The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-12-20

EhlS lB Gn9 reason why We single C83
men are for the single tax, ficst last and
all the time, and count no reform OF any
avail except ss it leads to this.
Nor is it. Let me ask those who con-
slider US one idea men because we insist
on striking at the root instead Of wasting
orr eff Irt on twigs, because we insist on
making the foundation true and Hrm be-
fore building up the euperstructure,
consider we'll this matter.
What is it that the great msjority OF
Kansas raformers, you popularlsts, are
aiming at?
In the FIRST place you are trying 70
build up q pure party, party IN which
the old, corrupt politicians shall have no
place.
Gentlemen, il the twelve apostles,
backed by all the saints, were to coma
into the United States to day, and try
to establish a pure political party they
could not do 80 80 long as our social con-
ditions are what they are. The moment
they did so, nay, the moment there was
a fair prospect of their success, the old
corrupt politicians, and new onsa anxious
to be corrupted, would be in the front OF
their party, bowling for purity aud place!
Wealth 10 power. You cannot prevent
it. Where some citizens are multi
millionslrss and other citizens are
trsmps, or mere lsborers with nothing to
labor on, prssssd constantly by the wolf
of want, democratic government cannot
be pure. If there is no way to abolish
poverty then the best way to secure
something like pure government is to
abolish democracy and institute aris-
tocracy. As we are going, that is com
ing anyhow, and coming fast.
But suppose that under present con-
ditions we could get 9 pure party gov
ernment, what would DO the resultP It
would add to the value OF land. Pure
and economical government is one Of the
things that make q country desirable to
live In, and what ever makes o country
desirable to live in adds to the value OF
land.
Next you want cheap railroad fares
and freiRhts But what is the result
when the building OF a new railroad
chaApsns transportation Is it not to
add to the value OF land? WHAT then
would the cheRpening Of railroad rates
under present conditions do, but further
increase land values. The ultimate
bsnefit would not 60 to labor; it would
90 to lan1lordism.
Again take money. Though / have
not time to treat it fully, Let me dwell q
moment on the money question, tor it is
that that many reformers here think the
most important Of sll questions. Nov, /
a - Ahak khO AnktnvA
ia important. l do not think that our
fiuahoiol administration has been Roon;
on the contrary think it very bad. But
what ia the Importance OF the money
question aa compared to the land ques
tionP Men have lived without monAy, as
they have lived without railroads, az
they lived before organic ID government
was formed. Did you ever hear OF men
who lived without land, or can you con
ceive Of such msnp What is money?
Gold or silver, or paper or oockle shells,
it ia but an instrumsnt for exchanging
thinRs--things that we want for them
selves. How then can it be OF the first
lmportanceP Take q country where prop
erty in man has made the laborers slaves.
Will any change in the kind or any in-
crease In the amount OF money make
those slaves any richerP Take q coun-
try where property in land has made the
nomiually free laborers industrial slaves;
will any change in kind or increase in
amount Of money enrich the mere Ia
borerp
l wish could take you in imRgina-
tion to q country have seen-Western
Irelsnd-for there the industrial orgsni-
cation is very simple, and first princi-
ples are easily perceived. There Is
general and deep poverty. The fewnes
and poorness Of the things offered for
sale 10 the little shops would make you