The Louisiana populist., 1895-07-26

while tax on the the revenues OF A,
drawn secondhand from the efforts
of others, is direct on
the theory that 1.-TWO negatives make
positive" The federal government
can shove its hand as deeply as il
likes into the pocket of labor, but
cannot touch one penny in the thous-
and pounds in the overhowing Golfers
OF the capitalists. So says the court.
How is that for the fundamental law
of land that poses in the face OF
heaven as 1.-The refuge OF the world s
oppressed"
And what is the reply TO this COM
plant? "Apportionment." Appor-
tiOn hell-between the west and the
south! Justice Harlan truly says that
mo such apportionment can possibly
be made without doing monstrous,
wicked injustice to the many for the
benefit of the favored few IN particu-
lar states.h Do those liable editors, ~
short-horse politicians and other To-
tellectual animalcule now echoing
the word like lost burros brsying for
company. know what constitutional
apportionment of the public burden
means? 1t means that when the fed
crate government desires to raise a
sum OF money by such method each
state must contribute thereto, not in
proportion to its taxable wealth,
but according to its population, no
matter how poverty-stricken its peo-
pie. 1t means that one state must
put up as much for a merchanic out
of employment. or farmer with a
mortgaged crop. as another for a
Rockefeller or a Gould. The privilege
OF taxing the great incomes by the
method of apportionment simply
means that labor is at perfect liberty
to bite of its nose to spite its face,
then leap from the frying pan into
the fire. No political party will ever
dare perpetrate such an infamy as
the apportionment of the income tax.
Not even the supreme court-that pitt
iful cat's-paw of the plutocracy-hsd
the audacity to indorse it.
While portion of the law was de-
clared constitutional, it was all killed
the tail was permitted to go with
the hide. The law was aimed at
large incomes. many OF which are
drawn neither from rent or interest;
but the court denied the axiom that
.'half loaf is better than no bread. :"
1t practically decided that should the
government draft two men for war,
and one escape, it would hasten to
discharge the other, instead of mus
tering him in and sending a sergent
after the runaway. The decision
means that we cannot compel men to
contribute to the support Of govern
ment according to their means until
we have a constitution which the plu-
tocrat, with friends at court, cannot
possibly pervert-or the people de-
eide that patience has ceased to be a
virtue. 1t means that wealth has de-
creed that consumption shall bear
the burdeI-that tariff reform and
reduced excises are, for the present
at least, ian iridescent dream" 1t
tnCdno tuoS ~ huattCt hOW
the peril of the government. or press
ing its need. it is powerless TO COM
pei the plutocrat to contribute Of his
means to the defense of our flag. 1t
means. as Justice Brown expressed
it. 1.-The submergence of the liberties
of the people in sordid despotism of
wealth" 1t means that the people.
who have ever looked to the supreme
court for protection from outrage and
oppression. will henceforth regard it
as the slave of their enemies. 1t
means general dissatisfaction and
growing unrest, until. despairing of
righting his wrongs in the name Of
reason, the Titan will put forth his
terrible strength, and the govern
ment of the United States of America
will thenceforth live ''only in the
tomb of the worlds history
Brann's (Waco) Iconoclast.