The record-union., 1896-08-13

shall offer no apology for the income
tax plank of the Chicago platform. The
last income tax law sought to appor-
ton the burdens of Government more
equitably among those who enjoy the
protection of the Government. At pres
ent the expenses of the Federal Gov
ernment are collected through internal
revenue taxes and import duties, and
are especially burdensome upon the
poorer classes of society. A law which
collects from some citizens more than
protection fthe Government. At pres
from other citizens less than their share,
is simply an indirect means of transfer
ring one mans property to another
mans pocket, and while the process may
be quite satisfactory to the men who
escape just taxation, it can never be
satisfactory to those who are over
burdened. The last income law, with it's
exemption provisions, when considered
in connection with other methods of
taxation in force, was not unjust to the
possessors of large incomes, because
they We're not compelled to pay total
Federal tax greater than their share.
Not only shall I refuse to apologize
for the advocacy of an income tax law
By the national convention, but I shall
also refuse to apologize for the exercise
by it of the right to dissent from a de-
cision of the Supreme Court In a
Government like ours every public Off
cial is a public servant, whether he
holds office by election or by appoint
lnent; whether he serves for a term of
years, or during good behavior, and the
people have a right to criticise his Off
cial acts. Confidence is everywhere the
parent of despotism; free government
exists in jealousy, and not in conf
dence' These are the words of Thomas
Jefferson, and | submit that they pre-
sent a truer conception of popular gov
ernment than that entertained by those
who would prohibit an unfavorable
comment upon court decision. Truth
Will vindicate 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 te right to discuss his
official conduct.
Now let me ask you to consider the
paramount question of this campaign
the money question. 1t is scarcely nee
essary to defend the principle of bimet-
allism No national party during the
entire history of the United States has
ever declared against it, and no party
in this campaign had the temerity to
oppose it. Three parties. the Democrats,
Populist and Silver parties not only de-
clared for bimetallism, but have out.
lined the specific legislation necessary
to restore silver to its ancient position
by the side of gold. The Republican
platform expressly declares that bimet-
allism is desirable when it pledges the
Republican party to aid in securing it
as soon as the assistance of certain
foreign nations can be obtained. Those
who represent 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 it would
retard or entirely prevent the establish
ment of international bimetallism, to
which the efforts of the Government
should be steadily directed When they
asserted that the efforts of the Govern
ment should be steadily directed toward
the establishment of international BIZ
metallism they condemned monometal-
lism.
THE gold standard has been weighed
in the balance and found wanting.
Take from 1t the powerful support of
the money-owning and the money
changing classes, and it cannot stand
for one day in any nation in the world
+ was fastened upon the United States
without discussion before the people.
and it's friends have never yet been
willing to risk a verdict before the vot-
ers on that issue. There can be no SYM