Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-27

to conclusion in which you have for the
moment lost sight of intervening considera-
tions.
For what is it that propose? Simply
to abolish all taxation save upon land val
ues. And what is this but the carrying
out to their fullest extent of many of the
ideas which you have SO ably advocated in
the RECORD UNION?
You are conscious, for instance, of the
enormous loss and waste, the industrial
and political generalization, which results
from our protective tariff. Surely, then,
you can see nothing dangerous in sweeping
away the entire tariff, and giving industry
the inestimable boon of absolute free trade.
You are conscious of the injury inflicted
by foolish attempts to tax capital you see
that capital is not public enemy, to be
worried and taxed out of the country, but
co-operator to be invited. Surely, then,
you can see nothing dangerous in sweeping
away all taxes on capital, and letting every
one bring here or create as much capital as
he pleases, without charging him a cent for
the privilege.
You are conscious also of the economic
folly of taxing improvements. You see
very clearly that the taxes which we levy
upon the road-bed and rolling stock, mate
rial and improvements of railroad, are
discouragements to railroad building; you
see very clearly, when it is proposed to put
up factory or other public improvement,
the amount of taxes which will have to be
annually paid on the improvement must be
estimated in the deterrent side of the &C
count. Surely, then, you will see the
great advantages of releasing all improve
ments of whatever nature from taxation.
You have ably argued the impolicy of
taxes designed to check accumulation.
Now the plan propose would abolish all
taxes upon wealth Il am using the word OF
course in its definite, economic sense), and
would leave every one free to make or to
save as he pleased, without any annoyance
from the tax-gatherer.
You are conscious of the corruption and
Generalization which our present compli-
Gated system of taxation involves. Surely
you will see the advantages on this score
which will accrue from the substitution for
all these taxes of a single tax, which
combines the maximum of certainty with
the minimum of cost.
What I propose, in short, is what, If
you think of it, must harmonic with your
views. 1t is simply to sweep away all the
taxes and duties, dues and imposts, which
now fall upon the investment of capital
and the exertion of labor, checking and
furnishing enterprise and industry, and
causing incalculable waste of productive
forces and in their stead to raise all that
is required for public purposes by single
tax which cannot raise prices, check i'm
provements or discourage industry, but
on the contrary will powerfully operate to
encourage production and improvement by
throwing open land to those who will make
the best use of it. Surely this would not
destroy, but would increase the stimulus
to exertion; it would not circumscribe,
it would vastly extend the field of enter
prise.
And my admission that there would I'LL
timately come slackening in the avldlty
with which riches are pursued, is not a
denial of these effects ; but is based upon
an idea of their incalculable magnitude.
The increase in production would be SO
enormous, the equity in distribution that
would ensue would so fairly apportion
wealth and so strongly react in the increase
of productive DOW or, that in civilized COM
munities men would cease to fear poverty
just as they have ceased to fear were
wolves or grizzly bears. And thus, | ad-
NIT, would disappear whatever incentive
to exertion now comes from the fear of
want on the one hand and the envious adj
miration of wealth on the other. We
should come to look upon the man who
slaves away his life in the endeavor to die
rich as the fool he really is, and no one
would trouble himself about leaving for
tune to his children any more than he now
troubles himself about the supply of sun
light or fresh air.
But in arguing that it could not be
spared do you not vastly overestimate the
effect of this incentive to exertion, from
the beneficial operations of which, more
over, very large deductions must be made
for the waste it causes? And do you not
greatly underestimate the strength of the
other motives which have pointed out,
and which would be called into more Wig.
orous action?
Idleness and thriftlessness and dissipa-
ton and ignorance are always the concom-
itants of poverty. 1t is not the enforced
strain of muscle, but the voluntary activity
of mind, which is the great spring of
production, the great motor of progress.
The most energetic and sustained work, the
most effective and beneficial work, is not
that which is done under the spur of neces-
sity or at the call of greed. The great in
ventions and improvements and discoveries
and constructions, like the great books,
the great poems, the great pictures and
sculptures, spring from an impulse which
is innate in man and comes out in greater
and greater strength the freer the develop
ment. Take the great railroad king, who,
though he counts his millions, works harder
than the lowest of his employees. in push