The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-05
THE ALLEGED ATTACK ON THE
SUPREME COURT.


THE ALLEGED ATTACK ON THE
SUPREME COURT.
The Governor says 1.-The attack tof
the Chica go platform) on the Supreme
Court Of course meets my severest con-
dcmnat!On.'
! am not sure TO what CLAUSE the
Governor refers. as he follows the eN-
aInpl CT most critics. of the platform
in hurting condemnation point blank
without specifying the particular lam
uas ii Is hurled nj. Some critics have
denounced the civil service plank which
begins: I'VE are opposed to life tenure
i'm the public service'-which they SEW
ed upon as an attack on the life tenure
Of judges; but When they are pointed out
the fact that the clause continues with
the proviso Except as provided III the
constitution" and can have no possible
reference to The constitutional life ten
ure of Judges, they fly TO the clause
respecting the income tax. In that
clause the platform refers to the fact
that there would be no deficit In Ihe
revenue under the clause passed by n
Democratic Congress i'll strict ursuanc
Of the uniform decisions of the Supreme
Court for n hundred years. that court
having In that decision (rccently madc)
sustained constitutional objections TO
Its enactment tthe income taxi which
hnd been previously overruled by the
a.blest judges who ever sat on the
bench, and 1t added: 1--WE declare M
1t is the duty of Congress to use all the
constitutional power which remains af-
ter that decision. or which may come
from its reversal by the court as 1t may
hereafter be constituted. so that the
burdens of taxation may he equally and
iinpartialIy laid to the end that wealth
may bear its due proportion Of the en-
penscs OF the government"
I am unable to perceive what can
merit the sererest condemnation" in
these expressions. They are toned with
moderation. They are full OF respect for
the law as enunciatcd by the Supreme
Court. They utter no threat. They
~foreshadow no revolt. They do net even
hint at resistance to its decisions.
THE VIRGINIA DEMOCRATIC PLAT
FORM OF 1893 AND 1897. STATE
AND NATIONAL ISSUES.
The Virginia Democratic platform of
1892. upon which Governor O'Fcrral
was nominated. ratified and endorsed
the last National Democratic platform
which, was that on which Mr.. Clcve-
land was nominated ut Chicago In 1892
This was urged by the Governors
supporters, and l earnestly Joined them
In their contention. It is the customary
action of Statc Conventions. followed
in that case, and followed also by tho
reCert Democratic Convention al Roam
oke. The Governor now upbraids the
Roanoke Convention for following this
customary precedent which was OBJ
served when he was nominated. His sup
p%nrtrrs. and he, too. (for / talked with
him at the convention In 1883, and con-
CURED In his view) thought that his own
should not only be made uDou
State issues, but also upon the renfIIr-
nation OF the last National Democratic
platform utterance. Yet, he now in.
sists on his interview that the Demo.
Gratis of Virginia should have made n
platform adhcring to fundamental
Democratic principles md State issues
and declares that he would have then
supported our nominees.
IuIE ROANOKE CONVENTION AND
THE GOVERNORS EPITHETS.
I had the honor OF being n member
of the Roanoke convention and the
chairman Of its Committee on Resolu.
tons. / take NY full share Of responsi.
btlity for its endorsation OF the Chicago
platform, and advise all who question
that platform to read 1t carefully, and
not to accept loose criticisms as true
indications Of its purport. The commit
tee consisted of thirty members, TWEEN
ty-nine of whom We're present. They
We're unanimous in their action I'm en-
dorsinE the platform. The convention
was very numerously attended. It was
also unanimous. Ii consisted very large
~ or the same persons who nominated
Governor O1Terrall in 1898. It consisted
altogether Of the same classes Of per-
sons who nominated him, and WAS q