The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-10-12
TlLDEN,S DEFENSE REVIEWED.

/ TlLDEN,S DEFENSE REVIEWED.
An Open Letter to Mr.. Hewitt-A Com
Darison of the Income Tax Law and the
Defense-No Option Permitted-A Re-
turn Easily Made by Such an Able Law
yer.
| TGen. A. B. Nettleton has addressed to Mr..
Hewitt a striking letter on the subject Of Mr..
Tilden's income tax, whereof the following are
/ the salient points
DEAR SIR: You will agree that the balance
of power in the pending Presidential canvass is
| held by body of Independent voters in the
/ Northern States, who acknowledge answering
allegiance to no party, and wear the badge of
no leader men who believe political parties
are useful as servants, not as masters-as in
struments, not as ends To this body of nom
| partisan citizens, many of whom in April last
| were prepared to seek relief from certain evil
elements of the Republican party by voting for
| worthy Democratic candidate, the personal
character and antecedents of the two nominees
are OF the highest Importance. From the
| point of view of an independent layman, who
sees the sins of the Republicans without being
blind to the past and prospective slns CT their
opponents, permit me to call your attention
briefly to few points in the general field, and
review single chapter in the history of the
Democratic reform candidate for the Presi-
dency bearing in mind that Except in cases
of distinct conversion, like st. PauPs) mans
history is his character.
| It il matter of common fame, and more or
less of definite knowledge among Mr. Tilden's
neighbors and professional brethren that he
accumulated the bulk of his fortune OF several
million dollars during tie ten years from 1861
to 1871. This no one probably questions as
official ana corporate records would certainly
prove it. These large gains came partly from
a singularly lucrative legal practice, and partly
from shreWd investments in several corpor-
otto to
duced him. Great and sudden as was his
accumulation of wealth, no one has the right
to question its legitimacy in the absence OF
spec fc adverse evidence. The only fair ques-
ton to be asked is: What attitude did Mr..
TIldel as the owner of vast wealth, assume
toward the republ c in it's hour of mortal strug-
gle? How did he treat the legal and equitable
pecuniary claims of Government which was
striving to keep a roof and flag over his head !?
Beginning with 1852 and end
ing with 1872, the United States Government
LAID tax on all incomes above certain limit,
the exemptions under the law being designed
to excuse the poor and lay the burden on those
best able to bear it, the we'll TODD and the rich.
i The official records show, and
Mr.. Tilden in his published defense necessarily
admits, that in eight years ont Of ten he deliber-
ately dis0beyed the law, refused TO make any
return whatever, compelled the law officers to
esnmste his income as best they could, guided
by his remarkable and now discredited return
OF 1862 and then paid the penalty OF his VIC
lation of law by having Is to 80 per cent added
70 the regular tax. This is definite. confessed,
conclusive How docs Mr.. TiIden Justify his
course and attempt to retain the confidence of
his countrymen Let his defense be read-the
tia les being the writer s-alongside the letter
OF the law ne systematically violated.
MR. TIT DENs CoNFEssIoNiLANGUAGE OF THE IN
AND DEFENSE. COME LAW.
III respect to the allega- SECTION 118. And be it
tion that after two years further enacted That 1t
Of the income tax Mr.. il shall be the duty of all
den made no return, + persons of lawful age to
the answer is simple. The make and render list or
statute gaze the taxpayer return, in such form and
the OptGyT1 TO take that manner as may be pre-
course and good and hon scrbed by the Commas
orabte reasons existed sioDer of Internal Reve-
why a Scrupulous mar nue., to the Assistant AS
should accept that option SCISSOR of the district in
Mr.. ilden received no which they reside, or the
f.vors from the Govern amount OF their income,
officers, and sought gains anu profts as afOre-
none. lie did nothing datt said; and all guardians
pGy all then imposed on and trustees
hin. Nearly ali his in shall make and render a
come from Investments list, as AFORESAID
He maid the tax through Of the amount Of income
corporations whose bonds gains and profits, or any
anu stocks he held, with minor or person tor whom
ont allowing for the law they act trustee and
full deductions. On thethe Assistant Assessor
residue after the lawfu shall require every list or
deductions were made, he return to be verified by
believed at the time that the oath affirmation of
instead of paying less he the party rendering It,
oftener paid more than And IN case any
would have been the re- person, guardian or trus-
suit of full but trouble tee shall neglect or Te5se
some accounting. He pre- to make I9od TedeT such
ferred in that way to be last or return, or ShGW
exempted from the diff render false or JTGIda-
cuies incident to at Tent last or RETURN 1t snail
tempting specific state be the duty OF the Asses
mert of the affairs in Isor Assistant Assessor
which he interested, Ito make sucn list accord
and of the corporationsIing to the best informa-
and business in which he ton he can OBTAIN
INVESTOR and also ana TO 0d0 70 per ce1CI1n
to be exempted from adj (atterWard increased TO
Indicating on the facts boy as q Pe1tdtCy, TO the
and the law applicable to amount OF ene duty on
uncertain and uctuating such lists, in all cases of
elements during rapid wi1lful neglect or refusal
and violent changes of to make and render a list
fictitious values The law return, and il all cases
was unsettled; questions Of Fraudulent taSt or re-
of real difficulty existed turn having been rem
Constructions were set up dered. to AGA 100 per
by officials which were lceTtuf1, as q penGtty, TO
often conflicting, unintel-lthe amount OF duty as
lioibIe or incapable of lcertained to be due, the
Just safe application, duly ana tne aQOlClOns
and it not agreeable thereto as penalCy TO De
to make a return on aIassessed ana collected IN
doubtful or disputed the the manner provided for
ory i'll contradiction to other cases OF W1llIul
even ri RI Gus neglect or feIusaI TO rem
claims made in behalf Of der list or return, or OF
the Government - Mr. rendering false or frau
SinnOtt'S letter of Sept. 20 dulent return
1876.
A single sentence of the defense gives the
KEY to Mr.. Tilden's mental processes and moral
standards; it ought also to render his election
impossible and his continued candidacy absurd:
1.-THE statute gave the taxpayer the option to
take that course" With his general inteli-
gence and legal knowledge, Mr.. Tlden, when
he wrote or authorized that statement, knew
perfectly well (you can pardon plain speech)
that in desperate strait, he was employing
an untruth to Justify his violation Of law. Not
one reputable member of Mr.. Tilden's profess
sion can be induced to say that the income law,
above quoted, gave or permitted, or IN the re-
hottest degree alluded to, an "optlon on the
part of taxpayers as to making or refusing to
make a yearly sworn return OF income. To
make such return was made the imperative
duty of every citizen liable to tax, without one
exception and refusal or willful neglect to
make it was punished with penalty which was
supposed to be adequate to suppress or prevent
the offense, except among common rascals not
likely to have considerable incomes. The law
gave Mr.. Tilden precisely the same sort Of
.soption' to make q false or fraudulent return,
and attached to this "option" penalty similar
in kind but greater in degree. In case the