The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23
BRYAN S GREAT SPEECH
Mast r Dem ocac Standard Bearer RceeRt
nc Nomination.
DEFENDS EVERY PLANK IN THE GRAND PL
Hairs Breadth From the Course Makes
Convention Covers Every Phase ofs
Questions Are Asitatns he Puhtie mlns.

sons utterance-let me give YOU his
conclusion: But when the laws under
take to add to those natural ard just
advantages artificial distinctions to
grant titles, gratuities and exclusive
priyileges-to make the rich richer
| and the potent more powerful-the
humble members of society-the farm
ers, mechanics and the day laborers-
who have neither the time nor the
means of securing like favors for them
selves, have a right to complain of the
injustice of their government Those
who support the Chicago platform en-
dorse all of the quotation from Jack
son-the latter part as well az the
former part.
| CLASSES AGAINST THE MASSES.
I'VE are not surprised to find array
ed against us those who are the bene-
| ficiaries OF government favoritism-
they have read our platform. Nor are
| we surprised to learn that we must
| in this campaign, face the hostility OF
those who find a pecuniary advantage
in advocating the doctrine OF non-in-
reference when great agregations of
wealth are trespassing upon the rights
of individuals. We welcome such OPP
position-it is the highest endorse
ment which could be bestowed upon us
/ We are content to have the co-opera-
| ton of those who desire to have the
government administered without fear
or favor. 1t is not the wish of the gen
! eral 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 pro.tituted to pur-
poses of private gain. Those who
stand upon the Chicago platform be-
| lieve that the government is not only
to avoid wrong-doing, but that il
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
highwayman who robs the unsuspect-
ing traveller, but they include among
the transgressors those who, through
the more polite and less hazardous
means of legislation, appropriate to
their own use the proceeds OF the toll
of others
The commandment Thou shalt not
steal" Numbered from Sinai and reit-
Grated in the legislation OF all nations.
is no respecter of persons. It must be
applied to the great as well as the
| small; 70 the strong "a we'll as the
| weak; to the corporate person created
by law as well as to the person OF flesh
and blood created by the Almighty.
No government is worthy of the name
which is not able to protect frsm ev-
cry arm uplifted for his injury the
hum Iest citizen who lives beneath the
flag 1t follows as a necessary conclu-
sion that vicious legislation must be
remedied by the people who suffer
from the effects OF such legislation,
and not by those who enjoy its benefits.
THE INCOME TAX.
"The Chicago platform has been con
demned by some because it dissentS
from an opinion rendered by the SUI
prene Court declaring the income TAX
law unconstitutional. Our critics even
go SO far as to apply the name OF Anar-
chEst TO those who stand upon that
plank Of the platform. 1t must be re-
4 nembered that we expressly recognize
the binding force Of that decision 20
long az it stands rs a part Of the law
of the land There is in the platform
! no suggestion Of an attempt to dispute
! fna authority Of the Supreme Court.
!, This .arty Is Simply t2 use III the eqa-
stitutional power which remains after
chat decision, or which may come ITom
/, ita reversal by the court as it may
hereafter he constituted" IL there
any disloyal!y in that pledge?
ssFor a 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
overthrow. 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 possible; the late decision
against the income tax was rendered
!, by a majority of one after d re-hearing.
"While the money question over
shadows all the other questions in i'm
portance, / desire it distinctly under
, stood that / shall offer no apology for
the income tax plank OF the Chicago
t platform.
/ "a law which collects from some citi-
zens more than their share OF the taxes
| and collects from other citizens less
f than their share. is simply an Indirect
1 means OF transferring one mans prop
$ erty to another mans pocket,
! and while che process may be quite
G satisfactory to the men who se2Ape the
9 just taxation, 1T will never be satisfac-
. tory TO those who are oYerburs1enrd.
k The last income tax law, with it- cx-
= emption provisions, when constdered
d in connection with other methods OF
taxation In fnr1,e WA rot AriuAt ~