The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-18

Neck New5'
That great author and nnlsher OF
democratic faith. yclcpt the Richmond
Time claims 10 have discovered
That Senator James *. Jones, OF AT
kansas. Is not q Democrat but fopu-
list and then proceeds 10 outline a Demo-
crat as follows; ,,.
"The Democrat Is one who believes
in the absolute equality Of an men before
the law. lie thinks each and every cil-
zen should have absolute freedom 20 use
all the talents and energies that ne mas
in such way as his own mind suggests
10 acquire aud accumulate all the pro-
porty that he can, and, when he has made
aoos,mulatioas that all the physical pow
or OF society shall be used 20 protect nm
.in the uninterrupted possession and en-
1oyment OF his property
So far. so good, but the Times shouid
have added that a Democrat believes that
all legislation should be framed In mo
interest Of the people at large ana not
in tho interest of moneyed aristociacy
at the expense OF Che people at large
THAT while n rich man should be pro-
tected in his property rights that pro-
pertv should bear It's fair and just pro-
portion Of tho burdens Of taxation, and
that that proportion should be ascer-
tanned by an inspection of and ascer-
tainmcnt Of tho incomes ho derives from
that property. whether It be IN the
shape of visible reality end personality
or In stocks, bonds and securities. 10y
all means, let man acquire all the
long green" he can handle. but Jet
him do Il on his own hook and by no eX-
traneous aids Of legislation. Under our
Constitution legislation was INTENDED 20
be like salvation, FOR the benefit Of all
and not for the benefit of some. Don't
turn our Congress into Jewish Sanhe-
drin. making laws Tor the benefit of
Scribos ana pharisecs only. as 1t did do
I'm 1873 and continues 20 do to-day under
the tutelago of Wall street. The News
thinks that IS "a part Of the Democratic
faith TOO and existing conditions only
prove as Thomas Darlington Macaulay
remarked sixty-six years ago, that while
sometimes a country was well governed
under a bad constitution or no consu-
tuition at all. 81 was possible for IL TO
DO very badly governed under the best
constitution in the world.
Tho News IS evidently a little mixed.
Its chief complaint s. that 1t cannot get
national income tax dhere il a state
income taN)). and 81 complains OF the
laws that they enable the rich men TO
enjoy their incomes without paying
United States taxes ON them. But this is
not the fault OF any existing law. Rich
men do not secure immunity from taxa
ton through the operation Of any law.
They secure IL because there IS no law
20 deprive them OF A. The News has no
right. therefore 20 complain OF existing
legislation because rich men pay no in
come taxes. 1t IS for want of legislation
that they pay none.
Eut this IS all beside tho purpose and
no better than chop-logic The News is
really complaining OF our institutions be-
cause we have no law 60 make rich men
pay an income taS. Now there is no
difference between The Times and the
News upon that point. The Times is per-
fectly ready 20 have an income tax IL Il
IS made TO apply In the same way TO all
men. But The Times VIII never consent
10 have one man Pay a tax and another
man exempted from payment OF IL. The
income tax law that the Democratic party
passed imposed an income tax upon a
man whose Income was 5000 or
above that sum, and II imposed no in
come tax upon tho man whose income
was $3.50. We say this IS inequality
and rank injustice. and The Times will
never give its assent to any such meas
ure. OF course. the purpose OF this
measure was TO impose the income tax
upon the wealthy alone and that was
class legislation making some bear bur-
dens that others were freed from. The
very cornerstone Of republic is the
proposition that the laws shall bear in
the came way upon all. ana. II that prin-
oiple IS departed from IN tho smallest
degree. the door IS opened for favoritkm
privileges. and inequality in the laws
and no snste WAL long uphold itself that
admits such principle as rule for its
action.