The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-07-18
The Farm,
Moral and Social Effects of the
Single Tax.
Brechin, Scotland, Herald.

its effects we have taken up seriatin,
nearly all the effects that would result
directly from the coDfscation of rent to
the common exchequer. These effects
would have been mostly economic, and
have been deduced from generally adj
mitted economic laws. But beyond
these economic conditions to which the
imposition Of the single tax would give
rise. For the opening up of natural
opportunities to labor and capital, and
the taking from off the shoulders OF
industry the burden which at present
weighs upon it, would make it possible
for every man to make an honest living
by his labor. This would do away
with the army of tramps and beggars
and other parasites of society which are
the product of the unequal distribution
of wealth. 1t would eliminate forever
the unemployed and the criminal
classes who are recruited from the
unemployed. Such things as PRISONS
and reformatories would be unneces-
sary. The civil law would be greatly
simplifed for disputes would be fewer,
and would be more easily settled. In
short, it would do away altogether with
government, at least as a rspres-
sive agency, and this simplifcation and
curtaillng of the functions OF govern
ment would make it capable of assum-
ing certain other functions which at
present it cannot successfully under
take. These are the running of rail-
ways, the transmission of telegraphs,
and the maintaining and controlling Of
many other things which in their
nature are monopolies. The great in
crease Of material prosperity, would tend
to the increase of rent which could be
used for the common benefit, and which
would enable US to establish baths,
libraries, museums. halls, theaters.
gardens, etc. Water, gas, electricity
and other motive powers might be con
Quoted through our streets at the pub
lie expense, and these same streets
might be lined with trees, as is the
case with many cities on the continent,
notably Paris.
To put it shortly, government would
not be as at present an expensive and
almost useless burden, but Would simply
become the instrument whereby the
public property would be administered
for the benefit of every individual.
Now, to the man who has been reared
amidst the present chaos and confusion,
all this foretaste of what might be
seems only like the vague and imprac.
ticable vision of an imaginative dream.
er, but all the great things and all the
good things that we have achieved
were at one time but visions in the
brains of those who conceived them.
And if we but consider for moment
the chenge that would be wrought in
social life if labor received its full re-
ward, we shall come, I think, to the
conclusion that perhaps after all such
visions may be possible of realization,
and such dreams may indeed come true.
Want, and the fear of want, as a factor
in hnman life, would be eliminated
And this is the element that would
work the change; for poverty, as
Carlyle says, is the hell of which the
modern Englishman is most afraid. 1t
is poverty and the fear of poverty, and
the struggle to keep out of it, that
makes civilization such mass of evil.
1t is but natural that men should strive
to keep themselves and those depend
ent upon them from falling iuto this
terrible abyss. And it is this struggle
to rise above the fear of poverty that
makes men lie and cheat aud steal, and
renders them Indifferent as to whether
they trample thier neighbors under
foot.
1t is this continual struggle to raise
themselves above the fear of want that
makes men admire the rich and the
fortunate, and that causes the struggle
for existence to become even 6ercer and
more fierce, and it is now becoming
evident to the mass of mankind that
unless they 60 to the root of the evil
and destroy it. the more fercely they
strive the worse it will be for their
children who are to come after them.
But give labor free field, choke of
the dog in the manager that stands be-
tween man and the bounty of his
Maker, and let lnbor have its full re-
ward. Take and use for the benefit OF
the whole community that value which