The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-04-15

SINGLE lAA DEPARTMENT.

SINGLE IAN DEPARTMENT.
"lS 1T RiGHT7-THE ETHICS OF
THE LAND QUESTION:"
From an address delivered by Reg.
Dr.John W. Kramer, before the ManhGt-
tan Single Tax club, of New York Dr.
Kramer said:
Land is Gods gift to the people; the
people need it: no mans share
in it is asked of him, but
every ones right to it is as
serted: nothing else can be justice. The
simple statement would seem to show
the ethical nature of the case. But
there are complications, and the one
plan proposed to effect the result,
known as single tax on land values, is
objected to by many right-feeling per-
sons, who say that it does not seem that
it would be Just to tax landholders out
of economic rent, to intercept their in
vestment in land value, after civilized
society has for long centuries encour-
aged persons to make such investment
| in the conviction that it was both right
and lawful to do so, unless the state,
which has encouraged and protected
the investment, makes some
compensation for what landlords
must lose. Those who propose
the single tax have not been unmindful
| Of the ethical consideration belonging
to it. The lecturer can hardly hope to
present any thing here that is new, but
| he may endeavor to offer what study
he can make in some original manner
which possibly may command attention
and challenge conviction.
At the outset let us be assured that
an immoral cause can not win assent
from the people and through popular
demand become lawful practice Of the
state. Wealth and greed may purchase
legislation which is wrong, and party
feeling may influence legislation which
is unfair, and both of them may become
iniquitous in corrupting the executive
! or the judiciary; but the public con-
science is not debauched, and the peo-
pie will not ask for what is thought to
be wrong. A majority of the people
| may be mistaken as to the wisdom or
unwisdom of measure, but so long as
any proposition seems unrighteous the
people will withhold approval. The
single tax advocates must show that it
is both right and expedient. To the
ethics belonging to this question let us
give bold investigation.
The highest moral consideration here
attaches itself-in the abstract study
and in application of it-not to proper
ty, not to land as property, but to land
in it's primary relation to man. For con-
slider: D all wealth is produced from
land, everything that man has coming
from it; (s) all wealth is produced by
labor; (3) land and labor are necessary
to mans continued existence on the
planet. The one gift to the race, the
absolute and unconditional gift, is land
on which and from which every child OF
man must live. 1t is Gods board, from
which alone the Father in Heaven gives
man his daily bread. Man is before
property IN every moral study. In NOR
| ais the right to property comes to the
front when we find man with some
thing in his possession produced fror:
the land; and then it appears at the
front for mans sake. All this is sale
because it is of first Importance, ant
needs to be referred to incidentally il
our study. And it must not be forgot
ten that the single tax is proposed fol
the suppression of an evil-that of pov
erty. The suppression of an evil hal
highest rank in public morals. Proper
ty. has been confscated and destroyed
life has been required of thousands, TO
the suppression of evils all through
history, and relief for man and the ad
vancement of the race have justified tn
crowning of those who were not deter
red by considerations of property O
life as benefactors Of the world. Ou
question is; Does the single tax pro
pose to suppress an evil by.means tina
are not justifable?
Taxation is for the maintenance an
defense of the State, the preseryer Q
=, | WA
viction that citizens should be taxed i
proportion to their wealth and revenue
The whole community is protected il
persons and homes, and provided wit
highways, schools and many CONVEX
fences; those who acquire propert
have, in addition, the protection {
their property. 1t seems that ever
one ought to pay something for the prt
lection and provision given by tn
State, unless SO poor and helpless as
be a proper case for charitable car
Peoples probable responded to th
moral persuasion with Il good will thu
was provoked out of existence by lear
: ing that a small class had taken unju
advantage What was true of Athe1
should have been true in every civiliz
ton where patriotism was not dead I
dying. The late Prof. Thorold Roge
has presented (En. Brit, Finance) tn
t aspect of Athenian taxation. 1.-THE g
traordinary taxes on property whit
the government levied, and which Il
contributors paid, apparently with Il
greatest readiness" Why so? We fl
! that ''it was graduated, being heavi
d per centage in the case Of the rich
citizens than in that of the midd
}. classes" As long as the rich he
to such compact others pay thu
share willingly. 1t is not
with us. Our taxation not only violat
the canons of Adam Smith, but is al