The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-18
THE FUTURE OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
A Discussion of Moral Issues in PEN
ding Questions Before the
American People.
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN IN THE OUTDOOR

in the presentation of the moral
phases of public questions is the
strength of the Democratic position to-
day. Every great political question
economic question is at foundation a
moral question. The line between
right and wrong runs through every
problem Of government, and the
final decision of the problem is along
this line. No proposition is better
supported by history than that "righ-
teousness exalteth' nation" and it
is as true of a party as it is of ma
ton. In fact. no one can form an ac-
curate judgment upon the individual
man or upon groups of men who does
not accept as his major premise that
truth rests upon Justice, and is omnip-
otent. Just in so far as an individual
follows this doctrine he succeeds;
there is no other true measure of sue
cess. IN proportion as he departs
from this doctrine he fails. If for a
time he seems to prosper, his pros
perity is only apparent, for no
amount of wealth or honor can com
pensate for the doing of an injustice,
and history deals with. men, with par
ties, ana with nations, according t.
one inexorabIe law-"The wages of
sin is death"
If I were going to coin a new prov.
erb to fit this case. it would run like
this: Envy not the prosperity of the
evil doer. II cannot last" AS well en-
Wy the success Of the horse-thief after
he has come into possession of d stolen
horse, and before the transgressor is
overtaken by the officers Of the law,
as TO envy man. party, or nation
after temporary triumph, and be-
fore immutable law has had time to
operate.
When injustice is done by a large
group or by indirection, il is more dic-
ficult to trace the responsibility and
punishment may be more slow, but the
penalty is no less sure The man who
transgresses the laws of nature may
escape punishment for year or for
decade. but the relation between
cause and effect however extended. is
not broken. In the case of a nation
century may elapse between the
sowing of the wind and the reaping
of the whirlwind, but the one follows
the other.
Justice and Taxation.
The problems which confront the
nation today involve moral questions
and the welfaer of the nation depends
upon their just solution. The subject
of taxation is an ever present one
Many opinions may be expressed as to
the amount of taxes TO be raised and
as to the manner and proportion in
which they shah be collected. but no
one will dispute the proposition that
unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa
ton, nor will any one attempt to de-
fend a distribution OF taxes when that
distribution is confessedIy unjust The
only questions. then, open for consid-
GRAFTON are How much taxation is ne
gelpHrf
nearest approach Justice?
The Republican party is more in
clned to extravaganza i'm appropria-
tiOns than the Democratic party. and
two reasons may be suggested for this
First, the Republican party contains
more rich men than the Democratic
party, and as the rich spend money
more freely than the poor, they natu-
rally do not hold their public servants
TO as strict an accountability as the
Democrats do. In the second place
the Republicans for a generation
taught the heresy that tariff taxation
conferS a benefit upon the country in
addition 10 the revenue that it brings.
When a man is thoroughly imbued
with the idea that a tax is a blessing,
he is apt, when in office, to enlarge the
blessing, especially if he belongs to
the class known as the "tax-eating''
class rather than to the tax-paying
class.
The Federal revenues today are de.
rived almost entirely from taxes upon
consumption, and such taxes always
bear heaviest upon the poor and light
est upon the rich. Under taxes on
consumption men contribute, not in
proportion to property or income, but
in proportion to what they eat, drink.
wear, and use. In other words, taxes
on consumption are taxes upon our
needs, and mems needs being created
by the Almighty, are much more near
~ equal than their possessions. Tariff
taxes are being collected Indirectly the
amount of the tax is concealed. A less
amount of injustice done under direct
taxation would arouse much more re-
sentiment and resistance than q much
larger injustice done through indirect
taxation. 1t would be a reflection
upon the patriotism of the people to
say that they would not under direct
taxation contribute willingly a suf-
ficient amount TO support the govern
ment
If tariff reform and an income tax
are steps toward justice in taxation,
as / believe they are, the Democratic
party ought boldly 10 advocate them
and take advantage Of the growth In
the sentiment which must ultimately
support these reforms.
The immortality Of Trusts.
The trust question involves a moral
principle. Viewed from q moral stand
point. what difference is there between
the trust magnate who sandbags his
victims upon the industrial highways
and the masked robher who with
more risk. practices larceny upon the
side street and the country road? The
private monopoly has always been an
outlaw. The Democratic National
platform has twice declared. n pri-
vate monopoly is indcfensible and in
tolerabie" III cannot be defended BY
any argument based upon history of
human nature. and its exactions viii
not long be willingly tolerated by any
people who believe i'm equal rights and
equal opportunities.
OF course opposition to the trusts
Continued from Page Two)