The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-08-27
lBIRYA[1 S GREAT &|P|E|E|G|H|

ton OF those who desire to have the
government administered without fear
or favor. II Is not the wish Of the gen
feral 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 I
eolect SUCH taxes as they wili from
those who are at their mercy; nor il
II the fault Of the general public that
the instrumentalities of government |
have been so often prostituted to ,ur-
poses OF private gain. Those who |
stand upon the Chicago platform be-
Iieve that the government in not only |
to avoid wrong-doing, but that Il |
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 a crime: they |
highwayman who robs the unsuspect-
ing traveller, but they include among
the transgressors those who, through
the more polite and less hazardous
means OF legislation, appropriate to |
their own use the proceeds of the toll |
of others.
The comma ndment ''Thou shalt not |
steal" Numbered from Sinai and reit-
Grated in the legislation of all nations.
is no respecter of persons. It must be
applied to'the great as well as the
small; no the strong as well as the
weak; to the corporate person created
by law as well as to the person of flesh
and blood created by the Almighty
No government is worthy of the name
which is not able to protect from ev-
cry arm uplifted for his injury the
kumbleSt citizen who lives beneath the
flag. 1t follows as a necessary conclu
sion that vicious legislation must be
remedied by the people who suffer
from the effects of such legislation,
and not by those who enjoy it's benefits.
THE INCOME TAX.
''The Chicago platform has been con-
demned by some because it dissents
from an opinion rendered by the Su-
preme Court declaring the income tax
| law unconstitutional. Our critics even
go so far as to apply the name of Anar-
| chist to those who stand upon that
plank of the platform. 1t must be re-
1nembered that We expressly recognize
the binding force of that decision so
long as it stands as part of the law
Of the land. There is in the platform
no suggestion of an attempt to dispute
the authority of the Supreme Court.
The party is simply to use ''all the con-
stitutional power which remains after
that decision, or 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 sustain
ed the principle which underlies the
income tax. Some twenty years ago,
this same court sustained without a
dissenting voice an income tax law al
most identical with the one recently
overthrown. Has not future court
as much right to return to the judicial
presidents 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 re-hearing
''While the money question over
shadows all the other questions in i'm
portance, I desire it distinctly under
stood that shall offer no apology fol
the income tax plank of the Chicago
: platform.
GA 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 prop
erty to another mans pocket
and while the process may be quite
satisfactory to the men who escape the
just taxation, 1T will never be satisfac-
tory to those who are overburdened
: The last income tax law, with it's eX
: emption provisions, when considered
III connection with other methods o.
4 taxation in force, was not unjust te
the possessors of large incomes, be-
cause they were not compelled to pa,
a total Federal tax greater than theil
t share. The income tax is not new, no.
: is it based upon hostility to the rich
e The system is employed in several O.
the most important nations Of Europe
8 Every income tax law upon the statut
e books in any land, SO far as [ have bee1
:. able to ascertain, contains an exemp
It ton clause. While the collection Of a
|: income tax in other countries does no
% make it necessary for this nation t
re adopt the system, yet 1t ought to moo
1t crate the language of those who de
l nounce the income tax as an assault
a upon the we'll to do.
lie "Not only shall refuse to apo1ogiz
ct for the advocacy of an income ia
al by the National convention, but sha
I'd also refuse to apologize for the exc
il! else by it of the right to dissent fro1
OF the decision of the Supreme Cour
ld In government like ours every publ
MS official is public servant, whether
Ill holds Office by election or by appoln
he ment, whether he serves for term (
&c years or during good behavior, and TT
as people have right to criticise his OF
TX cial acts. confidence is everywhere Il
UT parent of despotism; for governmel
no exists in jealousy and not in con
dence''-these are the words
* Thomas jefferson. and I submit tn
us they present a truer conception
er- popular government than that ente
1st tanned by those who would prohibit I
to unfavorable comment upon a oou
i've decision. Truth will vindicate itsel
Ter only error fears free speech. No pub
he official who conscientiously discharg
M his duty as he sees it will desire
S denv to those whom he serves I
the right to discuss his official conduct
IN THE PARAMOUNT QUESTION.