Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-06-21
COURTS.


There is wel-defned and growing convic-
ton that the higher courts have become men-
ace to American liberty, and the late supreme
court decisions on the income tax and Debs
cases are not likely to allay this growing dis
trust, but, on the contrary will tend to confirm
what at first was only suspicion.
It will be recalled that the supreme court rem
dered one decision that sustained part OF the
income tax law. Justice Jackson was not pres
ent when the decision was given, so, subse-
quently, at a sitting of the full bench, the
whole act was declared unconstitutional, al
though Jackson favored the constitutionality OF
the act From the first decision to the second
only few months elapsed, but there was time
for change of opinion in one Judge There
is reason to believe that the change was ac-
complished through bribery.
At the first hearing, the case was carefully
argued, and the opinions then given were be-
lieved to be sincere. Now, people are lead to
believe that change of mind in so short
time must have been influenced by money.
At any rate, there mas been change, and IN
view of all the circumstances, the change
will stick, and the supreme court of the United
States is down in the mire of corruption.
Now we are led to inquire, What it is that
the millonares of this country will not do
1t has been proven, again and again, that mil
lionaires bought Legislatures, and now they buy
courts-not only minor courts, but the supreme
court, whose decisions must stand, under the
constitution, as the supreme law of the land.
The wish of the millonaires is not only law,
but supreme law.
But, why did our fathers create a su-
preme court? Was it for the purpose of
defeating the ends of justice, and to perpetuate
wrong? If what the court has accomplished
was true answer, then we should answer in
the affirmative, but we have a better opinion of
the patriots Of the Revolution. A supreme
court, under able and pure men, would be
safeguard to liberty. Our supreme COURT,
under PARTISAN appointments and life tenure,
has become menace to liberty. The hands of
the people are tied. If we pass laws the mil
lionaire does not like, the supreme court can
annul them We cannot remove the supreme
Judges, and they do not have to resign until
dotage overtakes them and then they can hold
on till grim death puts i'll an appearance.
The supreme court as now constituted, is a
perpetual barrier to progress in the science Of
government.
Again, we may take the Debs case, and the
supreme court decision, if correct, is good law,
and fair Interpretation of the constitution,
and if decisions on that line are to continue, it
will not be ten years until freedom of speech
and press will be so restrained that editors and
speakers will be lodged in Jail by the dozens.
If courts can enjoin strikes, courts can enjoin
the utterance of just criticism. If men dissat-
is6ed with the wages paid by their employers
cannot quit work in a body, the principle will
hold the individual ; and, so, the employe be-
comes slave. If the action of men can be
enioined by the courts, certainly speech can be
enjoined And, who believes, now, that the
courts are not capable of any course of action
suggested by our millionaire masters
Liberty is well-nigh dead-slain in the house
of its friends.
GIVE the Devil his due. 1t is reported that