Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-08-20

with the formal aOOreSS TO Mr.. bryan,
the Missouri governor placed in the
Nebraskan's hand roll of parchment
bearing the notification proper. Ten
minutes of cheering followed. After
which Mr.. Bryan made his speech, the
most interesting parts of which are as
follows:
Mr.. Chairman. Gentlemen of the Committee
and Fellow Citizens: L shall at a future day
and in formal letter. accept the nomination
which is now rendered me by the notification
committee, and I shall at that time touch upon
the issues presented by the platform. 1t is
fitting, however. that at this time. in the pres
ence of those here assembled, speak at some
length in regard to the campaign upon which
entering.
1t has been charged by men standing high in
business and in political circles that our plat
form is a menace to private security and pub
lie safety: and it has been asserted that those
whom I have the honor for the time being to
represent, not only mediate attack upon
the rights of property. but are the foes OF So
cial order and national honor. Those who
stand upon the Chicago platform are prepared
to make known and to defend every motive
which influences them, every purpose which
animateS them. every hope which inspires
them. They understand the genius of our in
situations: they are stauaeh supporters or the
form of government under which we live. and
they build their faith upon the foundations
laid by the fathers
The Chicago Platform.
The Chicago platform has been condemned
by some, because it diSSents from an opinion
rendered by the supreme court declaring the
income tax law unconstitutional Our critics
even go far as to apply the name OF an
archists to those who stand upon that plank OF
the platform. 1t must be remembered that we
expressly recognize the binding force of that
decision long it stands as part of the
law of the land. There is in the platform no
suggestion of an attempt to dispute the au-
thority of the supreme court The party is
simply pledged to use ''all the constitutional
power which remains after that decision, or
which may come from its reversal
constituted Is there any disloyalty
in that pledge? For hundred
years the supreme court of the United States
has sustained the principle which underlieS
the income tax Some 20 years ago the same
court sustained without dissenting voice. an
income tax law almost identical with the one
recently overthrown. Has not future court
as much right to return to judicial precedentS
as the present court had to depart from them?
When courts allow rehear1ngS. they admit that
error Is possible. The late decision against
the income tax was rendered by majority of
one after rehearing.
While the money question oyerShadowS all
other questions in Importance. desire it dis
tinctly understood that shall offer no apology
for the income tax plank of the Chicago plat
form. The last income tax law sought to ap-
portion the burdens of government more equit-
ably among those who enjoy the protection
of the government At present, the expenses
of the federal government, collected through
internal revenue and import duties, are es-
pecially burdenSome upon the poor classes OF
society. A law which collects from some cit
liens more than their share of the taxes.
and collects from other citizens less than their
share, is simply an indirect means OF transfer
ring mans property to another mans
pocket, and while the process may be quite
satisfactory to the men who escape just taxa
ton, it can never be satisfactory to those who
are overburdened The last income tax law.
with it's exemption provisions. when consid-
cred in connection with other methods of tax
alton in force, was not unjust to the possess
ors of large incomes. because they were not
compelled to pay total federal tax greater
than their share.
The Money Question.
Now let ask you TO consider the para
mount question of this eampaign-the money
question. It is scarcely necessary to defend
the principle OF bimetallism. No national
party during the entire history of the United
States has ever declared against it, and nc
party in this campaign has had the temerity to
oppose it Three parties. the democrats, the
populists and the silver party, not only de-
clared for bimetallism. 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 bimetalIism is desirable when
it pledges the republican party to aid
in securing it coon as the assistance of GER
tain 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 IA their judgment il