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Editorial
February 15, 1871
The Greenville Enterprise
Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
This editorial praises the New York Herald's advocacy for reducing internal taxes and opposes immediate repayment of the national debt, arguing it unfairly burdens the current generation. It supports retaining a graduated income tax to promote government economy and relieve common people.
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Full Text
New York Herald and Taxation.
The Herald is not only one of the greatest journals in the world for general news and information from all parts of the earth, and the whole circle of current topics engaging the attention of mankind, but it is also, in our opinion, foremost in the financial affairs of the country. In a series of editorials, the Herald has been demonstrating to Congress and the country the policy and necessity of reducing rather than of abolishing the internal taxes. If the people of the United States are not entirely besotted and incapable of protecting their rights by the ballot, they will force Congress to relieve them of their burdens.
The Herald maintains, with great force, the view that has always struck us as the right one regarding the policy of paying off the national debt: It is shown to be great folly and injustice to the people to tax them to reduce the principal of the national debt at the present time. The debt was contracted, not alone for this generation, but for posterity as well; and the gradual growth of the population and resources of the country will enable the people at a future time to pay the debt as it matures, without the distress that must attend the attempts to do so at present. We can see no reason in the boast of Secretary of Treasury of his paying some millions of the debt by present taxation, but vain glory at the expense of terrible burdens on the entire people. This is no party question, but one of figures and common sense, and there are Republican politicians and journals that are opposing the present burdens of taxation as well as the Democrats.
Whilst we commend the course of the Herald on the tax and public debt question, we make one exception, which is, its opposition to the income tax. But the great income journals and the representatives of millionaires all take the same course on that question, as is natural. That tax should be kept up and graduated according to the expenses of the government. This is the only course that will bring the influence of the money power in favor of retrenchment and economy, and thus relieve the heavy burdens of the common people.
The Herald is not only one of the greatest journals in the world for general news and information from all parts of the earth, and the whole circle of current topics engaging the attention of mankind, but it is also, in our opinion, foremost in the financial affairs of the country. In a series of editorials, the Herald has been demonstrating to Congress and the country the policy and necessity of reducing rather than of abolishing the internal taxes. If the people of the United States are not entirely besotted and incapable of protecting their rights by the ballot, they will force Congress to relieve them of their burdens.
The Herald maintains, with great force, the view that has always struck us as the right one regarding the policy of paying off the national debt: It is shown to be great folly and injustice to the people to tax them to reduce the principal of the national debt at the present time. The debt was contracted, not alone for this generation, but for posterity as well; and the gradual growth of the population and resources of the country will enable the people at a future time to pay the debt as it matures, without the distress that must attend the attempts to do so at present. We can see no reason in the boast of Secretary of Treasury of his paying some millions of the debt by present taxation, but vain glory at the expense of terrible burdens on the entire people. This is no party question, but one of figures and common sense, and there are Republican politicians and journals that are opposing the present burdens of taxation as well as the Democrats.
Whilst we commend the course of the Herald on the tax and public debt question, we make one exception, which is, its opposition to the income tax. But the great income journals and the representatives of millionaires all take the same course on that question, as is natural. That tax should be kept up and graduated according to the expenses of the government. This is the only course that will bring the influence of the money power in favor of retrenchment and economy, and thus relieve the heavy burdens of the common people.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
Taxation
What keywords are associated?
Internal Taxes
National Debt
Income Tax
Taxation Policy
Government Economy
Public Burdens
What entities or persons were involved?
New York Herald
Congress
Secretary Of Treasury
Republican Politicians
Democrats
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Reducing Internal Taxes And Managing National Debt
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Immediate Debt Repayment, Supportive Of Graduated Income Tax
Key Figures
New York Herald
Congress
Secretary Of Treasury
Republican Politicians
Democrats
Key Arguments
Reduce Rather Than Abolish Internal Taxes To Relieve Burdens On The People
Paying Off National Debt Principal Now Is Folly And Injustice, As Debt Is For Posterity Too
Population And Resource Growth Will Enable Future Payment Without Current Distress
Secretary Of Treasury's Boasts Of Debt Reduction Via Taxation Are Vain Glory At People's Expense
Issue Transcends Party Lines, Supported By Common Sense
Oppose Herald's Stance Against Income Tax; It Should Be Graduated To Encourage Retrenchment
Income Tax Will Align Moneyed Interests With Economy To Benefit Common People