The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-08-13

AL'' r." 'H 20" q Nfi'NNN NN 70 ltNl VI iAAa J.
law , DE land There is i'm the platform
no suggestion Of an attempt to dispute
the authority of the supreme court. The
party is simply pledged TO use 'Hll tho
constitutional power which remains after
that decision, or which may come from its
reversal by the court as it may hereafter
be constituted Is there any disloyalty
in that pledge2
The Income Tax Law.
For a 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 a dissenting voice an
income "a law almost identical with the
one recently overthrown. Has not a fu-
ture rs much right to return to the
judicial Trecedents of a century as the
present court had to depart from themY
Whom cours allow rehearings they admit
that error is possible. The late decision
against the income tax was rendered by a
majority Of one after n %rehearing. While
the money question overshadows all other
questions in importance, L desire 1t dis
tinctly understood that 1 shall offer no
apology for the income tax plank of the
Chicago platform.
The last income tax law sought to APP
portion the burdens of the government
more equitably among those who enjoy
the protection of the government. AT pres
ent the expenses Of the federal government,
collected through internal revenue taxes
and import duties, are especially burden
some 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 another mans
pocket, and while the process may be quite
satisfactory to the men who escape just
taxation it can never be satisfactory to
those who are overburdened. The last in
come tax law, with its exemption provis-
ions, when considered in connection with
other methods of taxation in force, We're
not unjust to the posessors of large in
comes, because they were not compelled to
pay a total federal tax greater than their
share.
The income tax is not new, nor is it
based upon hostility to them. The system
is employed in some Of the most impor-
tant nations of Europe, and every income
tax law now upon the statute books in
any land, so far as l have been able to as
certain, contains an exemption clause.
While the collection of an income tax in
other countries does not make it necessary
for this nation to adopt the system, yet it
ought to moderate the language of those
who d%enounce the income tax as an as
sault upon the well to do.
Not only shall | refuse to apologize for
the advocacy of an income tax law by the
national convention, but l shall also re-
fuse TO apologize for the exercise by it of
the right to dissent from a decision of the
supreme court. In a government like
ours every public official is a public SER
want, whether he holds Office by election
or by appointment, whether he serves for
a term of years or during good behavior,
and the people nave a right to criticize his
official acts.
Paramount Question of the Campaign.
Now let me ask you to consider the para,
mount question of this campaign-thC
money question. Ii is scarcely necessary
to defend the principles of bimetallism
Nonational party during the entire history
of the United States has ever declared
against it, and no party in this campaign
has had the temerity to oppose it. THREE
parties-the Democrats, Populist and Sill
yer parties-have not only declared fO
b~imetallism, but have outlined the specif,
legislation necessary to restore silver to it,
ancient position by the side of gold. Thu
Republican platform expressly declare
that bimetallism is desirable when i
pledges the Republican party to aid il
securing it as soon as the assistance of Ger
tain foreign nations can be obtained.
The gold standard has been weighed il
the balance and found wanting. TAX,
from it the powerful support of the none!
owning and the money changing classes
ton in the world. 1t was fastened upoi
the United States without discussion be
fore the people, and its friends have nevei
, yet been willing to risk "a verdict befor,
the voters upon that issue.
If u opponents are in fact DESTROYS o
securing |bimetallism we may expect then
5 to point out the evils of a gold STANDARD
! and defend bimetallism as a system. If
/, on the other hand, they are bending thei
e energies toward the permanent establish
/, ment of a gold standard under cover of
+ declaration in favor of international bi
$ metallism l am justified in suggestin,
) that honest money cannot be expected "a
the hands of those who deal dishonestl,
with the American people.
What is the test of honesty in money
1t must certainly be found in the pun
chasing power of the dollar. An absolutel
o honest dollar would not vary in it
) general purchasing power; it would b
q absolutely stable when measured by
+ voyage price. A dollar which increase
e in purchasing power is just as dishones
I as a dollar which decreases in PURCHASING
1 power. Professor Laughlin, now of tn
e University of Chicago, and one of tn
highest gold standard authorities, in hi
, work on bimetallism not only admits tina
a gold does not remain absolutely stable il
value, but expressly asserts that there i
no such thing as a standard of value 70
future payments, either in gold or silver
which remains absolutely invariable."
+ Cause of Business Depression.
Prior to 1873, when there were enough
G open mints to permit all the gold and sill
!. yer available for coinage to find entrance
Y into the worlds volume of standar,
a money, the United States might hav,
maintained a gold standard with less in
= jury to the people Of this country bu
= now when each stem toward "a uniyersa