Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-01-11

the people to take fresh couragein wag-
ing their battle for existence against
"the sordid despotism of wealth"-un-
taxed wealth, and if we mistake not he
has raised new issue which will be heard
from in the political campaign on which
the country is now about to enter.
Some extracts are here presented from
Senator Vests speech. We are sure they
will meet with a responsive echo in the
heart of every true citizen.
"If the Wilson tariff law had not, as to
between $4o,OOO,OO0 and $50O0O,00o of
taxation, been declared invalid by the
supreme court of the United States, there
would have been no deficit in the treasury,
as every intelligent man must concede.
That the supreme court made this decision
was matter of surprise to every intel
ligent lawyer in the United States and es-
pecially to those of Us engaged in the
legislation of the country.
81 do not propose to analyze this decis-
ion nor shall l trust myself to enter into
conjecture as to the reasons that caused
one member of that court after agreeing,
on deliberate argument, as to the consti-
nationality of the largest portion of the
law, in two weeks afterwerd, upon a mo-
ton for rehearlng, to reverse his opin-
ion and fasten upon the country the sor-
did despotism of wealth. This Justice
unquestionably had the right to change
his opinion. 1t is the highest prerogative
of judicial officer.
"But must say most respectfully that
it is matter of regret that he did not see
proper to rut upon record the reasons
that caused him to make the change; that
he did not stand before the American peo-
pie as the only member of that court
really responsible for this far-reaching
terrible decision. = * X
I II do not propose to speake at length
in regard to the effect of this decision.
My sole object is to repel and repudiate
with all my power the assertion that con-
gress is guilty of either recklessness or
ignorance in enacting that statute. say
that every intelligent lawyer concluded
that the question had been judicially de-
termined. To have doubted that the su-
preme court would have followed the de-
clsions of 100 years, would have been a
reflection upon the intelligence and con-
sistency Of that great tribunal. In the
individual selfshness that always comes
in times of great depression, while gloom
and disaster and great issues have been
impending over the country, classes Of
our people have not understood the full
effect of this terrible decision.
sit has marked new era in our his
tory, and l much mistake the American
people if the time will not come when
neither soft words nor honied phrases
will be sufficient apologies for the doc
trine announced by the supreme court.
The people of this country will never
submit to the system which has been put
upon them by the supreme court, in OPP
position to it's decisions of an entire CEN
fury. That Mr.. Vanderbilt, with his hun
dreds of millions of dollars, should pay
no more for the support of the general
government than the poorest man in the
land, is abhorrent to every honest mind.
The army and navy of the United States,
the military and financial resources of
the government must be used to defend
Mr.. Vanderbilt's untold millions and yet
he pays simply internal revenue taxes
and tariff import duties upon what he
may choose to consume, and the poor
man does the same. He pays no more
to support the army and navy than dc
or any other citizen of this country
without regard to his estate or moneys.
"The people of the United States will
never concede that either the state OF
national administration should be fixed
upon basis like this. This decision
say has not attracted the attention that
hereafter must be given to it. The TIME
will come when the prophetic language
of Justice Brown will come home te
every intelligent and thoughtful mar
throughout our wide domain that this ad
Indication of the highest tribunal in thu
land has fixed upon the country thu
sordid despotlsm of wealth."