The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-07-16
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erS to make room IOf Sneep WdlhS. IL
they have such a right, then it would
be proper for the sole proprietor OF any
Jersey or Guernsey, for ex-
ample-to impose just what regulations
ne might choose on it's inhabitants--to
tell them that they should not live on
his property unless they professed
certain religion, spoke particular IAN
guage, paid him specified reverence,
adopted an authorized dress and con-
formed to all other conditions he might
see fit to make. If they have such
right, then is there truth in that tenet
of the ultra tory school, that the land
owners are the only legitimate rulers OF
a country-that the people at large re-
main in it only by the land owners per-
mission, and ought consequently to sub
nit to the land srule, and respect
whatever institution the land owners
set up. There is no escape from these
differences. They are necessary corol-
laries to the theory that the earth can
become individual property. And they
can only be repudiated by denying that
theory"
leave the strictly moral considera-
ton here, with an expression OF my
inability to answer the reasoning or es-
cape from it's conclusions. In tho dis
cussion of the single tax its critics,
judging from my own experience, waste
no words on the ethical side. They
brush it away as all right enough in
theory or principle, but what has that
to do with practical things? Personal
ownership is established in all civilized
countries. Laws, custom, prejudices are
in it's favor. AS Boss Tweed Remarked:
What are you going to do about it?"
Consider the problem which confronts
us and forces us to answer it at the peril
of relapsing into barbarism. The Nal
thusian bug-bear which alarmed our
fathers and attributed to the Creator OF
the world blindness which brought
forth human beings with such made
quate provision that the population was
destined to outrun subsistence, no longer
scares US. 1t painted a future of misery
and starvation, when hungry and naked
human beings would curse existence
and perish miserably. 1t championed a
hopeless and fatalistic creed.
Since Malthus was laid away with his
philosophy and his fathers, the popula'
ton of the globe has steadily increased,
and the fear he generated has vanished,
for subsistence and production have
multiplied in greater ratio. The pres
emit embarrassment is the embarrass'
ment of riches, and the surplus of food
and clothing is made responsible for
poor trade and hard times. With accll-
mulating wealth we find a greater ine-
quality OF condition, and vice and pow
erty more than keep pace with palaces
and millionaires. How is it that the
producers of wealth are prevented from
sharing equally its enormous growth?
could man of the last century," says
Henry George, "a Franklin or Priest
ly, have seen in a vision of the future
the wonders that we are SO familiar
with, what would he have inferred as to
the social condition of mankindY' And
he answers, "It would not have seemed
like an inference, further than the Wis
ion went; it would have seemed as
| though he saw, and his heart would
| have leaped and his nerves would have
thrilled, as one from a height beholds
Just ahead of the thirst-stricken caravan
the living CLEAN of rustling woods and
the CLINT of laughing waters. Plainly
| in the sight of imagination, he would
have beheld these new forces elevatine
society from its very foundations, lift
ing the very poorest above the possible
ity of want, cxempting the very low
est from anxiety for the material
needs of life: he would have seen these
| slaves of the lamp of knowledge taking
on themselves the traditional curse
these muscles of iron and sinews Of stee
making the poorest laborer's life holi
day, in which every high quality and
noble impulse could have scope tt
grow"
But the fact remains quite otherwise
than the vision. Some get an infinite
ly better and easier living, but others
find it hard to get living at all. The
| tramp" comes with the locomotive, ant
almshouses and prisons are as surely
the marks of material progress as are
the costly dwellings,, rich warehouses
and magnificent churches" What is il
which associates poverty with progress
and increases want with advancing
wealth? This is the riddle" says Mr.
George, (which the sphinx of fate puts
to our civilization, and which not tc
answer is to be destroyed"
The trouble is not to be laid to the
parsimony of nature; it has to be &C
counted for by human interference will
the natural distribution of wealth which
is the product of labor and capital ap
piled to land. Partial laws, privilege:
and protective tariffs account for much
of the existing social confusion, but abol
ishing all those, the fountain head o
misery will still be left untouched.
In his recent address at San francisco
Mr.. George, after referring feelingly tc
his California life, went on to speak o.
his journeying across the continent be
fore the railway was completed, ant
said: "When in the streets of New
York for the first time l realized the
contrasts of wealth and want that are tt
be found in a greatcity, saw those sight!
that to the man who comes from the
West alright and appeal, the problem
grew upon me. | said to myself there
must be some reason for this; there mus
be some remedy for this, and l will no
rest until have found the one and dis
covered the other AT last it came clea1
as the stars of bright midnight saw
what was the cause; | saw what was thu