The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-13

from the opinion rendered by the su-
prene court declaring the income tax
irayv unconstitutional. Our critics even
go so far as TO apply the name anar-
chist 10 those VINO stand upon the plank
of the platform 1t must be remember
ed that We expressly recognize the
binding forces of that decision; as long
as it stands a part of the law or the
land. There is in the platform no sus-
gestion of an attempt to dispute the au-
thority Of the supreme court. The par
ty is simply pledging itself to use All
the constitutional power which e-
mains after that decision or which may
rome from its reversal by the court, as
1t may hereafter be constituted Is
there any disloyalty in that pieoee:
For a hundred years the supreme couU.
Of the United States has sustained Tie
principle which undeT'iies the income
tax Some twenty years ago TINS same
court sustained without a dissenting
voice an Income tax Raw almost identi-
raj with the one recently overthrown;
has not a future court as much right
to return TO the judicial precedents or
a. century as the present court mad 10
depart from them?
When courts allow a rehearing they
admit that error is possible. The decis-
ion against the income tax was defend
ed by a ma jority after a rehearlng.
While the money question overShadoWS
all other questions in Importance. de-
sire it distinctly understood that l shall
offer no apology for the income tax
plank of the Chicago platform The
hast income tax law sought TO appor-
ton the burdens of the government
more equitably among those who en-
Joy the protection of tine government.
At present the expenses of the feder-
al government collected through inter-
nal revenue and import duties are es-
pecially burdensome upon the poor class
of society. A law which collects from
some citizens more than their share or
the taxes and collects from other citi-
zens less than their snare, is simply an
indirect means of transferring one
mans property TO another mans pocket
and while the process may be quite sat
isfactory to the man who escapes just
taxation, it can never be satisfactory
10 those who are overburdened. The
last income tax law, with it's exemption
provisoes, when considered in connec-
ton with other methods of taxation in
force, was not unjust TO the possessors
of large incomes, because they were not
compelled TO pay a total federal tax
greater than their share. The income
tax Is not now, nor was it. based upon
hostility to the rich. The system is en-
ployed in several Of the most import
ant nations Of Europe and every income
tax law now upon the statute books in
any land, so far as l have been a BILE to
ascertain, contains an exemption clause.
While the collection of an income tax in
other countries does not make Il neces-
sary for this nation 10 adopt this sys-
tenn. yet IL ought to moderate the Ian
sCage of those who denounce the in
come tax as an assault upon the we'll
TODD. Not only shall ! refuse to apoI-
ogiZe for the advocacy of an income tax
law. by the rational convention, but 1
shall also refuse 10 apologize for the eX-
ercise by il Of the right to dissent from
a decision Of the supreme court. In a
government like ours every public Off
clal is q public servant, whether he
holds office by election or by appoint
ment, whether he serves for term Of
years or during good behaviour. and
the people have a right to criticize his
official acts.
Confidence is everywhere the par
ssts in Jealousy and not in confidence"
These are the words OF Thomas Jeffer-
son, and | submit that they present a
truer conception Of popular government
than that entertained by those who
would prohibit an unfavorable COM
ment upon a court decision. Truth will
vindicate itself; only error fears free
speech. 40 public official who con-
scientiousiy discharges his duties as he
sees it, VIII desire to deny TO those
whom he serves the right to discuss his
official conduct.
Now let US ask you 10 consider the
para mount question of this campaign
the money question 1t is scarcely nee
essary to defend the principle of bimet-
allism. Ne national party during the
entire history of the United States has
ever declared against 1t and no party in
this campaign has had the temerity
10 oppose il. Three parties, the Demo-
Gratis, the POpulists and the Silver party
rot only declared for bimetallsm but
have outlined the specific legislation
accessory to restore silver TO its an
cient position by the side of gold. The
Rerublican platform especially de-
cl8res that bimetallism is desirable,
when il pledges the Republican party
sislance of certain foreign nations can
be obtained. Those who represent the
minority sentiment in the Chicago con-
Nention opposed the free coinage of sill
Yer by the United States by independ-
ent action, on the ground that in their
Judgment 1t would retard or entirely
proven, the establishment of internation-
al blmet3li!sTn, 10 which the efforts of
the government should be steadily di-
Tected"
When they asserted that the efforts
of the goVerum ent should be steadily
directed toward the establishment of
irterna Lon3l bimetaEism they con-
demneG recommendation. The gold
standard has been weighed in the bal
ance and found wanting. Take from it
the powerful support Of the homegrown
Ing and the money-changing classes and |
IL cannot stand for one day in any ma