The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-09-13
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
SINGLE TAX THE INSTRUMENT

SINGLE TAX THE INSTRUMENT.
Address OF william Lloyd Garrison be-
fore the Unitariau Ministerial Union -
Charming Hall. Boston. April 20, 1SS0s
It was Madame De Stael who said 10
a British statesman, Tell me all about
the British constitution in ten minutes
but my friend, Rev. Mr.. Barrows, pro-
posed q harder task when he asked me
one day to explain to MIN the single tax
in sentence. II should say in reply,
1.-THE single tax means equal and exact
Justice for ALL" or ito secure the earth
for the use of all Its inhabitants" or
ito yield to the laborer the fruits OF his
toll" or "the disqualification OF true
Christianity" / am afraid should Do
charged with uttering s'glittering gem
eralties." To be illuminating ] shall be
forced to use many sentences and yet fall
TO be understood ut my conclusion. For
how can one in forty minutes express
what has taken him years to compre-
bend? The very brevity and concise
ness required for concrete presenta-
ton of the subject will permit only an
outline OF the great theme.
The single tax was deliberately
chosen as the name of reform which
Is based upon the most solid ethical
foundation. It describes the instrument
to bring about : result and not the OBJ
iect tn be attained. II ia the method to
he pursued in the solution of the labor
problem. The reason for adopting the
name is this: It has \ clear. specific,
practical meaning. 1t is not nebulous
or indefnite A single tax is intelliri-
bile TO the common understanding. It's
aim Is to abolish all taxes ON property
and to raise the entire revenue of the
country bv a single tax ON land values.
It is necessary to understand terms
clearly. The single tax Is not tag on
land. but a tax on the value Of land. II
land is worthless because undesirable or
remote. It would not be taxed. II of
small value. then the tax would be small.
All value is eiyen to land by the pres
ence Of people who REQUIRE IL for use.
Remove the people of Boston and place
them ON a spot where the land can be
had for nothing and the land values of
Boston will fade away and ON the new
sight sprinr up full-armed, like Miner
va. from the brain of Jove. Therefore
remember that not land but site value
is to be taxed II ia a value made by the
community. and Justly belongs to the
community. Economic rent" is its
scientific aupeIlation. and ground
rent" the familiar term.
What wonderful change can this SIM
Mo nrocass brips tn societv9 The varia-
r. - al ,,...r-. I.
'.on " s~A' MOI Aso~A
ell that there Is to the much Wanted
movement? Is 1t for this that volumes
have been written and newspapers es-
tabiished? Is it upon such . device that
tho abatement of poverty and the equal
ity of opportunity is predicsted? Even
so. Let us get beneath the surface.
wonder how many OF you are familiar
with the ninth chapter Of Herbert Spen-
GERS Social States" that famous chap
ter on 1.-THE right to the use Of the earth. ;"
For the moral statement Of the cause
we advocate, it leaves nothing to be do
sired. 1t is complete and it seems to
me irrefutable. You have doubtless
seen the recent controversy between
Spencer, Huxley and others on the very
chapter, which Mr.. Spencer. shrinking
from the application Of his teaching,
suppressed in later editions Even had
he recanted his philosophy, which he
did not, the philosophy would still re-
main to be judged on its merits. regard
less of his altered opinion. To alter >
little Arthur Coughs lines:
1T fortincs my soul % know
T 1nst ,nonsn men pensA 1rn.n = 20
W r tSc c q do Trntb dos not cSsp,s-
M Snencer stood nv his nroclama-
ton. hut shrank from the war that loo
icallv Followed and his critics inn
proved their chance to sshecklen him
for his ;nconsistencv. Rut the richt ~
mantipd n the nae NJ the a.rth st.rd.
imnreonahle
II is mon this RIGHT that the siro,a
tar plants itself its advocated hold
. -