Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-14
The Other issues.
Seattle post-IntelligeneerD


While the coinage question necessarily
overshadows all other issues in the pres
ent campaign, ii must not be forgotten
that there are others prescribed by the
Chicago platform One is contained in
the threat to reorganiZe the supreme court
SO that a majority can he created which
will hold that the income tax Is con-
stitutional method by which the Federal
government can raise revenue This de-
mand for an income tax, and assault on
the supreme court for its decision ON the
question shows how far the Populist
wing OF the Democratic party has drifted
away from the teachings of the founders
of the party and how little merit there
is in it's boast that it Is reverting to the
principles OF jefferson and jackson.
The fundamental principle of the party
as it was in the days of Jefferson and
Jackson was that in the Interpretation
of the constitution ali doubts should be
resolved in favor of the reserved rights
of the states and against She granted
powers of the general government
In framing the constitution great care
was exercised to keep the sources of rev
enue for the Federal government distinct
from those for the state governments.
Thus in section s. article l. the Congress
is given power to collect taxes, duties.
imposts and eXcises.' but in section 9 it
is provided that no capitaton or other
direct tax shall be laid unless in proper
ton to the census" In article 10 ii is
likewise provided that no state shall
without the consent of Congress. lay any
impostS or duties on imports or exports.
NOW. uilutf the Democratic theory u!
the Interpretation of the constitution, as
held during the time of jefferson and
jackson, these provisions would forbid
Congress from leVying any income tax
for the reason that this would be seiZing
on Il source of revenue, which the consti-
tuition contemplated should remain eXclu-
siVely TO the states Any Democratic
statesman OF the era before the war
would unquestionahly have looked upon
the decision OF the supreme court. which
the Chicago platform now attacks. as
being decidedly in line With the Demo
cratic theory of Interpretation of the
constitution.
The Democratic and Porulist parties
each now profess 10 be extremely desir-
Gus for rehabilitation of the income
tax. If they are honest III their belief
| that the income tax is Il legitimate WAY
to raise revenue. there is nothing in the
| Federal constitution which forbids any
| state from leVNing an income tax upon
| its inhabitants. The direct taxation
| levied by the state, county and municipal
governments is always felt by the iudi-
| Vidual taxpayer as a more SrieNous bur
| den than the indirect taxes levied by the
national government. If the PopuliStS
| and Democrats favor an income tax. why
| do they not impose such a TAX in the
many states where they have full control
| of the Legislative power. and thus relieve
| the poorer classes at home of some of
| the burdens OF taxation? This remedy
| if remedy it is. is open to them, and their
| threatened revolutionary method of sub
Nerting the supreme court is entirely un-
necessary to accomplish the object