The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-08-14


desire % overcome the government admin
istruSi0n without fear or favor IL Il not
the wish ol the great public that trusts
should spring into existence aud override
the weaker members of society: Il a not the
wish Of the general public that these trusts
should destroy competition and then col
leCt such taxes A. they VIII from those who
ART at their mercy, nor 4 Il the wish Of the
general public that the ihstrumentalities
Of government have been 10 often prosti-
tuted 20 purposes Of private gain. Those
who stand upon the Chicago platform BE-
leve that The government should not only
avoid wrong doing. bat that Il should also
prevent wrong doing. and they believe that
the law should b. enforced alike against
all enemies of IA, public veal They do
not excuse petit larceny, bat they declare
that grand larceny issqnally n crime; they
do not defend the occupaiion Of the high
wayman who robs the unsuspeciing trav-
elcr, but they include among the trans
grcssors those who, through the more pO-
lite and less hazardous means Of icgisla-
tion Appropriate 20 theirVwn use the pro
oecds u the toll II Others. The command
ment Thou shalt hot steal" thundered
from Sinai aud reiterated IN the legislation
Of all nations, Il no resprUteF Of persons Il
must br applied 20 the great a. well a. the
small 30 the strong a. well ~ the weak;
90 the corporate person crcatcd by law Hs
well ~ to the person Of flesh and blood ere
ated By the Almighty Il follows a.
a necessary conclusion that vicious lcgis-
latim must lse rrmedicd by the people
who suffer from the effects of such lex.
islation and not by those who enjoy IL
benefits.
The Chicago platforia has been con.
demned by some bocausr Il dlssents from
an opinion rendered BY the supreme court
declaring the income tax law uncunstitu-
tional cur critics even - ~ far a. 20 ap.
ply the name anarchist 70 those who stand
upon that plank Of the platform. Il must
b. n.mcmhered that We expressly recog-
nike the binding force Il that decision 20
long NJ Il stands "a a part ~ the law Of the
land. There is ia the platform no sugges-
tion 81 plaH ofan attempt 70 dispute the
authority u the supreme court. The par
~ l. simply pledged 10 use AL the oonsti.
tutiona power which remains after that
decision or which may cuine from IL NJ
vcrs',l by the court a. u may hereafter be
constituted l. there any disioyalty IN
that pledgei
For i00 years the supreme court of The
United States has SUSTAINED the principle
which underlics the income tax some -
years ago this same court sustained, with
ont dissenting vuicc, an income tax law
almost identical with the one reccntly
ovcrihuwn Has not a futur court a.
much right TO return % she judicial
pncorlents 81 century a. the present
rourt has 10 depart from themf When
courts allow rchearinrs they admit that
/ error i possible. The late decision against
the income tax was render,d by majority
Of one after a rrhoaring
While che money question overshadows
all other questions In Importance. desire
I Il distinctly understood that shall offer
no apology for the income tax plank Of
the Chicago platform. The last income tax
law sought 10 appuriiun the burdens Of
I the government mor' cquitably among
those who enjoy the protection Of the
government Al pr.sont The expenses Of
the Federal government, collected through
internal revenue taxes and import duties
arr especially burlensome upon the poorei
CLASSES of society. 4 law which collects
from some citizens more than their shar
~ taxes aud collects from other ciii
zens les than their sharr h simply an In
dircCt means of the transferring Of on'
mans property % another mans pocket
and while the proccss may be- quite satis
factory % the men who escape Just taxa
tion. Il can never be- satisfactory 90 thosl
who arr ovrrhurlencd The Last inoomi
tax law with IT, exemption provisions
when considered In connection with othe
methods Of taxation In forcc. was not uu
just 90 the posscssors Of larrc incomes b.
cause they were not compelled 20 pay q
tai Federal tax greater than thei
shan. The income tax j. not new. nor I
hasci upon hostility 90 the rich. Tn
system l. employed in several of the mos
important nations u Europe and every IN
come tax law now upon the state hooks q
any land, ~ FAR a. have been able to a,
certain, contains an exemption CLAUSE
While the collection Of an income tax I
other countries does not make Il nrcessar
Tor this nation 10 adopt the system, "
Il ought To moderate the language OF thos
who denounce the income tax A. an assaul
upon the well 20 DO. Not only shall n
fuse a. apologize for the advocacy Of an II
come tax law by the national convention
but shall also refuse TO apologize for th
exercise by Il Of the right to dissent irol
decision Of the supreme court. In a go'
crnmeut like ours every public official Il
public servant, whether he holds oflice D
election or by appointment, whether I
serves for a term of YEAR, or during goo
behavior. and the people have a right /
criticisc his official acts. Confidence
everywhere the parent of dcspotism; m
government exists In jealousy and not
coundence-thesc ART the words of Thomi
jefferson and ] submit that they present
truer conception of popular goyrrnmel
than entertained hy those who would pr
hihit an uniavurahle comment upon
court oi decision. Truth will vindicaie
self. only error fears free specch. No Pu
, DC official who couscientously discharu
his duty a. he sccs Il will desire 10 deny
! those whom he serves the right TO discu
his official conduct"
The Money Question.
Now lrt me ask you % CONSIDER the ~
Z amount question oi this oampaien-il
n money question. Il Is scarcely nccessa
20 defend the principle OF himelallisI
}, No national party du-ing the entire histo
{ Of the United States has ever dcclar
q against it. and no party In this campail
4 has had the tcmerity 10 oppose H. Thr
4 parties. the Democratic, populist and :
! yer parties, have not only declared for I
:. mciallism. hut have outlined the specll
legislation necessary TO rcstorc silver 20 !
o ancient position by the side ~ gold. II
!. Republican platform expressly declar
= that bimeiallism b desirable whcn
b pledges the Republican party 70 aid In :
Il curing Il a. soon ~ the assistance Of G,
;, tain forcign nations can b. obtained. Tho
e who represented the minority sentiment
= the Chicago convention opposed the n
% cuinage of silver by the United States
n independent action on the ground that
% their Judgment Il would rclari or enti
m y prvvcnt the establishment ol inter