The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-04-22
Welcoming George to Bermuda.


Welcoming George to Bermuda.
When Mr.. George was talking with his
friends about good place in which to
take n complete rest suggestion was
made that perhaps in Bermuda he would
find place where the single tax had
never been heard of, and where he
would escape all invitations and temp.
tations to discuss the principles with
which his name is identified. 1t seems,
however, that the editor of the Bermu-
da Colonist, the liberal paper of the
island, is single taxer and has
been such for years. 1t was, therefore,
an easy task for him to reply to an arti.
Gle in a tory paper of the island, in
which Mr.. George was alluded to as
socialist" The reply is the leading cd.
itorial in the Colonist for Wednesday.
February 4, and is as follows:
The most distinguished civil visitor
Bermuda has had for many day is Mr..
Henry George, of New York city-who
is comfortably quartered at the Prin-
cess hotel. Mr.. George was, few weeks
ago, run down by work and sought
these islands for rest. Only short
time ago he returned from a lecturing
tour in the Australian colonies, where
he was received with great enthusiasm.
His themes were ''free trade and ''sin.
gle tax At Sidney, New South Wales,
| 1000 people in drenching rain filled
the exposition building in their desire
to hear him. 1t was the arduous work
on this trip that largely contributed to
his breakdown. We can hardly blame
the Australians. however, for having
given us this opportunity of entertain.
ing so distinguished public man.
Mr.. George is famous the world over
as the author of Progress and
Poverty" which advocates the abolition
of all taxes save single tax on the
value of land irrespective of improve.
ments This is the direct opposite OF
socialism and for this he is no doubt
ironically called Socialist. The
movement his book inaugurated is now
forcing itself upon the public attention
Of the United States, Australia, and
England Thenext congress at Wash.
ington, meeting March 4, will have
dozen single tax members who are also
democrats. The democratic party is
largely honeycombed with the Henry
George idea, and the Colored Farmers
alliance, representing 1900, 900 colored
farmers have come out for single tax.
! Within the past month the mayors OF
New Haven, Conn, and of Minneapolis,
Mimi, have declared for the single tax.
The Knights of Labor, the great wage.
earners order. have for year or more
been fighting hard to foAce the single
tax to the front.
II Mr.. George, who is accompanied by
, Mrs. George and Mr.. and Mrs. Simon
, Mendelson, of New York, will remain
here till next month. Were it not that
Mr.. Georges physician recommends
absolute rest and freedom from excite
i ment, there is no doubt many of our
| citizens would be glad to tender him
5 recognition of their appreciation OF his
public services in the interest of human
S ity..
WE can not divide land up equally
: That is impossible. We can not make
possession common. That would be tx
destroy civilization Tho security o
/, the individual possession of land is nee
f essary.
But possession is one thing. Owner
:. ship is another. We can secure individ
i ual possession and common OWNERSHIP
= by simply following out what we hav
= seen is the democratic principle OF tax
q alton. BY abolishing all taxes on Labor
/, or the products OF labor and taking fo
!, the public revenues that value whic
= attaches to land, not by reason OF wha
any individual does, but by reason c
a the growth and improvement OF tn
!, whole community.
- This is the elimination of the dem'
., cratic principle-this is the single ta'
S, If any thing in human experience, I
of applied to methods of taxation, is Sc
I'd tied, it certainly is the fact that tax
ly ton upon personal property never ca
ir be made success Taxes can be raise
~ from personal property, no doubt; f
he large sums are thus raised; but tn
nd they can not be levied with any reaso
tie able approach to accuracy or equali
ng is demonstrated, not only by conclusi
ed reasoning, but by the more conclusi
ne fact that they never have been tn
ne levied.
rs,
IN THE mode of taxation is, in fact, gu!
srs as important as the amount. AS
I'd, small burden badly placed may distrt
ng horse that could carry with ease
nd muck larger one properly adjusted, 81
ne people may be impoverished and tn
i've power of producing wealth destroy
he by taxation, which, II levied in anotl
way, could be borne with sass.-P