The Charlotte Democrat., 1896-07-30
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATE OHM.

oluded "The Kreutzer Sonata" rom the
Ill be instilled an Irresistible deSffe 70
road tho book into the minds OF multlH
tudes of people who would ntv.r nave
+bonobt of such an amusemeAtLt II IL hao
not been represented as 80 ueli gnt1uiiy
shocxing. The rampant McKnIey organs
ara nerforming similar service 1or the
Democratic platform. Party Platforms
"a rule are not particularly enticlng
hnt the lurid attractions OF the one adoP.
ted at Chicago have been described IN
such blood curdling terms as TO give 1t
the fascination of romance OF piracy.
When the honest citizen honestly ses
cures a copy of this awful manifesto OF
"reyolution" and "anarchy," and, locking
himself up in his room; prepares to feast
on horrors, what will he find? Suppose
we take up the platform in order and
see.
In the first place, the democracy reat-
firms it's allegiance to those great essen
tial principles of justice and liberty upon
which our institutions are founded, ana
which the Democratic party has ad-
vocated from Jefferson's time to our own
freedom of speech, freedom of press,
freedom OF conscience, the preservation
OF personal rights, the equality Of all citi-
servance of constitutional limitations"
That would undoubtedly be incendiary
and revolutionary in Russia. II would
insure ils authors passage to Siberia.
But in America it can be read, except
by persons of extremely sensitive d'rPo~
sitons, without qusIm.
Next the platform advocates the set
tement of the financial question by the
free coinage of sill. or, instead of by bond
Issues and the retirement of the green~
backs. This may be regarded as mis-
taken policy, but as it is one that has
been vigorously advocated by leading
men of both parties for the last twenty
wears, has been endorsed by scores of
State conventions both Democratic and
Republican, and has commanded ma jori-
ties in both Houses of Congress, it can
hardly be considered wild explosion of
Nihilism. If vote for free silver be an.
archy, then William Mckinley is at best
only q reformed Anarchist.
The disappointed citizen, still pursuing
the phantom atrocities of which the Nc
Kinley organs have warned him. then
reads: we hold that tariff duties should
be levied for purposes OF revenue, and
that taxation should be limited by the
needs of the government, honestly and
economically administered. We denounce
as disturbing to business the Republican
threat to restore the Mckinley law,
which has been twice condemned by the
people in national elections, and which,
enacted under the false plea of protection
to home industry, proved prolific breed:
or of trusts and monopoliee, enriched
tho few at the expense ofthe many, res
tricted trade and deprived the producers
ri nf To
their natural markets.
Until the money question is settled we
are opposed to any agitation for futher
changes in our tariff laws except such as
are necessary to meet the deficit in rev.
enue caused by the adverse decision of
the Supreme Court on the income tax.
Plainly there is no anarchy there. An
archists do not object to the things that
are"disturbing TO ness"-disturbing is
what they want. The chief objection
old fashioned Democrats will find to this
plank is intense conservatism. 1t OPP
poses any present change in the tariff,
except to raise more revenue. Radical
Democrats would prefer to see further |
reduction of duties.
But the elusive shudder seems at last |
to be at hand. Here is the direful Su |
preme Court and income tax plank. which |
according to the organs reeks with the
blood of slaughter order:
There would be no deficit in the reve |
nue. but for the annulment by the Sup |
RENE Court of law passed by q Demo |
cratic Congress in strict pursuance OF the |
uniform decisions of that court tor near
ly one hundred years, that &C .rt having |
sustained constitutional objections to it's |
enactment which have been overruled by |
the ablest Judges who had ever sat on |
that bench.
We declare that it is the duty of Con-
gress to use all the constitutional power
which remains of that decision, or which |
may come from its reversal by the court |
as it may hereafter be constituted,s 80 that |
the burdens of Taxation may be equally |
and impartially laid, to the end that we
map oil our proportion of the expen- |
ses of the Government.
On examination the sanguinary char.
acter of this resolution seems to evaporate |
The first part of it 10 simply the cool, un
impassioned statement Of an unquestion- |
ed historical fact. Nobody can deny
that the platforms account of the pro.
ceedings in regard to the income tax is,
literally correct. The second part, then.
must be that in which revolution turks
1b Inc D0QlLlOu III Ln0 ueCIdEhLIOu IuRL III Is
the duty of Congress to use all the consti-
tutional power that remains to it so that
the burdens of taxation may be equally
aud impartially laid? Or is it in the hint
that the Supreme Court may hereafter be
constituted" differently? Doubtless latter,
and yet we all know that the Supreme
Court always has been constituted dffer-
emily from time to time. If it had not
been constituted differently last year
from its composition at any time in the
previous century the incomo tax would
not have been annulled, at least one bond
issue would have beed spared land perhaps
Mr.. Bryan might not have been nomina-
ed ON free silver platform.
Next the platform demands the preven
ton of the importation of foreign pauper
labor denounces the profigste waste of
public money, and insists upon return
to simplicity and economy. The seacher
for dime noval sensations passes hastily
over this unpromising ground and nros