The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-13

that all shall stand equal before the law
ana that government officials shall not.
III taxing, constituting or enforcing the
law, discriminate between citizens.
assert that property rights, as well
us One rights OF persons, are safe in the
hands OF the common people Abraham
Lincoln in his message sent to Congress
In December, 1861, said: mo men liy-
ing are more worthy TO be trusted than
those who toll, none are less inclined IN
take or touch aught which they have not
honestly earned l repeat his language
with unqualified approval and join with
him In the warming which he added.
namely; Let them beware of surren.
derlng political power which they al
ready possess and which power if sur
rendered, will surely be used to close the
doors of advancement against such as
they and to fix new disabilities and bur
dens upon them, until all of liberty shall
be lost"
Those who daily follow the injunction,
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread, " are now, as they ever have been,
the bulwark of law and order-the source
OF our nations greatness in the time of
peace and its surest defenders in the
time of war. But have only read a part
Oh Jackson's utterance; let me give YOU
his conclusion: But when the laws I'M
dertake TO add to those natural and Just
advantages artificial distinctions-to
grant titles, gratuities and exclusive
privlleges-to make the rich richer and
the potent more powerful-the humble
mbers of socieJy-the farmers me
chanlcs and the day laborers-who have
neither the time nor the means of secur-
ing ike favors for themselves, have a
right to complain of the injustice of their
Chicago platform endorse all of the quo
tation from Jackson-the latter part ms
well as the former
We are not surprised to find arrayed
against us those who are the benefi-
carries OF the Government favoritism.-
they have read our platform. Norare we
surprised to learn that we must i'm this
campaign face the hostility of those who
ma pecuniary advantage in advocating
the doctrine OF non-interference when
great aggregations of wealth are tres
passing upon the rights of individuals.
we welcome such opposition; it is the
highest endorsement which could he he
slowed upon us We are content to have
the cooperation of those who desire to
nave the Government administered with
out fear or favor. 1t is not the wish of
the general public that trusts should
spring into existence and override the
weaker members of society; it is not the
wish OF the general public that these
trusts should destroy competition and
then collect such taxes as they will from
those who are at their mercy; nor is it
the fault of the general public that the
Observation-Disclosures of government hive
been so often prostituted to purposes of
private gain. Those who stand upon the
Chicago platform believe that the Govern
ment should not only avoid wrong.doinp.
but that it should also prevent wrong
doing, and they believe that the law
should be enforced alike against all
enemies OF the public veal They do not
excuse petit larceny, but they declare
that grand larceny is equally n crime:
they do not defend the occupation of the
highwayman who robs the unsuspecting
traveller, but they include among the
transgrcssors those who, through the
more polite and less hazardous means of
legislation, appropriate to their own use
the proceeds of the toll Of others
referring to the income tax plank of
the Chicago platform, Mr. Bryan said:
For hundred years the supreme court
of the United States has sustained the
principle which underlies the income tax.
Some seventy years ago this same court
sustained without dissenting voice an
income tax law almost identical with the
oiiS iNNNhbiy ONClbuIONll HAS not n
future court as much right to return to
the judicial precedents of century as
the present court had to depart from
them? When courts allow rehearings
they admit that error is possible; the
late decision against the income tax was
rendered by majority of one after II re
hearing.
While the money question overshadows
all other questions of Importance ] de
sire it distinctly understood that Shall
offer no apology for the income tax plank
OF the Chicago platform.
n law which collects from some citi-
zens more than their share of the taxes
and collects from other citizens less than
their share is simply an indirect means
of transferring one mans property to
another mans pocket.
Now, let me ask you TO consider the
paramount question of the campaign--
the money question. 1t is scarcely neces-
sary TO defend the principle of bimetal-
lism No national party during the en-
tie history of the United States has ever
declared against ii and no party in this |
campaign has had the temerity to oppose
it. Three parties-thc Democratic, Pop |
ulist and silver parties-have not only !
declared for bimetailsm, but have out
lined their specific legislation necessary |
TO restore silver to its ancient position |
by the side of gold. The Republican |
platform expressly declares that bmetal- |
lism is desirable when it pledges the Re |