Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-02-18

1t seems, however, that a different
rule obtains when Wall Street is
reached. 1t appears that up to this
time no attempt hitherto has been
made to compel obedience
to the law In that favored
resort; and pow when some freak
officer takes into his head the strange
notion that law can be there en-
forced, the "upholders of the honor
of the government "shlver," and In
the intervals between rlgors declare
with one accord that they will not obey
it, and that the courts will assist them
in resisting and defying it.
1t but exemplifies what we have
had occasion often to say,-that the
interests represented in the foregoing
statement are not law-abiding when
ever the law interferes with their
predatory instincts and appetites.
They are constantly demanding and
receiving the protection and interfer-
ence of the government on their own
behalf, and yet refuse to bear any
thing like their equitable and just
share of its burdens. At the same
time they are claiming to have
monopoly of law-abidingness and are
quick to denounoe and abuse those
who differ with them on any political
or economical question as anarchists.
A few years ago Congress passed
law providing for very moderate
income tax. Experience in the best
regulated governments abroad had, it
was claimed, proved this form of tax
alton to be equitable, in that it was
imposed OH the surplus Of fortunes,
rather than on the necessities of life;
that 1t was the most economical and
honest of collection, because it was
direct and passed through fewest
hands. These people, who then as
now assumed that they were the only
ones who respected law and reverenced
courts, and who were without end
lecturing others as breakers and
anarchists, made it at once plain that
| they intended to obey the law Just as
long as obedience suited their pur-
| poses not moment longer. They
did then just what Mr.. Keppler pro-
poses to do now,-bring the matter
| Into the courts at once" And when
they had thus succeeded, by ways
which have never yet satisfied the
conscience of the people, in emascu-
lating tho law, and when later a politi-
cal party declared it's advocacy of a
like law which should nevertheless be
free from the infirmlty which the
court professed to find in the former
one, all of its six and n half millions
of voters were branded as anarchists,
In the most abusive and incorporate
way. And now,-years afterwards,
when we have n law which they have
detied for almost four years, and an
attempt is made to enforce it, these
people "shiver." Do they "shiver"
when some falthless bank cashier.
who has been following their methods
until he is fleeced, hears the peniten-
tiary doors close ON him? Do they
'shiver' when some man more unfor-
tunate still In pursuing their calling,
Is bundled off to the almshouse. or
ends his career by suicide, and the
verdict Is lost his fortune in mar
ginsi"
And yet these "shiverlng' people
are the ones who dominate our policv
In government and shape our economic
and Industrial legislation. Not n law
OF Importance is passed on these sub
jects without their consent. But when
thoy are asked to obey u very simple
law, they want to present statements
and arguments" say that It will "drlve
away business" and wind I'D by
threatening to go into those harbors of
refuge against shoulderng their share
of the public burdens,-thc courts.
Another thing,-very strange too, is
revealed by this ''shlyerng" fit. These
people who are the subject of the
''rlgor' fought a campaign few years
ago In which they champloned GER
tain financial policy for the govern
ment. They won, and ever since then
they have had their own way in franz
Ing legislation to the same end. They
have assured the world, II thousand
times over, that owing to their eff
forts, the country was not only safe
from the revolutionary plots OF folks
who were anarchists Is, defers
of law,-but was fixed on a financial
foundation as firm as the everlasting
hills. Wen, see what happens! The
I..sIa A..