The advocate., 1897-02-24
BRYAN IN TOPEKA.
(Conttnued from paQe I'D


legislation is desired by those who are
already pUsSesSed Of advantages over
their fellows, which advantage they seek
TO make greater. In this same message
jackson said that, while il was the duty
OF government to protect all citizens In
the enjoyment OF life and property, that
when the government stepped in to OK
Rggerate the inequalities which it found
to make the rich richer and the potent
more powerful, that then the humber
members OF society who have no oppOr-
tunity Of securing like fGvOrs for them
selves have o right to complain Of the
injustice Of their government. =
"Whenever any act Of Legislation is
proposed. there is one Rll-important
question TO consider: Is that oct OF leg
islRtion intended to help some man at the
expense Of some other man? The great
trouble in Legislative bodies, whether the
legislative body DO q City Council,
County Board, State Legislature or the
National Congress, ig that the few peo-
pie are always present with their de-
mRnds, while the many are at home and
are never heard OF except on election
day. The great struggle that goes on Is
between the few who want special pFivi-
leges and advantages, and are there ever
present, and the great mass Of the people
who simply want just government but
who suffer 30 little by each particular act
Of iniquity that they cannot 60 down to
the Capitol every day and protest against
whM& ia hoinO dnnA
"The subject Of taxation we always
have with US. No matter what your leg
islative body, it always has to deal with
the subject OF taxation. Now, Is there
any just rule for levying taxesS | think
can propose one that you will all admit
to be Just, and that 10 that every citizen
should pay taxes for the support OF his
government in proportion to the advan-
tage which he receives from that govern
ment; thaG each citizen ought to pay in
proportion TO the protection which he
enjoys. No one will say that taxes ought
to be assessed per capita; no one will in
sist that man who is worth O million
should pay the same amount OF taxes as
the man who is worth q hundred or q
thousand dollars. Everybody admits
that taxation should be in proportion 10
the protection which the citizen enjoys.
Lf that be true, then the only question is
TO find some system OF taxation which
will be exactly just in it's operations, and
since it is impossible for human beings
to reach perfection in anything, we meas.
ure and compare different systems for
the purpose Of accepting that one which,
though not absolutely perfect, comes
nearest to perfection, which means near
est to absolute justice. y y
Everybody will admit the abstract
proposition that taxing laws should be
Just and uniform in their operation, but
the trouble is, when you come to apply
the law, each fellow is apt to want that
system Of taxation which puts the bur
den on somebody else and lets him out.
Il Yet, my friends, l want you to
understand that man who knowingly
supports an unjust system OF taxation is
simply supporting system OF larceny,
because, IL it is intentional, it has all the
moral elements Of larceny. Remember
that it is the thing itself, and not the
manner in which it is done, that deter
mines the moral character OF an act. y y
Legislative larceny is more polite, az
we'll 40 less dangerous, than highway
robbery, but it has the same moral ele-
ments that highway robbery has,"
Then Mr.. Bryan made an extended
reference to corporations and trusts,
which will be- given in full next week.
SNOW, my friends, | want to suggest
another thing: | remember with o great
deal Of satisfaction my connection with
q Legislative body, and have as high an
opinion OF Legislature as anyone can
have.
"I believe that our legislators Of the
j A