Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-08-20

Of the law Of the land. There is in
the platform no suggestion Of an at
tempt to dispute the authority Of the
supreme court. The party ID simply
pledged to use all the constitutional
power which remains after that de-
cision, or which may come from re-
versal by the court as it may here
after be constituted Is there any
disloyalty' in that pledge7 For a
hundred years the supreme court Of
the United States has sustained the
principle which underlies the income
tax. Some twenty years ago this
same court sustained without dis
senting voice an income tax law al
most identical with the one recently
ovekthrown. Has not a future court
as much right to return to the judicial
precedents Of a century ago as the
present court had to depart from
them?
"When courts allow rehesring they
admit that error is possible. The late
decision against the income tax was
rendered by majority of one after a
rehearing.
INCOME TAXATION DEFENDED.
"While the money question over
shadows all other questions in i'm.
portsnce, l desire it distinctly under
stood that I shall offer no apology
for the income tax plank of the Chi
cago platform. The last income tax
law sought to apportion the burdens
of government more equitably among
those who enjoy the protection OF the
government. AT present the expenses
of the federal government collected
through internal revenue and import
duties are especially burdensome upon
the poor classes of society. A law
which collects from, some citizens
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,
and while the process may be quite
satisfactory to the men who escape
just taxation, it can meyer be satisfac-
tory to those who are overburdened,
The last income tax law, with its ex-
emption provisions, when considered
IN connection with other methods Of
taxation in force, was not unjust to
the possessorsr of large incomes, be-
cause they were not compelled to pay
total federal tax greater than their
share. The income tax is cot new,
nor is 1t based upon hostility to the
rich. The system is employed in sew
eral Of the most important nations of
Europe, and every income tax law
now upon the statute books in any
land, 80 far as / have been able to as
certain, contains an exemption clause.
While the collection Of an income tax
in other countries does not make it
necessary for this nation to adopt this
system, yet it ought to moderate the
language Of those who denounce the
income tax as an assault upon the
well-to.do. - -""
THE RIGHT OF CRITICISM UPHELD.
''Not only shall I refuse to apollo
gize for the advocacy of an income
tax law, by the national convention
but shall also refuse to apologize
for the exercise by it OF the right to
dissent from q decision of the su-
preme court. In government like
ours, every public official. is q public
servant, whether he holds Office by
election or appointment, whether be
serves for term of years or during
good behavior, and the people have a
right to criticize his official arts.
Confidence is everywhere the parent
Of despotism; free government exists
in jealousy, and not in confdency;
these are the words of Thomas Jeffer-
son, and l submit that they present a
truer conception of popular govern
ment than that entertained by those
who would prohibit an !unfsvorsble
comment upon a court decision
Truth will vindlcate itself; only error
fears free speech No public official
who conscientiously discharges his
duty as he sees it will desire to deny
to those whom he serves the right to
discuss his official conduct.
ALL PARTIES FOR BIMETALLIsM.