Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-13

ARTHUR 81 W y
then collect such tax as they will from
those who are at their mercy; nor is it
the fault OF the general public that the
instrumentalities Of government have
been so often prostituted to purposes Of
private gain.
Those who stand upon the Chicago plat
form believe that the government
should not only avoid wrong-dong, but
that il should also prevent wrong-doing;
and they believe that the law should
be enforced alike against all enemies OF
the public veal. They do not excuse
petit larceny, but they declare that grand
larceny Is equally a crime; they 90
not defend the occupation OF the
highwayman. who robs the unsuspect-
ing traveller. but they include among
the transgressors those who. through the
more polite and less hazardous means OF
legislation, appropriate 70 themselves
the proceeds Of the toll Of others. The
commandment. "Thou shalt not steal"
as Numbered from Sinai, and reiterated
in the legislation of all nations is no
respecter Of persons. 1t must be applied
~ the great. as well as the small; 10
the strong. as we'll as TO the weak; 10
the corporate person, created by law, as
well as 10 the person Of flesh and blood
created by the Almighty. NO govern
uent is worthy Of the name which Is not
abIe 10 protect from every arm up
Wfted for his injury the humblest citizen
who lives beneath the flag. IL toloWs
as a necessary conclusion that VICIOUS
legislation must be remedied by the peo-
ME who suffer from the ehects or such
iepisIation. and not by those who enjoy
It's benefits -
SUPREME COURT AUTHORITY.
k.ar
demned bv some because II dissents from
an opinion rendered by the Supreme
Court declaring the income-taX Law un-
constitutional Our critics 20 so far even
as TO apply the name Anarchist TO those
who stand upon that plank OF the plat
form Ii must be remembered thai We
expressly recognize the binding force Cd
that decision 80 long as ii stands as a
part Of the law OF the land. There is IN
the platform no suggestion OF an attempt
10 dispute the authority Of the supreme
Court. The party Is simply pledged TO
''use all the constitutional power which
remains after that decision. and which
may come from its reversal by the court,
as il may hereafter be constituted"
Is there any disloyalty in that pledge?
For q 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 a dissenting voice an
income-tax law almost Identical with the
one recently overthroWn. Has not
future court as much right to return %
the judicial precedents OF a century as
the present court had to depart from
them?
When courts allow rehearings. thew ad-
nit that error is possible. The late de-
cision against the income tax was rem
dered by a majority OF one after a re-
hearing.
INCOME-TAX PLANK.
While the money question overshadows
all other questions in Importance. ! de-
sire IL distinctly understood that / shall
offer no apology for the income-tax
plank OF the Chicago platform. The in
come tax is not new. nor Is II based
upon hostility TO the rich. The system
is employed in several of the most I'M
portant nations In Europe and every
income-tax law now upon the statute
books in any land, so tar as / have been
able to ascertain. contains an exemption
clause.
While the collection OF an income-tax
in other countries does not make IL ne
cessary for this nation to adopt the 'sys-
TEN. yet II ought TO moderate the
Language Of those who denounce the in
come-tax as an assault upon the Well
to-do.
Not only shall 1 refuse to apologize for
the advocacy Of an income-tax law by
the national convention. but l shall also
refuse TO apologize for the exercise by IL
OF the right to dissent from decision OF
the Supreme Court.
THE MONEY QUESTION
Now. let me ask you to consider the
paramount question OF this campaign
the money question. II IS scarcely neces-
sary TO defend the principle Of bimetal-
lism. No national party during the en-
fira history Of the United States has