The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-03-27
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Ill COURTESY IL L OlSl lioC oAS
compliments the Judge so gracefully be-
slows upon me, and would say that
while / am not q convert to the single
tax theory, yet l am not averse to sec
such an experiment tried in this
country.
Ihave long realized the great impor-
lance OF this question, "What is it that
men need to become self-employlng?"
and have diligently sought an answer to
it. It is difficult to formulate one IN a
few words. But if I should attempt to
do so, it might be as follows: Equality
OF privilege through a financial system
organized Tor the benefit OF the masses
instead OF the classes, and the 1estric-
ton OF land monopoly through Il com
INITIATIVE tax, with absolute exemption
from taxation and process for debt ON
small farms.
AS Il negation, I will say that if Mr..
Georges land theory was established
today in this country, and the present
financial system left in operation, the
power OF men to employ themselves
would not be increased one jot. The
just wages OF labor would go to capital
as it does now; the longest purse would
determine the best opportunities. nat
ural or artificial, as it does now; and
the use OF money would continue to alb
sorb and concentrate within a few hands
as it does now. But if the issue Of
money, which is a government function,
could be based upon land, which is the
common property OF all, and a medium
OF exchange be thus furnished adequate
to the needs OF business; and ii the own
ership OF land could be limited by a
communicative tax, production would be
enormously increased and opportuni-
ties for self-employmcnt enormously
multiplied.
These two propositions are entirely
practicable. They invole no revolution
OF any present system, no sweeping con
tiscation OF the property OF any class.
On the other hand the proposition Of
Mr.. George, in my judgement, involves
an absolute revolution OF our present
land system and contiscatcs at one fell
stroke hall the property OF the nation,
and is to my mind entirely impractical
BILE.
Any argument that is not associated
with the money question directly, has Il
tendency to deceive; and the whole OBJ
ject, at this time, OF the old party brain
twisting newspapers is to thrust some
lIumbug into the political arena with
the object OF ~distracting the atten-
ton OF the people before the considera-
ton Of other questions OF more vital
Importance. The interest problem is
the question OF questions; there is life
Or death in it for the prosperity Of the
nation. When the government shall
institute paper money secured by landed
estate and fund its just value by Il cor
rect rate OF interest, 1T will rightly gov
ern the distribution Of the product OF
labor. Ii the money be thus formed,
and a rate per cent be established SUI
ticent only to pay the expense Of fur
AlioihiS AV3 oiS hioiSS VIII lol1ll q JUDI
foundation upon which to build con
tracts.
To fix and maintain q right rate pc
cent interest for the use OF money il
: striking at the very root OF dcspoti
G power: and the farmers and laborcr
must expect to have it called by var
II Gus names and to expect strong oppe
81 sition to it's adoption. They will tc
S. you money must have u recognize
X value all over the world or CONNER
would cease. But this is not true, cor
a. mercc is merely an exchange OF commo,
IS tiles between nations, and the cOuntl
rs that has no useful article to swap vii
)e becomes poorer than poverty in lie
than no time But old England 81,
a that gold is the money standard al
O. paper must be backed with gold. TIL
H. is true il we want to continue the Englis
20 system OF controlling labor by contrc
it ing the volume OF money through Ii
pr banking system. But if our governmel
le should conclude to discharge it's p
ID middle men (national banks) which
c. employed through influence brought
bear by our English nobility, and i
IS crease it's circulating medium adequa
1T to the need OF it's business, and furniI
il. it to It's citizens at cest direct from i
le treasury, it could as easily make pap
is money to exceed coins in value us col
n to exceed paper money, because II
IS value OF all money is governed by Il
" percentage interest.
IS Let g%reenbacks be loaned by the go
" eminent and fund them with a note
I'd mortgage bearing ten per cent; also lei
I'd coin, gold or silver; and fund them t
same at six per cent, and the PAY!
to money will always be the more valual
III and command Il difference III cXchan
il. for coin. But l think if the people "
to ever think a minute they viii see tn
to there is not any international mon
lis and there never has been, and til
he money is purely national, and that {
at changes Of today, and always, have be
is made upon commodity value in I
M shape OF bills OF exchange, and no 6.
ur eminent guarantees them. TIE diff
ur ence in the tineness OF gold betwt
dis England and the United States us Us
in money, reduces the material to
les commodity and nothing else. Tleco
.s- tiers of trade do not need to have intr
,w sic value; their value is determined
" the common consent OF the vii,
ut people expressed through the l
ar tional government. And it is mt
strous that the government Shot
or allow private parties to 50 monopol
the counters OF trade that they can
in vour the substance Of the people by tt
no ing citizens for the mere use OF IL mcdil
IN OF exchange, which a truly wise govel
er ment would furnish the people at cost
ce The fact about money snot known
the people;it has always been covered
by a heap OF secret mystery and cunni