West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-08-27

criticisms, read the dissenting opinions
Of the court That will give you criti-
cisms. They say we passed an unconsti-
tutional law. deny it--tho income tax
was not unconstitutional when il was
passed. 1t was not unconstitutional
when il went before the supreme court
for the first time. 1t did not become un-
constitutional until ono judge changed
his mind and we cannot be expected to
know when a judge will change his
mind.
The income tax is just law. II sim
ply intends to put the burdens of gov
ernment justly upon the backs of tho
people. am in favor of an income tax.
When find a man who is not willing
to pay his share of the burden OF the
government which protects him, find
man who is unworthy TO enjoy the
blessings OF government like ours
He says We are opposing the national
bank currency. 1t is true. If you will
read what Thomas Benton said, you
will find that he said that III searching
history he could find but one parallel to
Andrew Jackson. That was Cicero, who
destroyed the conspiracics Of Cat;lino
and saved Rome. He did for Rome
what jackson did when he destroyed
the bank conspiracy and saved America
We say in our platform that we be-
lieve that tho right to coin money and
issue money is function OF govern
ment We believe it. We believe it is "a
part Of sovereignty, and can no more,
with safety, be delegated to private in-
gate 70 private individuals the power to
make penal statutes or to levy laws for
taxation. Mr.. jefferson, who was once
regarded as good Democratic authority,
seems TO have a different opinion from
the gentleman who has addressed US on
the part OF the minority. Those who are
opposed TO tsis proposition tell as that
the issue OF paper money is a function
Of the bank, and that the government
ought to go out Of the banking business.
stand with jefferson rather than with
them and tell them, as be did, that the
issue Of money Is q function Of the gov
ernment and that the banks ought to
go out Of the gos nment business.
They complain about the plank which
declares against the life tenure in Office
They have tried to strain it TO mean
that which It docs not mean What we
oppose iu that plank is tho life tenure
that is being built mp in Washington
which excludes from participation in
the benefits tho humber members Of
our society. / cannot dwell longer in
my limited time. lCries of "Go onl
Go onP'J
Let me call attention TO two or three
great things. The gentleman from New
York says that ho will propose an
amendment providing that this change
in our laws shall not affect contracts al
ready made. Let me remind him that
thcro is no intention Of affecting those
contracts which, according 20 the pres
ont laws, arc made payable in gold
But If no means to say that wo cannot
change our monetary system without
protecting those who have loaned money
before tho change was made, / want TO
ask him where, in law or IN morals, ho
can find authority for not protecting the
debtors when tho act Of 1873 was
passed, but now insists that wo must
protect tho creditor Ho says ho also
wants to amend this law aud provide
that 81 we fail TO maintain a parity
within o year we will then suspend
tho coinage Of silver We reply that
when we advocate thing which wo be-
liovc viii bo successful we arc not com
PEELED to raise @ doubt as to our own
sincerity by trying to show what we
viii do If we can. ask him, IL ho viii