"That taxes may be the ostensible cause is true, but that they are the true cause is as far remote from truth as light from darkness"

This quote by Henry Knox is describing the idea that taxes may be the outwardly specified cause of a problem, however that they are not necessarily the real cause. He is recommending that the two are as far apart as light and darkness, indicating that they are entirely various and unassociated. This suggests that the real cause of a problem may be something else totally, which taxes might be utilized as a scapegoat to distract from the real concern. Knox is recommending that it is necessary to look beyond the surface and to determine the real reason for an issue in order to find a solution.