The Butler weekly times., 1897-11-18
The bier of the Republic

people, nor Is IL content Will Ills
ancient functions, but it is ever
reaching out with its long arm and
wrongfully gathering more OF power
to itself.
Life tenure is the canker of mon
arcby, eating ever at the heart OF
the Republic.
Since money is the power which
moves all the springs of business
activity, it is but natural however
reprehensible, for cupidity to turn
to legislation for an unr,ghteous in
crease of wealth, already too great
for good Then stocks and bonds
AID money itself are legislatei up
aul lands and the products thereof
are le is ar-t down; debts and taxes
ar. nag e.-et, aud the means of pay
IL t.m re diminished. Surely
t T. ~ not ,be purpos ses Of the just
mn3es
Discoveries aud Inventions ought
t, inure promptly to the benefit OF
mankind.
1t is perfectly proper. however, to
secure to Inventors such exclusive
benefits from the fruits of their ge
mus as shall recompense them rec
sonably and stimulate Others to
patient fort in the great field CT
the undiscovered.
But, with the same species of
thoughtless recklessness as that
which is responsible for too many
corporations, our goveramelt con
tinue5 10 give to inventors and their
assignees monopolies for many years.
Not only this, but, generally, in.
veniions which work revolutions are
gathered in by corporations for a
mere pittsnce, and the soulless crea
ture OF legislation holds millions in
the remorseless grip of monopoly.
| The fathers never contemplated
such abuse of the taxing power,
such waste of public revenues as we
of this generation witness. Note
the elaborate scheme of indirect tax
atioa denominated "the tariff" by
means OF which taxes are gathered
according to the scale of the neces
sites of the men who pay them
whereas all just taxation must be de
termined by ability to pay. By this
device more tribute is exacted thai
the government, honestly admins
tered, requires; extravaganza is en-
couraged, extended, established
while no man really knows how mucl
7 the tariff takes from him either TO
the government or for the ''protect
ed"
More than a century ago it wa
adjudged by the supreme court o
the United States that a federal Ia
upon carriages could not be consid
l cred unconstitutional because nc
/, apportioned among the sewers
states according to population
s Some OF the judges so deciding ha
bsen members of the conventio
r which framed the constitution. An
their exposition in the carriage cas-
= OF that great stlnstrument was respec
ed as authoritative and controllin.
until by vote of five to four a g,
e preme court of different men null
e fed the income tax provision Of tt
b Wilson tariff act of 1894
D Had not notable change in vo
Il ing happened to one OF the hVe
. would yet be safe from the judici
f revolution wherein wealth won az
e poverty lost. We may believe th'
', the founders of our government d
8 not dream of such things. Tht
d had in mind the sublime philcsopt
that all men are created equal.
i By their injunctions and receive
, aud constructive contempts the'
n federal courts have become the ma
II ayers of many of the mightiest CO
; poratlons in the land. and exerci
g more arbitrary power than all Il
3 Caesars ever dreamed of. Grim
It new and strange originate in the di
d ordered digestion of his honor, az
Ie for some fanciful contempt" I'll