Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-10
THE SUPREME COURT CRITICISM.

II there Is anything that can make
man voIuble and, at the same time. GER
tain OF his position, II Is Ignorance OF
what he Is talking about Even though
the Chicago platform has been before the
country three months. readable by ALL
there are stu 60 be found men who have
not read It, and yet who speak OF 1t as
attacking the highest court OF the land
We print for the information OF such the
calm statement OF the platform With re-
gard to the income-tax decision OF the
United States Supreme Cour,-a decision
which disappointed President Cleveland
Congress. and the bulk OF the American
people:
Until the money question IS settled
we are opposed 10 any agitation for fur
Their changes in our tariff laws, except
sucb as are necessary to meet the deficit
caused by the adverse decision OF the
Supreme Court on the incOme-tax- But
for this decision by the Supreme Court
there would be no deficit in the revenue
under the law passed by the Democratic
Congress in strict pursuance OF the UNI
form decisions OF that court for nearly
one hundred years. that court having III
that decision sustained constitutional Cd
iections to its enactment which mad pre-
viously been overruled by the aolest
Judges who had ever sat on that bench.
We declare that II IS the duty or Con-
eress 70 use all the constitutional power
which remains after that decision, or
which MAJ cc-le from its reversal by the
court as II may hereafter be constituted
so that the burdens OF taxation may oe
I'll 1rt1 n
that we may all bear our proportion OF
the expenses OF the government.
Now. after reading that mild and SIM
ple statement Of n historical fact. we
reprint the criticisms of the decision
made By the dissenting judges OF the
court itself:
Justice Harlan said:
In my judgment. to say nothing OF
former adiudicatlons OF this court, and OF
the practice OF the government for
century. this decision may well excite
the gravest apprehension. There
is no tax which IN its essence is more
Just and equitable than an income-taX.
which, allowing proper exemptions.
reaches out to every person who enjoys
the protection of the law. protecting the
largest number OF the American people
from the domination OF aggregated
wealth
Justice Jackson uttered these words:
"The practical operation of the deci-
sion is not only 10 disregard the great
principle Of equality in taxation. but the
further principle that in the imposition
of taxes for the benefit OF the govern
ment. the burdens thereof should be i'm
posed upon those having the most ability
to bear them"
Justice Brown said:
Gwen the spectre of Socialism Is con-
iured I'D TO dissuade Congress from lay
ing taxes upon the people in proportion
TO their ability to pay them. and / nope
this decision will not prove the first step
toward the submergence Of the liberties OF
the people in a so5did despotism Of
wealth"
Justice White said:
1.-THE Injustice OF the conclusion points
to the error of adopting it. 1t takes IN
vested wealth and leaves the occupation
Of the lawyer. doctor, minister. professor,
inventor. and all the various forms OF
human activity. upon which the prospect
tv of the people must depend, subject to
taxation without apportionment. The
grievous results sure TO follow from an
attempt to adopt such a system are. that.
II a tax on invested personal property
were imposed. and there were no other
means of preventing its enforcement, the
red spectre OF revolution would shake our
institutions TO their very foundation"
The Spectre of socialism" the red
spectre Of revolution domination Of
aggregated wealth; and two of the
iudges-Justices Harlan and Brown-are
Republicans Which is the attack on
the court-the historical statement Of
the platform, or the opinions of the four
dissenting judges?