The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-08-27
WESTERN NEWsPAP Err UNION REPOkTl

United States has sustained the plih-
ciple which underlies the income TAX.
Some twenty years ago this same court
sustained without a dissenting voice,
an income-taX law almost luentlcai
with the one recently overthrow; has
not future court as mucn rlSnl u
return to the judicial precedents OF
century as the present court had %
depart from them? When courts aHo"
rehearinss they admit that error Is
possible: the late decision against tue
income tax was given by majority
of one after a rehearing.
The last ncome-tax law sought ID
aDDovttcn the burdens OF government
more euuitably among those VINO en-
ioy the protection OF the government.
At present the expenses of the federal
government, collected through Internal
revenue taxes and import duties, are
especially burdensome upon the poor
classes of society. The income-tax law,
with it's exemption provisions, was not
unjust to the possessors OF large IN
comes because they were not COM
PEELED to pay total federal tax greater
than their share.
"Now, let me ask you to consider the
paramount question Of this campaign
the money question. 1t is scarcely
necessary to defend the principle of BIZ
metallism. No Rational 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. The republican
platform expressly declares that bl-
metallism 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. The
gold standard has been weighed In the
balance and found wanting. Take from
it the powerful support Of the money
owning and the money-changlns
/ classes and it cannot stand for one Gay
in any nation in the world. 1t was las
tened upon the United States without
discussion before the people, and its
friends have never yet been willing tc
risk a verdict before the voters upon
that issue.
Test Of Honesty In Money.
what is the test OF honesty "
money? It must certainly be found II
the purchasing power Of the dollar. \
dollar which increases in purchasing
power is just as dishonest as a dollar
which decreases in purchasing power
Il cannot be successfully claimed tina
monometallism or bimetallism, or an,
other system, gives an absolutely JUS
standard of value. Bimetallism is bet
ter than rionometallism, not because I
gives us perfect dollar-that is, dol
lar absolutely unvarying in it's genera
purchasing power-but because l
makes a nearer approach to stability
to honesty, to justice, than a gol
standard possibly can. Any Legislation
which lessons the worlds stock o
standard money increases the ez
changeable value Of the dollar; Their
fore the crusade against silver must IN
eyitabIy raise the purchasing power
money and lower the money value {
all other forms Of property.
Opponents Admit the Error.
"Our opponents sometimes ADM
that it was a mistake to demonetiz
, silver, but incist that we should sui
nit to present conditions rather tina
return to the bimetallic system. The
; err in supposing that we have reache
, the end of the evil results Of gol
standard; we have not reached the en'
, The injury is continuing one. III
same influences which are now opera
ing to destroy silver in the Unite
States will, if successful here, be turf
= cd against other silver-using countrle
q and each new convert of the go
standard will add to the general di
/ tress.
q Farmers Opposed to Gold.
+ 1.-THE farmers are opposed to the go
standard because they have felt l
effects. Since they sell at wholesa
and buy at retail they have lost mo-
than they have gained by falling price
- and, besides this, they have found tn
u certain fixed charges have not fallf
at all. Taxes have not been percepuD
= decreased, although it requires more
II farm products now than formerly
5 secure the money with which to p'
- taxes.
n Debts have not fallen. The farm
70 who owed $1,000 is still compelled
n nay $1,000, although it may be twice
u difficult as formerly to obtain the q
1t lar with which to pay the debt. Ra
d road rates have not been reduced
'e keep pace with falling prices, and
ol sides these items there are many mo
~ wage-Earn.rs Eager for Silver.
Al "The wage-earners have been injur
~ by a gold standard. Wage-earn'
know that while gold standard raii
a. the purchasing power OF the dollar,
Is also makes 1t more difficult to obti
y possession Of the dollar; they KIN
h0 that employment Is less permane
~ loss Of work more probable and
20 employment less certain.
i' "a gold standard encourages