The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20
SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.


The question Of free trade Va protection Il likely
10 be the leading issue IN the approaching national
campaign, and n properly presented those desiring
freedom In trade will win. Since you are opposed
10 the granting Of privileges 10 the few nj tho ox
pcnse Of the many. do you believe II Just that men
should claim ownership In land and thus enrich
themselves with an unearned increment a value
given 10 tho land by the industry Of the many ?
do you believe Il Just for the laborcr 20 be taxed
while the idlcr, holding land Ia bondage Is OK.
cinpt from taxation1 do you favor the connsca-
ton Of tho rental value Of the land irrespective Of
improyomonisl In the shape Of taxation, n value
that acorucs 10 Il due 10 the Industry and presence
OF large populationH fhEE TRADER
Our correspondents question Is a mis-
leading one. No man can successfully lay
claim TO what he does not own. No man
can hold land who does not own II by
purchase or by entry according to law, or
by gift or deed or will from some one who
did own II. "a Free Trader" has imbibed
the Henry George theory or a strong in
fusion Of II. land like houses or any OF
the kinds Of merchandise that are exposed
for Gale, Is purchasablc and salable. II
cannot be taken from those who own and
hold II by right Of purchase or inheritance
without, as every State Constitution and
National Constitution declares, due pro-
cess Of law. Whom tho city OF Memphis
wants TO open n street the land must be
condemned and appraised and the city
mus, pay Tor II, IN the county does when
II opens roadways or M railroads DO, upon
which for the public convenience the Stat,
confcn the right Of condemnation. Mr.
Georges theory is not only imprncticablc
aud impossible, but wrong and absurd.
Land has always boon purchasablc. In the
most ancient rs well rs modern history Il
Is always mentioned a. among tho riches
of which mon boosted. Even under tribal
conditions, the land held In common was
the property Of the tribe, and every men,
Der Of Il shared In Ia ownership. ltistrue
that great deal Of land In this country
and In Europe, and in Australia, Asia and
Africa, has been acquired by conquest,
and is held by the conquoror This was
the case under tribal conqucs,s. The con.
quest Of England by mere handful Of
Normans, imposed upon that country all
the icror, cxac,ions aud usurpations Of
conquest, such M the aboriginal Bntons
had suffered ut the hands Of the Saxon'
and Danes many times before, and as the
Indians Of this country have since suffered
at our hands These things are wrongirom
our standpoint Of right In law, but they
are the natural results Of growth toward
civilization which has been only attained
and obtained by tho pains and pcnaltic,
Of npinc, robbery and murder. Tn,
animal man can only assert hlmscl
In the animal way. Hence, whcr
nations were being evolved by IN,
methods Of national selection and tho sur
viyal Of the iit,cst might made right
This legend still guides great nations Ia
their settlements In the Pacific and Ia
Africa, and II has guided England In IndiI
and In Ireland. II guided Germany Il
France, M moro than 100 years ago :
justified Austria, Prussia and Russia Il
tho nartition az pnland Tho owncr.hi,