Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-08-20

general public that trusts should spring
into existence and override the weaker
members Of society. 1t is not the wish Of
the general public that these trusts should
destroy competition and then collect such
tax as they ill from those who are at
their mercy Nor is it the fault Of the gen
eral pu5lic that the iustrumentalities Of
govern. It have been 50 often prostituted
to purposes Of private gain. Those who
stand upon the Chicago platform believe
that the government should not only avoid
wrongdoing, but that it should also pre-
vent wrongdoing, 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 crime. They
do not defend the occupation of the high
wayman who robs the unsuspecting tray
eler, but they include among the transgress-
ors Cnose who, through the mare polite and
less hazardous means Of legislation, appro-
pirate to their own use the proceeds Of the
toll of others. The commandment, "Thou
shalt not steal, " thundered from Sinai and
reiterated in the legislation of all nations,
is no respecter of persons. 1t must be ap-
piled to the great as well as the small to
the strong as well as the weak, to the cor
porate 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 uplifted for his injury the
humblest citizen who lives beneath the
flag. 1t follows as a necessary conclusion
that vicious legislation must be remedied
by the people who suffer from the effects Of
such legislation and not by those who en-
JOY its benefits.
The Income Tax Decision.
The Chicago platform has been con-
demned by some because it dissents from
an opinion rendered by the supreme court
declaring the income tax law unconstitu-
tional Our critics even go so far as to ap-
ply the name anarchist to those who stand
upon that plank of the platform. 1t must
be remembered that we expressly recog-
nize the binding force of that decision so
long as it stands as part of the law Of
the land. There is in the platform no sug-
gestion of an attempt to dispute the au-
thority of the supreme court. The party is
simply pledged to use ''all the constitu-
tional power which remains after that de-
cision or which may come from It's reversal
by the court as it may hereafter be consti-
pledge? For hundred years the supreme
court of the United States has sustained
the principle which underlies the income
tax. Some 90 years ago this same court
sustained without dissenting voice an in
come tax law almost identical with the
one recently overthrown. Has not future
court as much right to return to the judi
cial precedents Of century as the present
n
courts allow rehearings, they admit that
error is possible. The late decision against
the income tax was rendered by a majority
OF one after a rehearing.
While the money question overshadows
all other questions in Importance, desire
it distinctly understood that / shall offer
no apology for the income tax plank Of the
Chicago platform. The last income tax
law sought to apportion the burdens Of
government more equitably among those
who enjoy the protection of the govern
ment At present the expenses of the fed
cral government, collected through internal
revenue taxes and import duties, are espe-
cially burdensome upon the poorer classes
of society. A 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 transferring one mans property to an
other mans pocket, and while the process
may be quite satisfactory to the men who
escape just taxation 1t can never be salts
factory to those who are overburdened
The last income tax law, with its exemp-
ton provisions, when considered in con
nection with other methods of taxation in
force, was not unjust TO the possessors Of
L.
PEELED to pay total federal tax greater
than their share The income tax il not
new, nor Is it based upon hostility to the
rich. The system is employed in several
Of the most important nations Of Europe,
and every income tax law now upon the
statute books in any land, so far as / have
been able to ascertain, contains an exemp-
ton clause. While the collection Of an in
come tax in other countries does not make
it necessary for this nation to adopt the
system, yet it ought to moderate the Ian
guage Of those who denounce the income
tax as an assault upon the well to do.
Not only shall refuse to apologize for
the advocacy of an income tax law by the
national convention, but shall also refuse
to apologize for the exercise by it Of the
right to dissent from decision of the su-
every public official is a public servant,
whether he holds Office by election or by
appointment, whether he serves for term
Of years or during good behavior, and the
people have right to criticise his official
acts. Confidence is everywhere the parent
of despotism. Free government exists In
jealousy and not in confidence. These are
the words Of Thomas Jefferson, and l sub
NIT Tbat ~
popular government than that entertained
by those who would prohibit an unfavor-
able comment upon court decision.
Truth will vindicate itself. Only error fears
free speech. No public official who con
scientiously discharges his duty as he sees
it will desire to deny to those whom he
serves the right to discuss his official con
duct
The Paramount Question.
Now let me ask you to consider the para
mount question Of this campaign - the
money question. 1t is scarcely necessary to
defend the principle Of bimetallism. No
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 to oppose 1t. Three parties
the Democratic, Populist and Silver par
tieS-ndNt uOL ODly utCldFeQ lOT Dllleldi-
lism, but have outlined the specific legisla-
ton necessary to restore silver to its an
cient position by the side of gold. The
Republican platform declares that bimetal-
lism is desirable when it pledges the Re
publican party tc aid In securing it as soon
as the assistance Of certain foreign nations
can be obtained. Those who represented
the minority sentiment in the Chicago con
vention opposed the free coinage of silver
by the United States by independent ac-
ton on the ground that, in their Judgment,
1t would retard or entirely prevent the
establishment of international bimetal-
lism, to which the efforts of tho govern
ment should be steadily directed. = When
they asserted that the efforts of the govern
ment should be steadily directed toward
the establishment of international bimetal-
ism, they condemned recommendation.
The gold standard has been weighed in the
balance and found wanting. Take from it
the powerful support Of the money owning
and the money changing classes, and it can
not stand for one day in any nation in the
world. 1t was fastened upon the United
States without discussion before the peo-
pie, and its friends have never yet been
willing to risk verdict before the voters
upon that issue.
There can be no sympathy or co-opera-
ton between the advocates Of universal
gold standard end the advocates of bimet-
allism. Between bimetallism, whether in