The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-24
The Only Just and Democratic Way.

On Monday. the Committee Of the Whole
OF the House consistently rejected. by a
great majority. Prof. WILSON'S outrageous
proposition to retain the sugar bounty. and
by great majority passed an amendment
putting both refined and raw sugars on
the free list.
To be completely consistent the House
must go much further. II II puts tea, coffee.
sugar. lumber. wool. coal. and iron on the
free list, obedience to Democratic doctrine
requires that 1t shall put all articles on
the free list. and pass Tom JoHNsoN's bill
abolishinR Custom Houses altogether.
Otherwise it will be guilty OF the class legis-
lation denounced by the Chicag go platform
oud repudiated by the people.
II some production Is left unprotected.
protection must be taken away from all. or
the Democratic pledge will be violated. II
trade is to be free to any extent. simple
justice and Democratic principle dictate
that there shall be free trade all around
To discriminate in taxation against any
ia to discriminate in favor OF others, and
odlous class legislation results. The burden
is distributed unequally and unjustly.
or course. such free trade would be d.
rect and distinct violation of the Chicago
platform. which pledged the Democratic
party to tariff for revenue only sufficient
for the needs Of the Government when hon.
cstly and economically administered. and
denounced any other tariff as unconstitu-
tional. The Democratic party promised to
raise the revenue by tariff solely for
revenue. and free trade would produce
no such revenue. no revenue at all. But II
the pledge is 10 be violated. let not the
Democratic party further betray the peo-
Pile by discriminating between them In its
tariff taxation. and injuring some and ben
eiiting others by system OF odious and
perniciOus class legislation. II II gives free
trade to some. 1t must give IL to all II IL
protects some. 1t must protect oil and
equally.
How. then. Is to be raised the revenue for
the needs OF the Government. when hon.
estly and economically administered II
complete free trade Is established? Prof.
WILSON'S unconstitutional and perfidlous
Tariff bill does not raise that revenue. and
does not pretend to raise it. 1t Is not a
tariff for revenue, but a tariff for deficiency:
and to provide for that deficiency the Ways
and Means Committee have framed a sup
Elementary bill imposing an Income tax
anu OlutI luNcIHdt tuAtS. l4ORlcuIly ana
necessarily the two bills go together. and
they must be spliced together as one insep-
arabic measure OF taxation.
II there is 10 be an income tax, II will
yield all the revenue required. provided
that it is levied Justly. 1t must be tax on
every mans income. or the theory aud prin-
clple Of equality. upon which this republic
is founded. is outraged in legislation. Any
discrimination as to the amount of income.
whether 1t be great or small. is class legis-
lation subversiye Of our American political
system. A man whose house or farm is worth
less than $4,000 is not 10 be left untaxed,
while his neighbours house or farm Is taxed
because It is worth more than S4.DOO. Each
pays tax proportionately TO the assessed
value Of the property he holds. There is
no discrimination between them. II we
are TO have an income tax il must be laid on
everybody proportionately to his income
The less man makes the less hs pays, and
tine more he makes the more he pays; but
each must pay his share according as Con
has prospered him under the protection OF
the Federal Government