The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-13

ter that decision. or which may come
from its reversal by the court, as it
may hereafter be constituted Is there
any disloyaIty in that pledge? For a
hundred years the supreme court of the
United States has sustained the prin-
ciple which
UNDERLIES THE INCOME TAX.
Some twenty years ago, this same
court sustained, without dissenting
voice. an income tax almost identical
with the one recently overthrown. Has
not future court as much right to re-
turn 10 the judicial precedents of a
century, as the present court had to de-
part from them? When courts allow
rehearings, they admit that error. IS pos
sible; the late decision against the in
come tax was rendered by majority
OF one after a reilearing. While the
money question overstadows all other
questions in Importance, desire it dis
tinctly understood 1 shall offer no apol-
ogy for the income tax plank of the
Chicago platform.
'"The .ast income tax law sought 10
aSportioa the burdens of government
more equitably among those who enjoy
the protection of the government. At
present the expenses of the federal gov
eminent, collected through internal
revenue taxes and import duties, are
especially burdensome upon the poor
classes of society A law which col
lects from some citizens
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 property 90 another mans peck
ct; and while the process may be quite
satisfactory to the men who escape just
taxation, it can never be satisfactory
to those who are overburdened. Inc
last income tax law, with its exemption
provisions, considered in connection
with other methods of taxation in.
force, was not unjust to the possessors
of large incomes, because they were
not compelled to pay a total federal
tax greater than their share. The in
come tax is not new, nor is 1t hased
upon hostility to the rich. The system
is employed in several Of the most I'M
portant nations of Europe, and every
income tax law now upon the statute
books in any land, so far as l have
been able to ascertain, contains an eX-
emption clause. While the collection of
an income tax in other countries does
not make it necessary for this nation
TO adopt the system, yet 1T ought to
moderate the language of those who
denounce the income tax as an
ASSAULT UPON THE WELL-To-Do.
Not only shall refuse to apologize
for the advocacy Of an income tax law
by the national convention, but I shall
also refuse to apologize for the exercise
by it of Che right to dissent from de-
ciston of the supreme court. In gov
eminent like ours, every public official
is a public servant, whether he holds
Office by election or by appointment;
whether he serves for term of years,
or during good behavior, and the people
have right to criticize his official acts.
Confidence is everywhere the parent of
despotism; free government exists in
jealousy, and not in confidence. Those
I submit that they present a truer
conception of popular government than
that entertained by those who would
prohibit an unfavorable comment upon
q court decision. Truth wiM vindicate
itself; only error fears free speech. No
public official who conscientiously dis
charges his duty as he sees 1T will de-
sire to deny those whom he serves the
right to discuss his official conduct.
Now. let me ask you to consider
THE PARAMOUNT QUESTION.
OF this campaign-the money question.
It is scarcely necessary to defend the
principle of bimetailism. 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 Democrats, Populists and
Silver party-not only declared for BIZ
metallism, but have outlined the spe-
cific legislation necessary to restore
silver to its ancient position
BY THE SIDE OF GOLD.
The Republican platform expressly
declares that bimetallism 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 represent
the minority sentiment in the Chicago
convention opposed the free coinage of
silver by the United States by indie
NON ant action on tha ground that in
their judgment it would retard or en-
tirely prevent the establishment of in
ternational birnetallism, to which the
efforts of the government should be
steadily directed
When they asserted that the efforts
of the government should be steadily
directed towards the establishment of
internal ional bimetallism, they con-
demned recommendation. The gold
standard has been weighed in the bal
ance and found wanting. Take from
it the powerful support of the money
owning 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 dis
cussion before the people, and it's
friends have never yet been willing
to risk a verdict before the voters on
that issue. There can be no sympa-
thy or cooperation between the advo-
Gates of universal gold standard and /
the advocates Of bimetallism. Between
bime tallism, whether independent or
and the gold standard,