The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-07-25

that this is a democratic district This
year, as well as to exhibit the impor-
lance of nominating Judge William
Young.
---- -
THE INCOME TAX DECISION.
The republicans are trying to make
capital out of the criticism of the
supreme court by the national demo-
cratic convention. The platform says 3:
''Until the money question is settled,
we are opposed to any agitation Kpr
further changes in our tariff laws,N<
cept such as are necessary TO makeAY
the deficit in revenue caused by the
adverse decision of the supreme court
on the income tax.
tsBut for this decision by the supreme
court there would be no deficit in the
revenue under the law passed by a
democratic congress in strict pursuance
of the uniform decisions of that court
for nearly 100 years, that court having
in that decision sustained constitutional
objections 10 its enactment which had
previously beer overruled by the ablest
judges who have ever sat on that
bench. We declare that it is the duty
of congress to use all the constitutional
power, which remains after that de-
cision, or which may come from its
! reversal by the court as it may here
after be constituted, so that the bur-
dens of taxation may equally and i'm
partially lead 10 the end hat wealth
may bear its due proportion of the
expenses of the government"
If our republican friends think the
above is criticism, we will ask them
what they think of what the four dis
senting judges said about the decision.
Justice Harlan, of the supreme court,
who evidently has a right to speak,
says, referring to the decision:
ain my judgment this decision
strikes at the very foundation of
national authority, in hat it denies TO
the general government a power which
IS, or may be at some time, impera-
lively needed, in a great emergency
case of war. = = = The practical
if not direct effect of the decision today
is to give to certain kinds of property
q position of favoritism n advantage
thai is Inconsistent with the funda-
mental principles of our social organi-
cation, and to invest them with power
and influence that is perilous to that
portion of the people upon which rests
the larger part of the burdens of the
government, and who ought not to be
subjected I the domination of aggre-
gated wealth any more than the prop
erty of the country should be at the
mercy of the lawless."
Justice Brown, also a member of the
supreme court, says:
'sThe decision involves nothing less
than the surrender of the taxing power
TO the moneyed class. While L have
no doubt that congress will find some
means of surrounding h present
crisis, my fear is that in some moment
of national peril this decision will rise
up to Illustrate its will and ~paralyze its
arm. l hope it may not prove the
first step toward the submergence of
the liberties of the people in a sordid
despOtism of wealth"
We also introduce Justice White, of
the same court, and quote him:
.sThe injustice of the conclusion
points to the error of adopting it. 1t
takes the invested wealth and reads il
into the constitution as a favored and
protected class of property, whilst II
leaves the occupation of the minister,
the doctor, the professor, the lawyer,
the inventor, the author, h merchant,
and all the various forms of human
activity upon which the prosperity OF a
people must depend, subject to taxa
ton without apportionment."
Justice Jackson, also of that court,
said he ~concurred in the opinion of
Justice White, and said:
"The decision reverses the common
rule of taxation, by e%xempting those
are best able to pay, and forcing
the burden upon the shoulders of those
who are less able to pay"
In concluding, Justice Jackson said
that, in his opinion, the decision was
.sthe most disastrous blow ever struck
the constitutional power of congress-.
1t struck down an important, vital and
essential power of government. 1t left
The government, in case of necessity,
without power TO reach by taxation IN
my form the vast incomes derived from
the real and personal property of
he country"
The above four gentlemen have a
light to criticise the income tax decis-
In fact, this is a country where
freedom of speech Is guaranteed,
md where the doctrine of the ''diyine
light of kings" does not hold. The
democrats at Chicago exercised their
,rerogatIve in passing upon the merits
the income tax decision, but they
lid not make as much use of that pre-
,ooative as did the four supreme
Judges.
The first Bryan button that appeared :
n Lexington was worn on the lapel of
he coat worn by Horace Blackwell. !
Inst where he secured 1t af1iant depos-
,th not. At any rate if there is any Z
who can wear IA Bryan button with
,ecomIng dignity it is Horace Black !
veil, for no one in Lafayette county
Ind more actual work during the recent
.ampaipn between the gold and the t
,old and silver men than did he. A
hrewd politician by nature, a brilliant
hinker by Inheritance and education,
md an orator on general principles, I
Iorace, s'son of his father, >" has begun q
lis political career on the side OF the =
lie may be where Bryan Is
of these days.
It is quite evident that the chaplain =
f the state republican convention was =