Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-04-18
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
slS " RioHT7-THE ETHICS OF
THE LAND QUESTION:"

from an address delivered by Rev
Dr.John W.Kramer, before the Manhat,
tan Single Tax club, of New York. DIR.
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
1t 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 1T. 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 |
ubiquitous 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
nnwlsdom OF measure, but SO long as
any proposition seems unrightcous the
people will withhold approval. The
single tax advocates must show that it
S both right and exprdient. To the
'thics belonging to this question let us
i've bold investigation.
The highest moral consideration here
ttaches itself-in the abstract study
nd in application of it--.not to proper
), not to land as PROPERTY, but to land
n its primary relation to man. For con-
lder: ~ all wealth is produced from
md, everything that man has coming
rom 1t; ts) all wealth is produced by )
hoor; t3) Land and labor are necessary j.!
, mans continued existence on the l
Janet. The one gift to the race. the I
bSolute and unconditional gift, is land '
n which and from which every child of a
ian must live. 1t is Gods board from c
hich alone the Father in Heaven gives a
an Qfs daily bread. Man is before t
'operty IN every moral study. In NOR n
S the right to property comes to the II
ont when we find man with some n
ing in his possession produced from e
e land; and then it appears at the p
ont for mans sake. All this is said Ct
cause it is of first Importance, and Il
eds to be referred to incidentally in d
II study. And it must not be forgot y
n that the single tax is proposed for W
e suppression of an cvil-that of pow W
ty. The suppression of an evil has el
CHEST rank in public morals Proper al
has been contscatcd and destroyed, in
C has been required Of thousands, for q
e suppression of evils all through W
story, and relief for man and the ad- pl
ncement of the race have justified the ca
'wning of those who We're not deter 81
by considerations of property or "
rstion is. Does the single tax pro- ur
Sc to suppress an evil by means that W.
not iustifia BILE? yo
AVIATION is for the maintenance and an
ense of the State, the prcserver of tel
iety. There has been a general con- tel
ton that citizens should be taxed in too
portlAn TO their wealth and revenue go
: whole community is protected in in
sons and homes, and provided with of
hways, schools and many convcn- Th
'es; those. who acquire property out
e, IN addition, the protection of tin
If property. 1t seems that every Ho
ought to pay something for the pro- TIL
ion and provision given by the the
tie, unless SO poor and helpless as to ten
a proper case for charita BILE care ow
pies probable responded to this ing
al persuasion with good will that not
provoked out of existence by learn we
that a small class had taken unjust jus
lntage. What was true of Athens gra
I'D have been true in every civiliza- for
where patriotism was not dead or spa
g. The late Prof. Thorold Rogers Yol
presented tEn. Brit, Finance) this her
ct of Athcnian taxation: THE ex- any
taxes on property which tair
government levied, and which the sam
rlbutors paid, apparently with the will
test readiness" Why so? We find ma,
&C was graduated, being a heavier gol,
entage in the case of the richer OWL
MS than in that of the middle rele
'es.' AS long as the rich hold thel
1ch compact others pay their Fra
willingly. 1t is not so was
us. Our taxation not only violates me:
canons of Adam Smith, but is also ines
shteous, and every moral consider doir
demands that it be amended The man
raj tendency of taxes on commodi-
is to the consumer. The minority
, who have wealth and opportunity TT
.na' iholrect taxation might be eide
~ INC People VINO would feel the Star
en "niie theS couid not easily dis ford
!, Hha' IL was ana whence IL came; payi
that much direct taxation might Hav
lifted from themselves. and Nor -: