The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-13

positiOn-it is the highest endorse
ment which could be bestowed upon US.
We are content to have the co-opera-
tlon of those who desire to have the
government administered without fear
or favor. 1t is not the wish of the gem
erat public that trusts should spring
into existence and override the weaker
members of society; it is not the wish
of the general public that these trusts
should destroy competition and then
collect such taxes as they will from
those who are at their mercy; nor is
it the fault of the general public that
the instrumentalities of government
have been so often prOstituted to pur-
poses of private gain. Those who
stand upon the Chicago pla5form be-
lieve that the government is not only
to avoid wroRg-doing, but that it
should also prevent wrong-doing; and
they believe 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
hig4lwayman who robs the Unsuspect-
inc traveller, but they include among
the trusgressors those who through
the more polite and less hazardous
means of legislation appropriate ia
their own use the proceeds of The toll
of others.
THE INCOME TAX.
Referring to the income tax plank
of the Chicago platform, Mr.. Bryan
said:
"For Il hundred years the Supreme
court of the United States has sustain
ed the principle which underlies the
income tax. Some twenty years ago,
this same court sustained without a
dissenting voice an income tax law al
most identical with the one recently
oyerthrown. Has not a future court
as much right to return to the judicial
precedents of a century as the present
court had to depart from them? When
courts allow rehearings they admit
that error is possibe; the late decision
against the income tax was rendered
by a majority of one after a re-hearing.
''While the money question over
shadows all the other questions in inn
portance, l desire it distinctly under
stood that / shall offer no apology for
the income tax plank of the Chicago
platform.
"A law which collect from some citi-
zens 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 prop
erty to another mans pocket.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
Now let me ask you to consider the
paramount question of the campaign
the money question. 1t is scarcely nee
essary to defend the principle of BIZ
metallism. No National 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 Democratic, Populist and Silver
parties-have not only declared for BIZ
metallism, but have outlined their
specific legislation necessary to retire
silver to its ancient position by the
side of gold. The Republican plat
form expressly declares that bi-metal-
lism is desirable when it pledges the
Republican party to aid in securing it
as soon as the assistance of certain
foreign nations can be obtained. Those
who represented the minority senti-
ment in the Chicago convention oppos-
ed the free coinage of silver by the Uni
ted States by independent action on
the ground that in their Judgment, it
would retard or entirely prevent the
establishment of international BIZ
metallism, to which the efforts of the
government should be readily direct
ed. When they asserted that the eff
forts of the government should be
readily directed toward the establish
ment of international bi-metallism,
they condemned monometallism. The
gold standard has been weighed in the
balance and found wanting. Take from
1T the powerful support of the money
owing and the money-changing
classes, and it cannot stand for one
day in any nation in the world. 1t
was fastened upon the United States
without discussion before the people,
and its friends have never yet been
willing to risk a verdict before the vot-
ers upon that issue.
There can be no sympathy or CO.
operation between the advocates of
universal gold standard and the advo-
Gates of bi-metallism. Between BIZ
metallism-whether Independent or
international-and the gold standard,
there is an impossible gulf. Is this
quadriennial agitation in favor of in
ternational bi-metallism conducted in
good faith or do our opponents really
desire to maintain the gold standard
permanently? Are they willing to con-
fess the superiority of a double stand
ard when joined in by the leading ma
tions of the world or do they still in
sist that gold is the only metal suita-
BILE for standard money among civiliz-
ed nations? If they are in fact desir-
GUS of securing bi-metallism, we may
expect them to admit the evils of a
gold standard and defend bi-metallism
as a system. If, on the other hand
they are bending their energies to-
ward the permanent establishment of
a gold standard undercover ofadeclara-
tion in favor of international bi-meta1- |
lism, I am justified in suggesting that
honest money cannot be expected at /
the hands of those who deal dishonest /
ly with the American people.
AN HONEST DOLLAR.
what is the test of honesty in J
1T must certainly be found /
IN fhe MIRO h aSiuQr mower of the dollar /