The Indiana State sentinel., 1894-06-27
SENATOR HILLS SPEECH.
The New Yorker Denounces the In
Tax Provision.

Tax Provision.
We have now reached the consideration
of one of the most important features of
the pending measure. important not only be-
cause the tax it seeks to impose equals
in the aggregate about one-hfteenth of the
whole federal taxation Of the United States,
but because Of the peculiar nature Of the
burden as we'll as the vast and varied
in terestS which it injurfously affects With
ali due respect to what has been said in
II is confidently submitted 10 the senate
that the arguments presented in opposition
to the necessity. justice and advlsability of
any Such tax, nave never been successfully
answered. The arguments have been eVad-
ed but not refuted.
In the first place, considered from the
mere standpoint of political expediency. it
was unwiSe to incorporate an income tax
in a reform bill. There were honest diff
ferences enough already existing among
party friends relating to the details OF
legitimate tariff legislation, which neces-
sarily had to be reconciled without going
contention in an effort to incorporate this
tax, an experimental scheme of taxation
at best, upon a measure for the revision
of the tariff. The democratic party was
substantially united in favor of tariff re-
vision. but 1t is well known that irrecon-
cilable differences of opinion existed con-
corning the propriety OF restoring war tax
in time of peace and yet in spite Of such
recognized differences. and in the face of
the pOrtestS OF democratic constituencies
and against the advice of public men who
have never faltered in their devotion to
true democratic principles, this income
tax feature has been engrafted upon this
measure. and we are peTsistentIy asked to
accept it, against our better judgment, as
ton
Party Platforms.
1t would have been good politics to have
avoided this unnecessary issue. Prudence
dictated that this congress should not at
tempt to formulate new democratic doc
trines to which have not been COM
mitted. Rather should 1t carry out the
pledges that we have already made. Per-
haps overestimate the Importance of party
platforms and appreciate too keenly the
binding obligations OF party pledges. be-
lleve that IL Is the solemn duty of a politi-
cal party to redeem the promises upon
which it obtained power. ana that repudia-
ton thereof will sooner or later bring dis
aster upon it at the hands of a betrayed and
indignant people For one | protest against
the repudiation of the promises OF the dem
ocratIc party in order to adopt and carry
out the promises of the populist party.
l am tempted to suggest mat the demo-
Gratis of Oregon sought 10 test the populari-
men and electors of that state by insert
ing in their platform a clause faYOring that
tax; and, awakening to their senses after
ticket was third in the race; that their
party was demoralized and that they had
opponents. The most disastrous defeat ever
experienced by the democrauc party in
OrcEOn Was lnE result Oh lfe effort 10 SUD-
stitute new-fangled popullstic principles for
the good old principles of true democracy.
Here and now venture the prediction that
the same result will follow the same effort
everywhere.
Senator Hill presented a petition from
number of prominent business men of
New York City asking that the income
tax be stricken from the tariff bill. The
petition was signed by Evan Thomas,
William Steinway, Louis Windmuller ].
n ard linn afaradG = n Doh
Bayard Cutting, John II. Inman and Alex
Il. Orr. Continuing, he said:
I do not wish to drive such men out of
the democratic party by our unwise legis-
lation In the hope of supplying their places
with Coxyites. socialists and all the rag
tag-and-bobtaiP elements of the country
who will be attracted to us by our pro-
posed raid upon the wealth of the country.
A War Tax.
This essentially is a war tax Heretofore,
we, as democrats, have clamored against
it and others like It, Look at the spectacle
which we now present. If this is true de-
mocracy, I want none Of it. If this is the
best leadership we can present in this
great crisis, i, for one, must decline to
follow it. l Tepudiate the spurious de
mocracy of these modern apostles and
prophets who are part mugwump, part
populist and the least part democrat. who
seek TO lead astray after false gods
false theories and false methods. L object
~ ANSNyhhS a war ldA WHICH the re-
publicans themselves rejected years ago
with our appreciation. / protest against
that lack OF foresight and judgment upon
the part OF some professed democrats who
always seem anxious to adopt whatever
the republicans and people have repudiated.
/ cannot follow such leadership which
shifts and turns, and temporIzes upon
every public question: which compromises
every well-establishe democratic principle
for which the party contended when out OF
power; which stands ready to adopt every
passing ism OF the hour; which sur