The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1900-04-05

cent it, and when he accepts that propo-
sition want to lead him along and APP
ply that proposition to several questions.
Now, is there a proposition so funda.
mental that we can all agree to it?
think there is. l yet it in the declara-
ton of independence, and don't intend
to apologize for quoting from the declara.
ton OF independence; for while it ia under
cloud now in some sections | believe
the clouds will roll by. (Applause).
expect to see the day when the old docu-
ment will be as popular as it ever was,
and believe that the threshlng the re-
publican party will get because it tram
pies on that document will teach future
parties never again to trail it in the dust
(Applause.) Now, what is the funda.
mental proposition? That all men are
created equal. 1t is either true or false.
Ii it is false, then there is no foundation
upon which you can build free govern
ment. If it is true it ought to be ap.
piled to every question that comes be-
fore the people. | don't mean to say
that all men are created equal in physi.
cal strength don't mean to say they
are created equal in mental ability nor in
moral worth neither can they be equal
in this worlds goods so long as proper
ty acquired is not the reward of
diligence, energy and perseverance.
What mean to say is that the govern
ment must not exaggerate the difference
which 1t finds; that the government
must not tax some for the benefit OF
others; must not praise some nor show
favors to others. That whenever the
government comes in contact with a citi-
zen, whenever q citizen touches the gov
eminent, there all must stand equal be.
fore the law, and the government must
know neither high nor low, rich nor
poor, great or small that is what we
mean when we say that all men are free
and equal. NY friends, the man who
disputes that doctrine must build Ills
government upon the doctrine of favor
itism and favoritism is the most danger
GUS thing that can attack government
If the government should spread the
germs OF smallpox through commu-
nifty the evil would be limited because
everybody would try to get out of the
way of the distribution; but when the
government starts on a career of favor
itism then everybody wants to get in the
way of the disease and catch it and get
his share; and fayoritism spreads until
the whole purposes of government are
destroyed and the instrumentalties Of
government are turned to private gain
and pubic pIunder. If yon take these
two propositions-first, that the govern.
ment should not by any act OF legisla-
tlon enable one man to injure another;
and second, should not permit any man
to injure another-if the government
will follow these Two propositions it will
be an unmixed blessing. but the trouble
is that there there is continual contest
49, e'S NNA Poy u ohdotbC thA SdltT.
The tax eater is there, the tax eater is at
home; and the more the tax eater STAYS
about the capital the more the tax payer
has to stay at home to make enough
money to pay the taxes that the tax eater
places upon him. You compare the tax
system and you will find that today the
poor man in this country pays more than
his share OF the taxes and the rich man
pays less. The nearest approach we
have to justice in taxation is our local
taxes collected in proportion To the prop
erty-that is, we try to collect it in pro-
portion to the property; but as matter
of fact, instead OF collecting the taxes to
support the local government in proper
ton to q mans property, we collect in
proportion to q mans visible property
that is, if mans property is visible he
pays taxes on it. but If it is invisible it
too often escapes. Now the farmer has
visible property; he has land, the assess.
or can find it: he has cattle, the assessor