The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-11-25
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT
THE SINGLE TAX FIRST.

The discussion Of economic and social
questions among the farming classes
has taken a very wide and comprehen'
siye range, and single takers have much
to encourage them in the fact that no
subject comes in for greater share OF
discussion and criticism among the far
mers than does the single tax. Espec-
tally is this true of the farmers who be-
long to the Farmers alliance in the
western and northwestern states. They
seem to be honestly and earnestly striv-
ing to find out what is really the matter,
and then to set about applying the REM
cdy.
Familiar as am with the opinions,
habits of thought and methods Of rea-
soning that prevail among the farmers
(who, after all, are the great force that
must be won to the single tax before
we can hope to enforce it, l think the
first necessary step is to convince them
that reform in our system of taxation
is of primary Importance; and that
such necessary reform can only come
|
| to enforce it, and that while
there are other needed reforms besides
tax reforms, the adoption of the single
tax will make all other reforms easier
of accomplishment
The views OF large portion of the
Farmers alliance are expressed by a
friend of mine, who is member Of the
legislature of Missouri, in an article to
the alliance organ of the state, in which
he says: 1--WE admit that there seems
to be a fatal disease over the land,
though | don't think single tax the
panacea Now, ! have said to my
friend, and l want to say to all my
brothers of the alliance, and all others
who really believe there is something
wrong, that if they will honestly set
about finding out what the disease is,
that he and they will conclude that the
dies. and that we do not claim that the
single tax is a panacea for all the ills
which at1iict the body polite
\ What we do claim. however, is that it
is the one reform that win make all
other reforms easier That, without it,
any or all of the reforms which are be-
ing advocated by industrial organiza-
tions would avail nothing to tighten the
burdens under which the farmers and
the laborers of this country are stagger-
ing. That all the benefits which would
accrue would be swallowed up by the
comparatively few who own and con-
troll the natural sources of wealth.
The necessity for funds to defray the
expenses of government is not ques-
toned by the single takers, but they
object to the present methods of pro-
viding such funds.
1t is an axiom in repu blican govern
ment that government is Instituted for
the sole purpose of securing to the indi-
vidual his natural rights, guaranteeing
him immunity from any deprivation of
those rights by any other individual or
combination of individuals and placing
every one on equal footing with every
other one. with respect to the exercise
of their natural rights.
We single takers hold with Thomas
jefferson: That all men are created
equal: that they are endowed by their
Creator with unalienable rights; that
amongst these are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness; that to secure
these rights governments are instituted
nmong men,"
The rights of ''life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, include the right
to all means necessary to secure and
enjoy those rights; and unless every in
dividual,, humble and great. rich and
poor, is secure in these rights as well
from their infringement by the govern.
ment as by the individual, the declara-
tion of independence is a mockery and
lie, and our boasted free institutions
are a fraud and farce.
We single takers contend that in per-
hitting few people to monopolize the
land upon which and from which all
men must live, government denies to
all other people their natural rights Of
"life, liberty and the pursuit Of happi-
ness"
Let me state few fundamental
propositions on which rests the whole
philosophy of the single tax. a
All men have the right to live on this
earth.
The wise, bountiful and beneficent
Creator made the earth for the common
use of all men, and not for the exclu-
sive use of a portion of His creatures
who might deny to their brothers the
right to live on the earth except on
such terms as they might propose.
All wealth, which includes the means
of subsistence for man and the domes.
tic animals, is the product of labor ap-
piled to land, and in order that condi.
lions of equality may be maintained, all
men must have an equal right, upon
equal terms, to the use of land.
All men have natural right to the
ownership, possession and use of the
product of their labor; therefore no in
dividual nor aggregation Of individuals
called a government has any right to
take from them an iota of the wealth
they produce for any purpose whatever
not even for the support of society OF
+ government. Society has no more right
to rob me of the results of my labor
than has an individual.
Society has right to the means nee
essary to defray all its expenses, and {
fund sufficient for that purpose has beer
wisely provided in the very constitu
ton of social adjustments. That fund
which has been produced by society
and which therefora ha1on ps IN societ "
is economic rent, or the value of Lane
exclusive of all improvements.
Now, the contention of the single ia,