The San Francisco call., 1896-08-13

We are not surprised that some of our op-
ponents, in the absence of better argument,
resort to abusive epithets, but they may rest
assured that no language, however violent, no
invective, however vehement. will lead us
20 depart single hairs breadth from the
course marked out by the National Conven-
ton The citizen, either public or private,
who assAils the character and questions the
patriotism of the delegates assembled in the
Chicago convention assails the character and
questions the patriotism of the millions who
have arrayed themselves under the banner
there raised, 1t has been charged by men
standing high in business and political circles
that our platform is menace to private and
public security, and that those whom 1 have
the honor Tor the time being to represent not
only mediate an attack upon the rights OF
property, out are the foes both OF social order
ana National honor.
Those who stand upon the Chicago platform
are pre- epared to make known and defend every
motive which influences them, every purpose
which animates them and every hope which
inspires them. They understand the genius
OF our institutions; they are stanch support
ers OF the form OF government under which
we i've, and they bull d their faith upon foun-
dations laid by their fathers. Andrew Jackson
has stated, with admirable clearness and with
an emphasis which cannot be surpassed,
both the duty and the sphere OF govern
ment. He said: distinctions in society
will always exist under every just govern
ment. Equality of talents, of education or of
wealth cannot be produced by human insti-
tuions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of
heaven and the fruits of superior industry,
economy and virtue, every man is equally en-
Titled to protection By law"
We yield TO none in our devotion to the
doctrine just enunciated. Our campaign has
not for its object the reconstruction OF society.
We cannot insure TO The vicious the fruits of q
virtuous life; we would not invade the home
OF the provident in order to supply the wants
OF the spendthrlft; we do not propose 10 trans
fer the rewards OF industry to the lap of indo-
lence. Property is and will remain the stimu-
lus TO endeavor and the compensation for
toll. We believe, as asserted in the Declara-
tion of Independence, that all men are created
equal; but that does not mean that all men
are or can be equal in possessions, in ability
or in merit; ii simply means that all shall
stand equal before the law, and that Govern
ment officials shall not, in making. constituting
or enforcing the law, discriminate between
citizens. assert that property rights, as well
as the rights of persons, are safe IN the hands
OF the common people. Abraham Lincoln, in
his message sent TO Congress in Decem Der,
1861, said: "No men living are more worthy
to be trusted than those who toll up from
poverty, none less inclined to take or touch
aught which they have not honestly earned"
l repeat his language with unqualified ap-
proval and join with him in the warning
which he added namely: "Let them beware
OF surrendering political power which they
already possess and which power if surren-
dered, viii surely be used to close the doors
OF advancement against such as they and to
fix new disabilities and burdens upon them
till all OF liberty shall be lost"
Those who daily follow the Injunction "In
the sweat OF thy face shalt thou eat bread"
are now, as they ever have been, the bulwark
Of law and order, the source of our Nations
greatness in time of peace, and its surest de-
tenders in time OF war.
But l have only read a part of Jacksons
uttersnce. Let me give you his conclusion:
But when the laws undertake to add to those
natural and just advantages artificial distine-
tions, to grant titles, gratuities and exclusive
privileges, to make the rich richer and the
potent more powerful, the humble mem bers of
society-the farmers, mechanics and the day
laborers-who have neither the time nor the
means OF securing like favors for themselves.
have right TO complain of the injustice OF
their Government"
Those who support the Chicago platform in-
dorse all OF the quotation from Jacksonville
latter as well as the former part.
We are not surprised 10 find arrayed against
US those who are the benefciaries of Govern
ment faVOrltism-they have read our platform
Nor are we surprised to learn that we must in
this campaign face the hostility OF those who
find q pecunlaFy advantage in advocating the
doctrine of non-intertereuce ce when great aggre-
cations OF wealth are trespsSSing upon the
rights of individuals We welcome such op-
posiuon-it is the highest Endorsement which
could be bestowed upon us. We are content
TO have the cooperation of those who desire 10
have the Government administered without
fear or favor.
trusts should spring into existence and over
ride the weaker members OF society; il is not
the wish OF the general public that these trusts
should destroy competition and 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 ipstrumentalities of govern
rlent have been so often prostituted to pur-
poses of private gain.
Those who stand upon the Chicago platform
believe that the Government should NOT only
avoid wrongdoing, but that it should also
prevent wrongdoing; and they believe that
The law should be enforce alike against all
enemies OF the public veal. They do not ex-
cuse petty larceny, but they declare that grand
larceny is equally a crime; they do not defend
hO he
the unsuspeeting traveller, but they include
among the transgressors those who, through
the more polite and less hazardous means OF
Legislation, appropriate to their own use the
proceeds OF the toll OF others. The command
ment Thou shalt not STEAL" thundered from
Sinai and reiterated in the legislation of all
nations, is no Fespeoter OF persons. 1t must
be applied to the great as well as the small to
the strong as well as the weak, to the corporate
person created by law as well as to the person
OF flesh and blood created by the Almighty
No Government is worthy of the name which
is not able TO protect from every arm uplitted
for his injury the hum blest citizen who lives
beneath It's flag. 1t follows as q necessary con-
cluslon that vicious legislation must be rem
edied by the people who suffer from the effects
OF such legislation and not by those who en-
joy its benefits.
by some because it dissents from an opinion
rendered by the Supreme Court declaring the
income tax unconstitutional. Our critics even
go so far as to apply the name of anarchists
platform. 1t must be rememb bered that we
expressly recognize the binding force of that
decision so long as it stands as The part of the
law OF the land. There is in the platform no
suggestion of an attempt to dispute the
authority of the Supreme Court. The party is
simply pledged to use "all the constitutional
power which remains after that decisio or
which may come from its reversal by the court
as it may hereafter be 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 twenty
years ago this same court sustained without
dissenting voice an income tax law almost iden-
tical with the one recently oyerthrown. Has
not future court as much right to return to
the judicial precedents of century as the
present court bad TO depart from them? When
courts allow rehearings they admit that error
is possible the late decision against the in-
come tax was rendered by majority of one,
after a rehearing. While the money question
overshadows all other questions in Importance,
l desire 1t distinctly understood snail offer
no apology for the income tax plank of the
Chicago platform.
The last income tax law sought 10 apportion
the burdens of Government more eauitably
among those who enjoy the protection OF the
Government. At present the penses OF the
Federal Government, collected through in
ternsl revenue taxes and i'm port duties, are
especially burdensome upon the poorer classes
OF society. law which collects from some
citizens more than their share of the taxes
and collects from other citizens less than their
share is simply an indirect means of trans
ferring one mans property to another mans
pocket, and while the process may be quite