The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-08-22

exist under every Just form of govern
ment. Equality of talents. of education
or of wealth cannot be produced by hui
man 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 protec-
ton by law
We yield to none in our devotion to the
doctrine just e~nunciated. Our cam.
paign has not for Its object the recon
struction of society. We cannot insure
to the vicious tho fruits of a virtuous
life; we would not invade the home OF
the provident in order to supply the
wants OF the spendthrift; we do not pro-
pose to transfer the rewards of
industry to the lap of Incidence.
Property is and will remain the slim
illus to endeavor and the compensa-
lion for thrift. We believe, as asserted
In the declaration of independence, that
all men are created equal, but that
does not mean that all men are or can
be equal in possessions, in ability or
merit. 1t simply means that all shall
stand equal before the law, and that
government officials shall not, in max
ing, constructing Or enforcing law, dis
criminate between citizens. / assert
that the property rights as well as the
rights of persons are safe in the hands
of the common people. Those who dali
ly follow the Injunction, "In the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread" are
now, as they ever a been, the bull
wark of law II order, the source of our
nations greatness in time of peace and
It's surest defenders in time of war. ~
But l ave read only a part of jack
sons utterance. Let me give you his
conclusions:
but when the laws undertake to add
to those natural and just advantages
artificial distinctions-to grant titles,
gratuities and exclusive privileges;
to make the rich richer and che potent
more powerful, the humble members Of
society. the farmers, mechanics and the
day laborers, who have neither the time
nor the means of securing like favors
for themselves, la the right to COM
plain of the injustice of the govern
ment."
Those who support the Chicago pat
form indorse all the quotation from
Jacksonville latter part as we'll as the
former part. We are not surprised to
find rrayed against us those who are
the beneficiaries of government avori-
tiSm. They have read our platform,
Nor are we surprised to learn thnl we
must in this campaign face the hostll-
ity of those who find a pecuniacy ad-
vantage in advocating the doctrine of
non-interference when great a,ygroga
ton of wealth are ~trespassing upon
the rights of individuals. We welcome
such opposition. 1t Is the highest in
dorsement which could he bestowed
upon us. We are content to have the
cooperation Of those who desire to have
the government administered without
fear or favor. 1t is not the wish Of the
general public that trusts SHOULD spring
into existence and override the wcaker
members of society. 1t Is not the wish
of the general public that these trusts
should destroy competition and then
collect such tax as they will from chose
who are at their mercy. Nor is it the
fault OF the general public that the in
strumentallties Of government have
been so often prostituted to purposes OF
private gain. No government is worthy
Of the name which Is not able to pro-
tect from every arm uplifted for his in
Jury the humblest citizen who lives be-
meath the flag. 1t follows as a. necessary
conclusion 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.
com Tax Attitude.
The Chicago platform has been con-
demned by some because 1t d~issents
from an opinion rendered by the su-
preme court declaring the income tax
law unconstitutional. We expressly
recognize the binding force of that de-
cislon so long as 1T stands as a part of
the law OF the land. There is in the
platform no suggestion of an attempt to
dispute the authority of the supreme
Il pnI1rt Tho nartv 10 Sin1nIv. p1aIpa1 70
use "all the constitutional power which
remains after that decision or which
may come from its reversal by the court
as it may hereafter be constituted" Is
there any disloyalty in that pledge?
For a hundred years the supreme court
of the United States has sustained the
principle which underlies the income
tax. Twenty years G the same court
sustained without a dissenting voice
an income tax law almost 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 u majority of one after a
~rehearing.
While the money question overshad-
ows all other questions in Importance,
/ desire it distinctly understood that l
shall offer no'apology for the income tax
plank OF the Chicago platform. AT
present the expenses of the federal ov-
eminent, collected through internal rev-
enue taxes and import duties, are cspe-
cially burdensome upon the poorer
classes of society. The last income tax
4 1n,u yyifh ITO nyar1nffnn n1.NviGjnnG
when considered in connection with
other methods of taxation in force. was
not unjust to the possessors of large
incomes, because they were not COM
pe,ied TO pay a total federal tax greater
til an their share. Not only shall l re-
fuse 10 apologize for the advocacy of
an income tax law by the national con-
vention, but / shall also refuse to apol-
ogiZe for the exercise by it of the right
to dissent from a decision of the SUI
preme court. In a government like ours
every public official is a public servant,
whether he holds by election or by APP
Dointment, whether he serves for a term
of wears or during good behavior, and
the people nave a right to criticlse his
official acts.
~ The supreme Issue.
: Now, let me ask you to consider the
paramount question Of this campaign,
the money question. 1t Is scarcely nee
essary to defend the principle of bl,met-
allism. No national party during the
entire history OF the United States has
ever declared against 1t. and no party in
/ this campaign has had the temerity to
t oppose it. Three parties-the demo-
cratic. populist n silver parties-have
not only declare for bimetallism, but
have outlined the specific legislation
necessary to restore silver to its ancient
!, position by the side of gold. The repub
lican platform expressly declares that
bimetallism is desirable when 1t pledges
the republican party to aid in securing
it as soon as the assistance of certain
foreign nations can be obtained. Those
Tho represented the minority sentiment
: in the Chicago convention opposed the
free coinage of silver by the United
. States by Independent action on the
|, ground that in their judgment 1t would
l retard or entirely prevent the establish
+. ment of international bimetallism. to
which the efforts of the government
p cbo,,ld IVA steadily 5iractP1b Ee