The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-13

sent. not only mediate an attack upon
the rights OF property, but are the foes
both OF social order and national honor
Those who stand upon the Chicago
PLATFORM are prepared 10 make known,
and TO defend, every motive which In.
nuences them, every purpose which
animates them, and every hope which
inspires them. They understand the
genius OF our institutions-they are
staunch supporters Of the form OF gov
ernment under which we live, and they
build their faith upon foundations laid
by the fathers. Andrew Jackson has
stated, with admirable clearness, and
with an emphasis which cannot be sur
passed, both the duty and the sphere OF
government. He said: Distinctions In
society will always exist under every
Just government. Equality of talents. OF
education. or OF wealth cannot be pro.
drced by human institutions. In the
full enjoyment OF the gifts OF heaven
and the fruits OF superior industry
economy and virtue. every man Is equally
entitled TO protection by law"
We yield to none In our devotion to the
doctrine just enunciated our campaign
has not for its object the reconstruction
OF society,We cannot insure TO the vicious
the fruits OF n virtuous life; we would
not invade the home of the provident In
order TO supply the wants OF the sup
posed thrift; we do not propose To trans
fer the rewards OF industry 10 the lap OF
Incidence. Property is and will remain
the stimulus TO endeavor and the COM
pensation for II. We believe what is as
serted in the Declaration OF Indepen-
dence, that all men are created equal;
but that does not mean that all men are,
or can be equal In possessions. In ability,
or in merit; II simply means that all
shall stand equal before the law, and that
government officials shall not, in maxi
ing, constructing or enforcing the law,
discriminate between citizens.
j assert that property rights as we'll
as the rights of persons, are safe in the
hands OF the common people. Abraham
Lincoln, in his message sent TO congress
in December, 1861, said: "No men liv-
ing are more worthy to be trusted than
those who toll up from poverty; none
less inclined to take or touch aught
which they have not honestly earned"
1 repeat his language with unqualified
approval. and join with him in the
warning which he added, namely: Let
them beware OF surrendering a political
power which they already possess. and
which power, IL surrendered, will surely
be used TO close the doors OF advance
ment against such as they, and TO fix
new disabilities and burdens upon them,
till all OF liberty shall be lost" Those
who daily follow the injunction. "In the
sweat Of thy face shalt thou eat bread"
are now, as they ever have been, the
bulwark OF law and order-the source
of our nations greatness in time OF
peace, and its surest defenders In tlma
of war.
But have only read a part OF Jack
sons utterance-let me give you his con-
clusion: But when the laws under
take TO add 10 those natural and just
advantages artificial distinctions-to
grant titles, gratuities and exclusive
privileges-to make the rich richer and
the potent more powerful-the humble
members OF society-the farmers, me-
chanics and the day laborers-who have
neither the time nor the means OF Sc
curing like favofs for themselves, have
a right to complain of the injustice Of
their government" Those who sup
port the Chicago platform endorse all OF
the quotation from Jacksonville latter
part, as well as the former part.
Opposition as an Endorsement.
We are not surprised to find arrayed
against us those who are the benefici-
ariss 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 ad-
vocating the doctrine of non-interfer-
ence when great aggregations of wealth
are trespassing on the rights of indi-
viduals We welcome such opposition
IL is the highest endorsement which
could be bestowed upon us. We are con-
tent to have the cooperation of those
who desire to have the government ad-
ministered without fear or favor II is
not the wish OF the general puDnc that
trusts should spring into existence and
override the weaker members of society;
IL is not the wish of the general public
that these trusts should destroy com
petition and then collect such tax as
they will from those who are at their
mercy; nor is IL the fault Of the general
public that the instrumentalities of
government have been so often prosti-
tuted to purposes OF private gain. Those
who stand upon the Chicago platform
believe that the government should not
only avoid wrongdoing, but that II
should also prevent wrongdoing; and
they believe that the law should be en-
forced 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 highway
man, who robs the unsuspecting
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" thundered from Sinai and reit-
Grated In the legislation of all nations.
Is no respecter Of persons. No govern
ment is worthy OF the name which IL
not able to protect from every arm up
lifted for HIS injury the humblest clti-
zen who lives beneath the flag. 1t fol-
lows as a necessary conclusion that vi
cious legislation must be remedied by the
people who suffer from the effects of
such legislation, and not by those who
enjoy its benefits.
Right To Dissent.
The Chicago platform has been con-
demned by some, because II dissents
from an opinion rendered by the su-
preme court. declaring the income tax
law unconstitutional. Our critics even
go so far as 60 apply the name anarchist
20 those who stand upon that plank of
the platform. IL must be remembered
that we expressly recognize the bindinn
force OF that decision so long as II stands
az part OF the law of the land. There
Is I'm the platform no suggestion of an
attempt 20 dispute the authority OF tho
supreme couN. The party Is simply
pledged 90 use "all the constitutional
power which remains after that decision,
or which may come from it's reversal by