The sun., 1895-03-22
rnE cIu1sEx xD rnE 1xcoxErA1.
A True BIse Anert~su's Indignant rrctest
Against HIS Possible Degradation frer,
the picre OF Det- oc Pa tie Eaunttty.


the piane or Deruocratic Eauaiity.
To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir: During the
many years cruiscd about tho world troubled
myself but very little about what was being
done in Washington. never doubling that those
kept on deck there would sail tho old ship OF
state about right and leave mo nothing TO do
but boast Of the result. My chief part wns TO
try to beat into the heads OF foreigners, to whom
II was almost unintelligible, the perfect system
of equality we enjoy. Bat from what have
seen sirce have been ashore I wonder how
dared stay away month. II appears to he the
aim OF many who seem TO be in a fair way to
success to spoil the very situation which has
been my proudest boast.
What appears TO me just now to be the great
est question pending in the affairs OF the United
States is that Of the decision OF the Supreme
Court on the consttutonality of the income
by spanish IL eSnboat. % ot til the I future dispositoP
of the Hawaiian Islands. and OF the hopeti-fo re-
turn of good business situation. are important,
to be sure, but none OF them aim at the very
foundations OF our institutions, at tho very
question Of the possibility OF perfect demo-
whether or not the Supreme Court OF our coun-
try will sustain the Attorney General and Mr..
used BY them in the defence OF tha law.
Had these been simply and only arguments, IL
se would seem possible for even the eminent Jurs,s
be convi vinced BY them and to sustain them; but
since the moment they became mixed with
be sus tainetl on pain Of tho dissolution o, the
learned and conservative body which for tho
against ali cFanks ' who sW Would @ reduce reduce US s from
diEnifed nation to an impotent mob. there
pronounced void. or for the great tribunal to be
Ct least under grave suspicion Of having been
bq:lisd Ss out Of the pCsiton but for which it is
threats were used showed consciousness of q
weak argument that would probably be useless
notice that most Of the arguments advanced
against this law are in behalf OF the rich. who
is not ing in the glorious sentiment OF equality
which has been our boast sincewe threw on the
British yokeI Do we care for nothing, except
the question OF whether or not we can eh!rk tbs
expense Of running government which has no
special merit except that of guarding the equal
rights OF the millionaire and the poorp
As one whom the income Tax Is not likely soon
TO strike in pccnniary way, protest against
In country in which 1t was intended BY its
founders that ! should have a first. ask by
mnSy se
putocrat in the eye and lot him know hat l am
as good citizen as he: II have thousand
tho enjoyment Of i that /. needed BY the IN man IN
who has got million; and it is my right to pay
10 keep it established Then only nj can AN i claim lain
that do my, share and deny his right to re-
must ho acknowledge me his equal unless the
founders Of our Government were all astray.
II our laws are not To sustain mo IN this POSI-
tion, then the "classes" spoken of by Attorney
General 0lney are establi shed, and the fundn-
mental idea OF democratic government is dc.
the expenses Of government | belong to tho
wrong ono ito suit me- OF the only two classes
the existence of which in this country ac-
knowledge viz. those who pay their way and
those who do not. The latter class may have
many deserving members who arc unfortunate
and cannot make their ends meet: but every
American citizen should have the right to stay
out OF this class II he wishes TO and can do It,
and this msbegotten measure deprves me Of
that right.
To be good citizen. up to the standard in
veni.nce OF struggling along with loss OF the
worlds goods than fall 10 tho lot of my more
fortunate fellow beings; but II am to lose that
rank in consequence. MS must II this un-Amer-
lean tumble gets the sanction Of tho Supreme
Court shall regret that my lot was not cast in
q former age. when. instead Of obeying laws at
all: might II bold enough, with strong hand
redeem my share" To bo deprived OF what
have supposed to be the right OF American citi-
Zenship to rank with the best. simply because I
have not so much wealth as others, and at the
ages OF serfdom from making a bold stroke
for n place in the other "class." Is a situation
too revolving for me to accept without protest.
] ask the eminent Judges In whose hands We
have placed tho final. irrefutable guardianship
OF this sacred right which alone makes Amerf-
can citizenship the most desirable of any to be
had In this world. to kill the measure which
threatens my downfall from tho eminent place
to which my birth entities me.
JonN H. POTTER, Lisbon Falls, Me-
Boston, March 1S, 1905.