Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-01-01
HOW THE IDEA OF EQUALITY is VIOLATED.

HOW THE IDEA OF EQUALITY is VIOLATED,
Now, you would be astonished, IL
you have not given the subject thought,
to find out In how many ways govern
ment can violate that idea of equality.
If you ask me what is the cause Of dis
content, | will tell you that the cause of
more discomfort than any other thing is
favoritism In government, less under our
form OF government than under other
forms, but favOrltlsm is the chief u
OF discomfort under our form of govern
ment; and discomfort ends in despair
when persons who complain believe that
remedy Is an impossibility. When we
talk about equality before the law there
are some who attempt to make it appear
that this means transferring to the indo.
lent the rewards earned by those who
toll. But that Is not the meaning OF it.
jackson will explain that every Just
form of government will protect each
Individual In the enjoyment of the fruits
of his toll, of superior industry, intelli-
gence and ability. But here, my friends.
is the peculiar thing. Why Is it that
persons of ability are not content with
their natural advantage? Why Is it that
those of ability seek through the instru-
mentality of government to add to their
SO hNt6C a. NANC 04BNhCC VI llIOSt less
able than themselves? Why Is it that
those with fortunes would seek through
legislation to add to their fortunes by
burdening those with less fortunes than
themselves? And yet, Jackson, IN that
same connectiOn-becauSe that one pas
sage is full of wisdom-says that when
ever government steps aside from Its
duty, from the straight line of protecting
all alike, then the weaker members of
society have a right to complain, because
they are unable to secure those advan-
tages which are secured by the stronger
and more powerful when government
enters upon special class legislation.
(Applause.) Now, my friends, [ want
to impress this upon your minds. and |
want you to think of it as you 90 to
your homes, and if you in times past
have been disposed to favor any legisla.
ton, or any executive action, or any
judicial conduct which gave you an adj
vantage over some one else, | want to
ask you by what authority. by what
course of reasoning, you can Justify the
position.
LET me apply this idea of equality in
two or three ways. Let me apply it to
the subject of taxation. Taxation we
have always with us. Government must
bN polA lOls ~ must Ot paul lOI Nv
those who enjoy it. or who ought to.
Did you ever think of what injustice IN
taxation means? 1t is nothing but an
indirect form of larceny. Injustice in
taxation is nothing but an indirect form
of transferring one mans property to
another mans pocket. Let me illustrate.
Suppose a man pays So taxes when he
ought to pay $40, and another man paws
$40 when he ought to pay only So.
What is the result? The result is simply
that So is transferred from one mans
pocket to another That Is the operation
of law, and | make that illustration and
you can apply it. If instead of paying
twice what he ought to pay, the nan
pays, one a little more and the other a
little less, the man is injured to that ex-
tent. All unjust taxation is merely tn
taking of one mans money and putting
it into another mans pocket. All unjust
taxation simply means that the govern
men has taken a certain man whom
1t favOrs and for his benefit laid
an unjust burden upon a man whom it