The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-12-18
Written for the Mo1IToR.
n RY GEORGES SYSTEM OF
- TAXATION,

mist, and the theory which he presents
could have no more able advocate. In
sympathy with the sufferipgs Of the poor.
and approaching fully the difficulties sur
rounding the laboriDg classes. be has por-
trayed in his Progress aud Poverty" the
pitiable condition to which, in spite of our
prosperity DIS a nation, the working popu-
lation has been reduced; and possibly no
better presentation of the facts in the case
has ever been published. Regarding his
cure and preventative of poverty, and hence
arraying himself against any and all other
methods Of taxation, be has assailed the
American system of protection in his
work on free trade, and elncidated the
principles that underlie commercial trans
actions in a manner perhaps ~unequalled
by any author. And yet, notw outstanding
bis ability as an author and bis power of
reasoning in general, in accepting and
advocating the single tax system, he seems
to have erred in bis conception of the ends
of justice and the laws on which are based
all progress and prosperity, through, no
doubt, his one idea of devising a means of
ameliorating the condition of the laooring
classes. He has undoubtedly adopted this
system of land taxation as the best means
of accomplishing his end, and imagining
the end accomplished. he has attributed
all the grand results which are supposed
to follow to the initial principle, the method
through which this end was achieved; an
ticipating 10 a manner an unwarranted
result.
Among all the theories that have been
conceived for a more equal distribution of
wealth, and as a preventative of the accu,
mutation of money and its consequent
power in the hands of a few, there is none
| perhaps, that would, by their full applica-
| ton, be more conducive to these ends,
unless it is that beautiful idea set forth by
| Mr.. Bellamy in his Looking Backward"
But while this theory of land taxation
might be the most effective were il fully
applied, this fact does not make it the
more applicable, nor does it at all prove
that it would accomplish the end for which
it was conceived. That the system is in
applicable is evident, l think, for the fol-
| lowing reasons: 1t Is founded on a false
principle; it is contrary 10 present laws
and ideas, and unpopular with all save a
few of socialistic tendency; and finally, its
application would neither destroy all ine-
quality, nor guarantee an equal distribu-
tion of wealth, but would destroy many of
those incentives to enterprise and progress
which are now SO powerful
1t is founded en- a false principle. The
system of a single land tax is ostensibly
founded on justice, the Inherent right OF
every man to a portion of the land upon
which be must live, and which God created
for all; as much right as to the air, the
water, and that portion Of the divine
spirit hich dwelling in him gives him
life and makes him a man. This is an ex-
tension of the principle of justice beyond
its legitimate bounds,
Justice pure and simple is unknown out
side of Heaven: it is never realized in the
dealings of mortals. The human mind is
incapable of grasping the idea of justice
in its ~fullness and entirety. The nearest
approach TO it that man can make is to
distinguish in an uncertain way between
the greater aDd the lesser evil. When we
extend Justice to such lengths as is pro-
posed in the theory of Mr.. George, We are
v%enturing on the scale to a point which
ill overturn all law and government, and
throw present institutions aud established
Justice iato an irrecoverable state of chaos.
In human affairs an equilibrium must be
preserved; Justice cannot be extended un-
duly in any one direction. The opposite
has rights. the opponent can plead
the cry of Right" And if the principle
of the right of the individual to some por-
tion of the earth, as this theory proposes,
was applied in equal force TO those who
are now already in possession of the land,
the one would baiance the other, and the
injustice of depriving some of their natural
birth right would be no greater than that
Of depriving others of their lawful bhth
right. After laws have been Ion enacted
and constantly in force, and have fostered
customs and institutions. and established
methods of business and trade, can there
be any Justice in repeating those laws and
subvertiug those Institutions on winch
men have built and relied for ages, and
which common consent has given life and
power?
To establish the fact that there is a
point to which justice annot be Garfield,
let us suppose TIE idea OF Mr.. George ex.
tended a step farther, and the equal right
of men to everything created or made con-
ceded on the ground that they are the sons
of the same God and joint heirs TO all pat
rimony, aud whats condition of society
would we have. There would be thousands
to dispute every dollar a X ar EARNED, every
drink a man took, every mouthful a man
ate. His home would not be his own, his
wife would not be his own, his children
would not be his own, and some might
even make claims to his lite as part OF
| that spirit which God had created. Where
ever he moved and whatever be did, be
xonld be met " it'll the cry of"Rights. nand