Year: 1878

Convention, Mr.. L. B. Andrews,
the Republican nominee for the
Council District, is the only
candidate who has publicly an
nounccd any platform of princi-
pies or policy. With us, all con-
siderations of party, social posi-
ton or legal qualifications are
subordinate to principles. With
model constitution furnished
by each Of the thirty-eight
States of the Union, many Of
which have undergone many
revisiOns under the direction of
some of the ablest statesmen of
the country, any man Of ordina-
ry common sense and discrimi-
mating judgment could compile
a constitution which would meet
the common requirements of a
basis of government. Either
this is true, or the great mass of
the people are incapable Of self
government. Whatever form of
constitution may be agreed upon
in convention must be submitted
to popular vote for approval Or
disapproval, IN which the illit-
crate and the learned have an
equal voice. We do not, there
fore, care so much for what
candidate knows, or what he is.
as to what principles will gov
ern his action. What we want
is constitution which will not
only recognize but protect all
alike in the enjoyment Of equal
and the largest liberty consistent
with good order and the promo
tion of social progress. We want
the rights Of person and prop
erty clearly defined, SO that
neither communism nor monopo-
ly shall dominate the govern
ment; that the accumulat1ons of
enterprise and thrift shall be
secured against mob comhira-
tions, rs well as that no special
privileges shall be conceded to
combined wealth to dominate la
Dor; that both shall have their
rights, but IN no case shall the
rights of person be subordinated
to the privileges of wealth.


With the highest consideration
for Mr.. Andrews as a citizen and
neighl or, we must entirely disa-
gree with his position upon some
of the questions he presents as
the basis of his action. The first
of these lie presents as follows:


"I am IN favor of the assess
ment and taxation of all kinds
of property alike public and pri-
vate Except such as belongs to
the State or general government
and exempt under the Constitu-
ton and laws Of the United
States) tor the support of State,
county and municipal govern
ments. The burdens Of taxation
should fall upon all alike. AS a
matter of simple justice there
should be no exception"


This, it will be observed, ap-
plies to the taxation of every
eleemosynary institution in the
land; churches, synagogues,
lyceums, literary and charitable
institutions, not owned and sup
ported exclusively by the State
or General Government. 1t is a
tax upon all volunteer public
charities and personal contribu-
tions to religious, benevolent
and social organizations, and
upon all private endowments of
educational institutions for be-
nevolent purposes. 1t would
make this State an exception to
all other enlightened govern
ments upon the earth; giving it
the bad eminence of seeking to
discourage all organizations for
religious purposes, social i'm
provements OF charitable objects,
depending for support upon the
voluntary contributions of the
people. No such proposition
was ever entertained by any
people who were not hostile to
religion and social order-the
communists Of France and Italy