Samuel Gridley Howe - Final Years and Death

Final Years and Death

Samuel Howe remained active and politically involved until the end of his life.

In 1865, Dr. Howe openly advocated a progressive tax system, which he referred to as a "sliding scale of taxation proportionate to income." He stated that the wealthy would resist this, but explained that America could not become a truly just society while the gap between rich and poor remained so cavernous. Emancipating the slaves and charity work alone were not enough, he insisted, to bridge the inequities, "so long as the labors and drudgery of the world is thrown actively upon one class, while another class is entirely exempt from it. There is a radical injustice in it. And injustice in society is like a rotten timber in the foundation of a house."

In 1870 he was a member of the commission sent by President Grant to inquire into the practicability of the annexation of Santo Domingo. President Grant wished to annex the island. He was opposed in this effort by Dr. Howe’s old friend and fellow abolitionist, Sen.Charles Sumner. In the end, the committee sided with Sumner in opposition to the proposed annexation. Grant was so enraged at having his plans thwarted that he engineered to have Sumner removed from his chairmanship as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Samuel Gridley Howe died January 9, 1876. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.