The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-09-24
THE INCOME TAX PLANK
DEMOCRATIC STANDARD BEARER
GIVES HIS OPINION.
Bryan Believes Republican Finnn-
cfaI Idens the Most Infamous
Proposition of the Times.

Goldboro. N. c., Sept. 1S.-William J.
Bryan arrived here at 11:3O last night
His private car was sidetracked until
this morning, when he delivered an al
dress from the platform to a large audi
ence.
Mr.. Bryan spoke as follows: Ladies
and gentlemen This campaign we are
fighting together instead of lighting
among ourselves. 1 remember a few
years ago a popullst in congress who
said that down In South America there
ran wild upon the prairies small iurro3
that In time OF danger, when attacked
by wild animals, would get together
putting their heads together and their
feet on the outside they formed
circle with their neeis and kicked the
enemy. but he said 1t was often the case
that the advocates of various reforms
would put their heads on the outside
and kick each other Laushter) 1t
has been too otter the case that those
who were fighting for reform because
they could not agree entirely, would In
terfere with each other and each at
tempt to offset the others work. In
this campaign those who believe in the
free coinage Of silver have been to-
gether, regardless of differences of opin-
ion upon other subjects. Democrats who
believe in tariff reform and republicans
who believe in protection are able TO
get together when both recognize that
the money question Is superior to the
tariff.
IA populist leader in the house well
expressed the idea when he said that
while he believed In populism, he was
willing to lay some of them aside until
he could secure other reforms. For in
stance. he said. that while he believed
In government ownership of railroads,
he did not want the government to own
the railroads as long as the railroads
ran the government. 1t is this wiling
ness to lay aside minor differences in
hours of danger that characterizes our
people, and gives surest proof that they
are able to rise to the requirements of
any emergency
After unreservedly endorsing the
platform and candidates of the Chicago
platform. the New York platform de-
clares as Its deliberate judgment that
never, in the history of the democratic
party, has platform been written that
embodies more completely the interests
OF the whole people as distinguished from
those who seek legislation for private
Benefits than that given to the country
IN the national democratic convention of
1896.
There, within the shadow of Wall
street, though against the combined OBJ
position of those once leading democrats
OF New York who have left the demo-
to the republicans stopped for II mo-
ment at the half way house, the democ-
racy of New York declares the platform
adopted at Chicago the most democratic
platform ever put before the country by
democratic conventions. In the state of
Connecticut they have Endorsed our plat
form, and likewise In Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. In those and other eastern
states democracy is beginning to realize
that the Chicago platform presents to
the American people these great issues
around which the people must cluster if
they are going to retain government Of
BY and for the people.
Income Tax Plank.
The Chicago platform contained a
plank expressing desire for an income
tax not saying that we are going to
ignore the decision of the supreme court
but that an income tax should be en-
forced so far as the decision would per-
nit, and we would abide by the principle
still II the future court exercising the
same spirit to reverse the decision re-
Gently given that the present court ex-
crcised In overthrowing the precedent
of 100 years. they go back to the doctrine
we used to have. and declare that under
the constitution 1t Is possible to make
those who have large incomes pay their
share of the expenses of the government
In my judgment. the income tax is
just. 1t is not war upon property, but
II Is q demand that those who have prop
property by the federal laws, should be
willing to support the government to
which they look for that protection, and
not seek to use instrumentalities OF the
government for their own benefit and
throw the burden OF supporting the gov
eminent on the backs of those not able
to bear 1t. The three parties which have
joined In my nomination agree that
While there are other issues before the
people aside from the money question
yet the money question rises paramount
TO them all, and must be settled first.
Inc other questions can walt; the mon
ey question can not. 1t has been forced
on public attention. 1t has been brought
before the people. and we have to decide
whether we shall continue the present
financial system, wherein few men
nave undertaken to run the government,
or shall put the financial policy of the
American people In the hands of the
American people. to be framed by them
and for them from now on. (Applause)
Il never lose opportunity TO IMPRESS
upon the people the importance of this
question to every citizen. The republic
can platform declares that we must
maintain our present financial policy.
not until we get tired of It, but until
foreign nations get tired of 1t, and CON
sent for us to abandon It, To my mind
no more Infamous proposition was ever
ihuorsed by any party. and 1 can not
believe, as l look into the faces of tens
OF thousands OF free Americans through
out all these states. that they are will
ing to trust the destnies of the people
In the hands of foreigners whom we can
only reach by petition. (Applause.)
1.-THE republican party had a great op-
portunfty before 1t. Here was the dem
ocratic administration, which was being
opposed by large part of the demo-
cratic party. and ii Is much more difficult
for a man to oppose wrong in his own
party than In his opponents. Here were
democrats willing to array themselves
In opposition to the policy of the presi-
cent; not because they loved the presi-
dent less, but because they love the peo-
pie Infinitely better (Applause.) While
the republicans assembled in st. Louis
If they had opposed the presidents
financial policy and declared that they
would restore the money of the consti-
tuition, and the democratic party had in
dorsed the administration, the republican
party would have swept the democrats
party out OF existence"