toloution.
Even Gov. 1ildcn's absolute silence,
though painful to these Republicans,
mas been interpreted in his favor.
When pressed with the injurious
presumption it seemed to involve they
have demanded with some asperity,
what man of sensitive honor in Gov.
Tilden's position and conscious of in
nocence could deign formally to vim
dicate himself from such II charge
alleged in such manner and for such
purpose?
Well, Gov. Tilden has at length con-
descended to meet the charge.
Through the statement published does
not bear his signature, no person of
common discernment at all familiar
with the Governors mental handi-
| work can doubt that it was dictated by
| him. Besides, the ostensible author of
the statement, Judge Sinnott, was his
! confidential clerk at thetime referred
| to in the accusation, and the statement
| contains many details which only
| Gov. Tilden himself could have
furnished. Undoubtedly the paper
presents the Democratic candidates.
own explanation of his deplorable mis-.
conductive best defense which the
accused has found it possible to make
And we venture confidently to say
that henceforth no Republican will bt
troubled with any doubts or uncer
tainty as to the reason why the vindi
cation has been so long postponed
The truth is at length manifest that
no satisfactory defense can be made
The vindication does not vindicate
the explanation offered explains moth
my "lllth tilc I'uplic CalSu " llaNS GA
planned, nothing in fact but Gov
Tildcn's failure heretofore to refutt
the overwhelming charge.
TO be sure, the Governor shows
concIusively that those Republican
organs which have attempted to giv'
the items of his income in 1862, haC
not access to trustworthy documents
The Governor shows triumphant,
and with admirable Though needless
fullness of detail, that the items givel
are incorrect. But, alas! the Cover
nor carefully abstains from telling th
public what the items really were
Whereas it is known with absolute
certainty that Mr.. Tilden's income
was many times greater than the sun
for which he was taxed, he deems i
sufficient to show that the items o
which it consisted have been wrongl,
stated? Indeed, he admits that his in
come was larger than the sum he wa
taxed for, but he claims that the in
come for 1862 having been earned dur
ing many preceding years, it was no
uable to taxation under the law. Hi
reasoning on the subject is not sound
and the conclusion is fatty inconsis
tent with the spirit, if not with tn
letter of the revenue law.
But suppose his explanation will
reference to the income OF 1862, to b
satisfactory and in harmony with tn
deep in the miro as ever. Why? Fo
tie reason that he allowed the return
for that year to be used as the basi
upon which his taxes were estimate
for the next ten years, or during tn
entire period of the income tax law
Hence, while it is perfectly we
known that in the years followin
1862, his income ranged somwhere bt
tween $4,000 and 100000, he e:
, capped taxation on everything owe
fifteen thousand dollars.
, Comment is surely needless. y
f clearer case of defrauding the Govern
ment of It's revenue can be found i
: the records Of the United State
, Courts Should suit be entered again'
, Gov Tilden for the recovery of til
t tax withheld, no rational man ca
| doubt what the verdict would b
: And, furthermore, in the case of Co
, Tilden peculiar odium as well ,
peculiar shame attaches to the Grim
A veteran politician of the Tamman
: school, Mr.. Tilden looked with a
i evil eye and with unfeigned disgu
u upon the efforts of the administratiC
u TO maintain the integrity of the UniC
: Resolute to render the Governmel
: no aid he could Withhold, treason seen
c to have entered into partn ership viii
= averice to defraud the revenue. EN
II IDENTIFY Mr. Tildcn is not the man v
u need Just now for President, and v
J doubt not the people will decide til
Is they can get on without such reform
! as he would be likely to effect.
a. a,la