Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-08-21

Law and order, tho source Of our nations
gre atness in time OF peace and its surest de-
| Tenders In time Of war
But have only read part of Jackson's ut
| terances-let mo give you his conclusion: But
when the laws undertake TO add to those nat
ural and Just advantages artificial distinctions
to grant titleA gratulties and exclusive priv
ilegcs-to make tho rich richer and the potent
moro powerful-the humble members Of so,icty
tho farmers mechanics and the day labor
ers who have neither tho time nor the means
of securing like favors for themselves. have
right to com plain OF tho injustice of their gov
eminent
"Those who support the Chicago platform,
indorse all OF the quotations from Jackson
the latter part as we'll as the former part.
I'VE are not surprised to find arrayed against
us those who are the beneficiaries of govern
ment favoritism-they have road our platform
Nor are wc surprised to learn that We must, in
this campaign face the hostility Of those who
fnd pecuniary advantage In advocating the
doctrine of non lin reference whom great asgro-
cations of wealth arc tresspassiny upon the
rights of individuals We welcome such OPP
position-it is the highest ind 'rsement which
could be bestowed upon us. We are content
to have the cooperation OF those who desire to
have the government administered with out
fear or favor
Laws for All Alike.
ut is not the wish OF the general public that
trusts should spring into existence and over
ride tho 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 will from tho.e who are at
their mercy nor is it the fault of the general
public that the Ia strumcntalities Of the gov
ernm,nt have been so often prostituted to pur-
poses of privat, gain. Those who stand upon
the Chicago platt orm bslieve that the govern
h NIL nnt mi. uNt1 px1A al htrk
that it should also prevent wrongdoinR and
they believe that tho law should be enforced
alike against all of the member' of the public
veal. The, do MT excuse petit larceny, but
they declare that grand larceny is equally a
crime they do not defend the occupation
of the highwayman who robs tho unsuspect-
ing traveller but they include among tho trans
gresso-s those who through tho more polite
and less hazardous means OF legisla ton, ap-
propriate to their own use the proceeds OF toll
Of Others. The commandment, Thou shalt not
steal thundored from Sinai and reiterated in
the legislation of all nations, is no respecter Of
persons. 1t must be applied to the great as
we'll as the small to tho strong as we'll as the
weak: to tn, corporal, persons created by
law, as well as to the person of flesh and blood
created bv 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, us necessary conclusion. that
vicious lesislotion must be rcmedied by tho
people who suffer from the effects OF such leg
islation and not by those who enjoy its benefits
The Income Tax Plank.
1.-THE Chicago platform has b,en condemned
by some, because it ds:ents from an opinion
rendered by the Supreme court declaring the
income Ia K law unconstitutional Our critics
even go SO far as to apply tho name anarchists
to those who stand upon that plank OF the
platform. 1t must be remembered that we OK
pressly recognize the binding force OF that de-
cision SO long as it stands as a part of the law
OF the land There is in the platform no sug-
gestion of an attempt to dispute the authority
of the Supreme court The party is simply
pie lged to use all the constitutional power
which remains after that decision, or which
may come from its reversal by the court 1t
may hereafter be constitut d. Is Their, any dis
loyalty in that pledged For hundred years
the Supreme court of the United States has
sustained the prin,ip which underlies the
income tax. Some twenty years ago this Same
court susta ined without dissenting voice, an
in:ome tax law almost identical wi tho one
recently overthrown. Has not future court
as much right to return 20 judicial presidents
as the present court had to depart from them7
When courts allow rehearings they admit
that error Is possible. Tn, late decision
against the income ia was rendered BY ma
jority OF one after rchearing.
while tho money question overshadows all
other questions in Importance l desire it dis
tinctly understood that shall offer no apology
for the income Tux plank OF ths Chicago plat
form Not only shall l refuse to apologize for
the advocacy OF an income tax law by the
tional convention, but l shall also refuse to
apologize for the exercise by it of the right to
dissent from a decision OF the Supreme court
In governm ent like ours, every public official
is public servant whether ho holds Office by
election or appointment; whether he serves for
term of years or during good behavior and
the people have right to criticise his official
acts.
"Con1dence is everywhere the par,nt Of
despotsm. Free government exists in jeal ousy
and not in confidence Thess are the words
OF Thomas Jefferson, and l submit that they
present a truer conception of popular govern
ment than that entertained by those who
would prohibit all unfavorabe comment upon
court decision. Truth will vindicate itself
only error fears free speech. No publ, Of
fetal who conscientiously discharges his duty
as he Sees it will desire to deny to those whom
he serves the r.ght to discuss his official con-
duct
The Money 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 bimotallism No national
party daring the entire history Of the United
States has ever declared against it, and no
party in this cam aign has had the temerity to
oppose it.
The gold standard has been weighed In the
balance and found wanting. Take from it the
powerful support of the money owning and
money-changing classas and it cannot stand
for one day in any nation in the world. 1t was
fastened upon the United States without dis
cussion before tn people, and its friends have
never yet been willing to risk verdict before
the voters upon that issue
What is the test of honesty in money! 1t
must certainly be found in the purchasing
power of tho dollar An alb olutely honest dol
lar would not vnry in its general purchas ng
power; it would be absolutely stable when
measured by average prices dollar which
increases in purchasing power is just as dis
honest as q dollar which decreases in pur-
chasing power
ANY legislation which lessons the worlds
stock of standard money increases the ex-
chang, able value of ths dollar. Therefore tho
crusade against silver must inevitably raise the
purchasing power of money, and lower the
money value Of all other forms of property.
Our opponents sometimes admit that it was
mistake to demonetize silver, but insist that we
should submit to present conditions rather
than return to the bimetallic system They err
in supposing that we have reached the end of
the evil results of gold Standard we have not