The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-17
The singIc-Tax Practically Exempii.
He'd.

yours, ID. @. DAVID.
Vile Platte, Ia, March 2, 1889.
The singIe-Tax Practically Exempii-
The following letter by Mr.. David APP
peared in The SOuilioest and is sent us for
publication rs a fair exemplihcation OF the
single-tax theory which is growing in Lou.
isiana and Arkansas and especially among
the farming classes:
10 the Editor Of the Southwest
DIR. Rankin says property in land is like
property in horses or anything else. That
is TO say, the human family can, by devot-
ing their time and attention TO the rearing
Of horses, increase the number OF horses
indefinitely. II the human family find
the planet too small they can also increase
the surface OF the earth. Amy man who
increases the number Of horses or cattle,
or the amount Of wheat or cotton. or any
thing else, Il fully entitled 10 such creaie.
And similarly, any man who increases the
surface Of the earth, or the coal or iron, or
copper or gold or silver in the bowels Of
the ca!th, is entitled to such increase.
Well, probably DIR. Rankin didn't exactly
mean that.
Maybe Inc means that God made horses
for the use Of man. lie also made land for
the use of man. The Spanish, having
found the land Of Texas, had perfect
right TO give IL or sell IT, The title to land
40 conveyed in donee orin vendee issacred
Similarly, II n man or company OF men,
passing by DR.. Rankin's premises, and
seeing his horses grazing In his pastures,
they have the right 10 take them and con
vey them to whomsoeyer they choose,
| ~ L.. In.
that II DIR. Rankin should pursue the par
~ and disposscss them before disposing OF
the horses, then his right 20 them is not
annulled. This Is what logicians call 70
ductio al absurdiam.
Wild animals in the woods are the gift
OF God. Domestic animals are the gift ol
God. and become the property OF man in
virtue OF the labor OF capturing them and
domesticating them. Wild fruits in the
woods are the gift OF God. But when
picked from the stem and put into baskets
aro the property Of him who gathers them.
but fruits in an orchard or vineyard are
the property OF him who plants and cul.
, tiyalcs the trees and vines upon which
they grow.
II the Spanish had right to extermi.
nate the Aziecs and sell the land; II the
Mcxicans had the right 10 disposscss the
( Spanish; II the Texans had the right 10
disposscss the Moxicans, when did such a
hght-the right OF conques,-cease 10
EXIST Does II exist now2 Docs the right
. to 70 into the woods and catch wild deer
/ involve the right TO go into DIR. Rankin's
. pasture and take the tame deer, which lac
has caught and placed in an inclosuro and
cared tort
Does tho right TO $4,000, for which .
y - l.. ii
! differ In nothing from tine right 10 Sl0,O0(
, Tor which brick building on the adjoin
ing lot will SELF Tho man who erected
, the building, IL seems 10 me, has earned
) his money and Is entitled 10 wages "a
4. laborer and to interest on capital, but th,
/. man who has done nothing to his lot ant
, receives $4,000, or any other amount
, gets something for nothing. Dr. Ran
. kin's position is that the two parties ar,
b In equity aud morally on the same footing
= as 10 their claims for confederation. One
! has employed labor and created demand
j for the products OF labor; the other has, by
I holding his lot out Of use, prev vented 4
9 that extent the employment OF labor. SO
i ciely has in both cases. by creating bust
k ness center caused each lot 10 have
value OF $4,000. The public privilege
held by each has the same value. Thu
value OF each lot results from the fact tia
: tho city has built upon them. llenr.
: George Gays that each ought 10 pay ial
In proportion 10 the public privilege held
: without regard 10 the fact that ono use
2 his privilege and the other does not. DR.
\ Rankin calls this communism, aud favor
= putting burdens on people In proportion
; 10 what they do for society. and not II
= proportion to what society does for them
y call Dr. Rankin's proposition commun
I, ism In It's worst form, because Il distribute
the earnings Of tho industrious and ontor
) prising among the idle.
hut DIR. Rankin's position on the taril
question IL still moro amazing His con
y teniion il that duty on imports cause
4 the goods upon which the duty is place
u 20 sell at a lower price than the sam
4 goods would sell without any duty. III
u sugar planters have q committee at Wash
4 inglon TO prevent any reduction In III
o duty ON foreign sugar Dr. Rankin wonl
q have the readers Of the Souilltrtd 10 be
/. lloyo that n reduction Of the duty woul
q cause the price Of sugar 10 advance, an
i that the Sugar Planters Association hay
gone 10 the expense Of sending commit
tee TO Washington for the sole purpose
preventing any advance in tho price
sugar. They arc comical lot, are moa
ttuulara ~. y. DAVID