Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-08-22

~ Vheaven and the fruits OF
supe( .ustry, economy and virtue
every man is equally entitled to protec.
ton by law"
We yield to o n In our devotion TO the
doctrine just enuncIated. Our cam.
paign has not for Its object the recon
structlon of society. We cannot insure
to the vicious the fruits of a virtuous
life; we would not invade the home OF
the provident IN order TO supply the
wants of the spendthrift; we do not pro-
pose to transfer the rewards of
industry TO the Jap OF Incidence.
Property Is and will remain the slim
illus to endeavor and the compensa-
ton for thrift. We believe, as asserted
in the declaration of independence, that
all men are created equal, but that
does not mean that all men are or car
be equal in possessions, In ability or
merit. 1t simply means that all shall
stand equal before the law, and that
government officials shall not, In maxi
ing, constructing or enforcing law. dis
criminate between citizens. assert
that the property rights as well as the
rights of persons are safe in the hands
OF the common people. Those who dali
~ IcllbN the lHJulCtipn, III TIE sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread" are
now, as they ever have been, the bull
wark of law and order, the source OF our
nations greatness in time of peace and
Its surest defenders in time of a
But l have read only a part Of Jack
kspn's utterance. Let me give you his
Inclusion:
but when the laws undertake to add
those natural and Just advantages
Ptifcial distinctions-to grant titles,
Fatalities and exclusive privileges:
t. make the rich richer and che potent
powerful, the humble members Of
society, the farmers. mechanics and the
day laborers. who have neither the time
nor the means of securing like favors
for themselves. rave the right to COM
plain of the injustice of the govern
ment."
Those who support the Chicago pat
form indorse all the quotation from
Jackson-the latter part as well as the
former part. We are not surprised to
find arrayed against us those who ere
the beneficiaries of government favori-
tism. They have read our platform.
Nor are we surprised to learn that we
must In this campaign face the hostIl-
ity Of those who find a %pecunilrv ad-
vantage In advocating the doctrine OF
non-interference when great aggrogd
lions of wealth are trespassing upon
the rights of individuals. We welcome
such opposition. 1t is the hlghos, in
dorsement which could be bestowed
upon us. We are content to have the
cooperation OF those who desire to have
the government administered without
fear or favor. 1t is not the wish Of the
general public hat trusts shoull spring
into existence Inc override the weaker
members of society. 1t is not the wish
Of the general public that these trusts
should destroy competition and then
collect such tax as they will from those
who are at their mercy. Nor IL il the
fault Of the general public tina the In
strumentalities Of government have
been so often prostituted to of
private gain. No government is worthy
Of the name which is not able to pro-
tect from every arm uplifted for his in
jury the humblest citizen who lives be-
meath the flag. 1t follows as a necessary
conclusion hat vicious legislation must
be remedied by the people who suffer
from the effects of such legislation, and
- ny llost WIZ SnJpy llS Dtllcllls.
Income Tax Attitude.
The Chicago platform has been con-
demned by some because it dissents
from an opinion rendered by the SUI
preme cou declaring the income tax
law unconstitutional. We expressly
Recognize the binding force of that de-
IpIatform no su~1sNgasasds5ardd as a part of
dispute the authority of the supreme
purt. The party is simply pledged to
Use "all the constitutional power which
remains after that decision o r which
may come from Its reversal by the court
as it may hereafter be constituted" Is
there any disloyalty in that pledge?
For a hundred years the supreme court
OF the United States has sustained the
principle which underlies the income
tax. Twenty years ago the same court
sustained without a dissenting voice
an income tax law almost identical with
the one recently overthrow. Has not
a future court as much right to return
to the judicial precedents of a century
as the present court a 10 depart from
them? When courts allow rehearings
they admit that error is possible. The
late decision against the income tax was
GU ~ u ~ 'bN 1AeNA
r~ehearing.
While the money question overshad-
ows all other questions in Importance,
/ desire IL distinctly understood that l
shall offer no apology for the income tax
plank of the Chicago platform. At
present the expenses of the federal gov
eminent, collected through internal rev.
enue taxes inc import duties, are espe-
cially burdensome upon the poorer
classes of society. The last income tax
law, with Its exemption provisions,
when considered in connection with
other methods of taxation in force, was
not unjust to the possessors OF large
incomes, because they were not COM
PEELED to pay a total federal tax greater
than their share. Not only shall 1 re-
| fuse to apologize for the advocacy OF
an income tax law by the national con-
vention. but I shall also refuse to apol-
| ogize for the exercise by 1t of the right
to dissent from a decision of the SUI
preme court. In a government like ours
every public official is a public servant,
whether he old by election or by ap-
pointment, whether he serves for a term
of years or during good behavior, and
the people have a right to criticise his
49,
official acts.
The supreme Issue.
Now, let me ask o to consider the
paramount question Of this campaign,
the money question. 1t Is scarcely nee
essary to defend the principle OF blmet-
allism. No national party during the
| entire history of the United States has
ever declared against 1t. n no party in
this campaign has had the temerlty to
| oppose 1t. Three parties-the demo-
| cratic, populist and silver parties-have
not only declared for bimetallism, but
have outlined the specific legislation
necessary to restore silver to Its ancient
position by the side of gold. The repub-
lican platform expressly declares that
| bimetallism Is desirable when Ii pledges
the republican party to aid In securing
il as soon as the assistance OF certain
foreignsnations can be obtained. Those
| who represented the minority sentiment
in the Chicago convention opposed the
free coinage OF silver by the United
States by Independent action on the
| ground that in their judgment 1t would
retard or entirely prevent the
ment Of International bimetalism, 10
which the efforts OF the government
| should be steadily directed"
When they asserted that the efforts OF
the government should be steadily d.
rected toward the establishment OF in
ternational b'inetai,ism they condemned
| monometallism.