The evening bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1887-1905, 1896-08-15

enjoy its benefits.
The Chicago platform has been con-
demned by some because it dissents from
an opinion rendered by the supreme court ,
declaring the income tax demonstrations
al. Our critics even go SO far as to apply
the term anarchist to those who stand
upon that plank of the platform. 1t must
be remembered that we expressly recog-
nize the binding force of that decision 50
long as 1t stands as 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
pledged TO use "All the constitutional
power which remains after that decision,
or viii h may come from its revers al b:
the court as 1t may he.eafter be constI-
tuted."
Is there any disloyalty in that pledgeY
For a hundred years the supreme court of
the United States has sustained the prin-
ciple which underlies the income tax.
Some 20 years ago this same court sus-
tanned without a dissenting voice an in
come tax law almost identical with the
one recently overthrown; has not future
court as much right to return to the jul
dicial precedents of a century as the pres
ent court has to depart from themY When
courts allow rehearings they admit that
error is possible; the late decision against
the income tax was rende.ei by MAORI
ty of one after rehearing.
While the money question overshadovs
all other questions in Importance | desire
1t distinctly understood that shall offer
no apology for the income tax plank of
the Chicago platform. The last income
tax law sought to apportion the burdens
of government more equitably among
those who enjoy the protection of the gov
ernment At present the expenses of the
federal government, collected through
internal revenue taxes and import duties,
are especially burdensome upon the poorer
,Nf 10. l. oh
from some citizens more than their share
of the taxes and collects from other citi
zens less than their share Is simply an in
direct means of the transferring one mans
property to another mans pocket, and,
while the process may bequite satisfactory
to the men who escape just taxation, it
can never be satisfactory TO those who are
overburdened. The last income tax law,
with its exemption provisions, when con-
sidered in connection with other methods
of taxation in force, was not unjust to the
possessors of large incomes, because they
were not compelled to pay total federal
tax greater than their share. The income
tax Is not new, nor is 1t based upon hostii-
ity to the rich. The system Is employed
in several of the most important nations
of Europe, and every income tax law now
upon the statute books in any land, so far
as l have been able TO ascertain, contains
an exemption clause. While the collec-
ton of an income tax in other countries
does not make it necessary for this nation
to adopt the system, yet it ought TO mod
crate the language of those who denounce
the income tax as an assault upon the
well-to-do.
Not only shall refuse to apologize for
the advocacy of an income tax law by the
national convention, but / shall also re-
fuse to apologize for the exercise by II OF
the right to dissent from a decision of the
supreme court. In government like
ours every public official is a public ser
want whether he holds office by election
or by appointment, whether he serves for
a term of years or during good behavior
and the people have right to criticize his
official acts. Confidence is everywhere
the parent of despotism; free government
exists in jealousy and not in confidence
these are the words of Thomas jefferson,
and l submit that they present IA truer
conception of popular government than
entertained by those who would prohibit
an unfavorable comment upon Il court de-
cision. 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 the right to discuss his
official conduct.
Now let me ask you to consider the par
amount question of this campaign-the
money question. 1t is scarcely necessary
to defend the principle of bimetalism. No
of the United States has ever declared
against it, and no party in this campaign
has had the temerlty TO oppose it. Three
parties, the Democratic, Populist and sill
yer parties have not only declared for bl-
metalism, but have outlined the specific
legislation necessary to restore silver TO
its ancient position by the side of gold
The Republican platform expressly de-
clares that bimetalism is desirable when
it pledges the Republican party to aid in
securing 1t as soon as the assistance OF
certain foreign nations can be obtained.
Those who represented the minority sen
timent in the Chicago convention OPP
posed 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 es-
tablishment of international bimetalism,
to which the efforts of the government
should be steadily directed.
When they asserted that the efforts of
the government should be steadily direct
ed toward the establishment of interna-
tional bimetalllsm, they condemned
mononetallism. The gold standard has
been weighed in the balance and found
wanting. Take from 1t the powerful sup
port of the money owning and the money
changing classes and it can not stand for
one day in any nation in the world 1t
was fastened upon the United States with
out discussion before the people and its
Irlenus nave ueNe' yeU DeSu WlllluS W rish
verdict before the voters upon that
issue.
There can be no sympathy or co-opera-
ton between the advocates of a universal
gold standard and the advocates of BIZ
metallism. Between bimetallism-wheth-
er independent or international-and the
gold standard there Is an impossible gulf.
Is this quadrennial agitation in favor of
international bimetallism conducted in
good faith, or do our opponents really de-
sire TO maintain the gold standard perma-
nently. Are ~ willing to confess the
superiority of "a double standard when
Joined in by the leading nations OF the
world, or do they still insist that gold Is
the only metal suitable for standard
money among civilized nations2 IL they