Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-08-18
We YIeld to Nome.


We yield to none in our devotion to the
doctrine just enunciated. Our campaign
has not for its object the reconstruction
of society. We cannot insure to the
vicious tho fruits of yirtuous lifei we
would not invade the homo of the proyi.
dent in order to supply the wants OF the
spendthrift; we do not propose to trans
fer the rewards of industry to the lap OF
Incidence. Property is and will remain
the stimulus to endeavor and the oompep,
sation for toll. We believe, as asserted in
the Declaration of Independence. that all
men are created equal; but that does not
mean that all men are or can be equal In
possessions, in ability or in merit; it SIM
ply means that all shall stand equal be-
fore the law, and that government officials
shall not, in making, constituting or en-
forcing the law, discriminate between cit
liens.
Iassert that property rights, as well as
the rights of persons, are safe in the hands
of the common people. Abraham Lin
coin, in his message to congress in Decem-
Der, 1861, said: "No men living are more
worthy to be trusted than those who toll
up from poverty; none less inclined to
take or touch which they have not hon
estiy earned I repeat his language with
unqualified approval, and join with him
in the warning which he added, namely:
LIE them beware of surrendering po-
iitical power which they already possess,
and which power, If surrendered, will
surely be used to close the doors Of ad-
yancement against such as they, and to fix
new disabilities and burdens upon them,
till all of the liberty shall be lost"
We are not surprised to find arrayed
apainst us those who are the benefciaries
of government Notwithstanding have read
our platform. Nor are we surprised to
learn that we must in this caInpaig gn face
the hostility of those who find pecuniary
advantage in advocating the doctrine of
non-intcrfarence when great aggregations
of wealth are tFaspassing upon the rights
of individuals. we welcome such oppo-
sition-it is the highestindorsementw which
could be bestowed upon US. We are con-
tent to have the cooperation af those who
desire to have the government admtnis-
tered without fear or favor. 1t is not the
wish of the 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 will from
those who are at their mercy, nor is 1t the
fault of the general public that the in
strumentalities of government have been
SO often prostituted to purposes Of private
gain.
Government Should Avoid Wrong Doing.
Those who stand upon the Chicago plat
form believe that the government should
not only avoid wrong doing, but that 1T
should prevent wrong doing, and they be-
lieve 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 highwaymar who fobs the unsus-
pecting traveller, but they include among
the transgressors those who, through the
more polite and less hazardous meaps OF
legislation, appropriate to their own u Sc
the proceeds of the toll of others The COM
mandment "Thou shalt not steal, thun-
dered from Sinai and reiterated in the leg
islation of all nations, is no respecter OF
persons. 1t must be applied to the great
as we'll as the small, to the strong as well
ms the weak, to the corporate person
created by law as we'll as to the person OF
flesh and blood created by the Almighty.
No government is worthy OF the name
which ia not able to protect from every arm
uplifted for his injury the hpmblest etti-
zen who lives beneath the flag. 1t follows
as a necessary conclusion that vicious leg
islntion must be remedied by the people
who suffer from the effects of such legis-
Iation. and not by those who enjoy its
benefits.
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 70
onnlv the name of anarchist to those VINO
stand upon that plank of the platform
1t must be remembered that we expressly
recognize the binding force Of that decis-
ion so long as 1t stands as a part OF tne