The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-12
TAXING THE LAND.
AND RENDERING 1T vALUELESs.
Putting All the Burdens On Agri-
culture.-A Theory Discussed.
We have received the following let

Your correspondent, Ignatius Don
nelly, proposes, if the Peoples Party
comes into power 'to take possession
Of the land now held by foreigners,
pay a reasonable price for it and
throw it open to actual settlers at cost
price," etc.
Now, would it not be Just as we'll to
let the foreigners keep the land and
sock it to them in taxation? Tax
their land, and they will very speedily
open it to actual settlers at cost
price" The heavier you tax them
the cheaper the settlers would get it,
till, if you taxed up to its full value
the settler could have it by merely
paying the tax.
No earthly reason for paying "a
reasonable price," If the enterpriZ-
ing foreigner wants land let him
come here and use it. He will get all
the privileges Of an American citizen
in the usual way. But the only way
to stimulate him, and all like him
who are keeping American citizens off
of American soil, is to tax him on the
opportunities he owns whether he
uses them or not. And it does not
make particle of difference
wheth land owner is a citizen or
foreigner. If he is keeping our citi-
Zens off land which they need and he
cannot use or does not use, he ought
to be taxed up to the amount they
would be willing to pay for that lane,
and compelled to abandon his dog-in-
the-manger policy. The single tax
would put an end to such cussednesS.
GEO. SUTHERLAND.
New York, Nov. Is, 1894.
This gentleman is what they call
"single-taxer." Wherever he speaks of
foreigner" in the foregoing letter,
read allen; and he will more nearly
represent our position. We did not
propose to take away mans land
simply because he was, although a
citizen,-of foreign birth. That would
be tremendous and most unreason-
able proposition. BY ''alien" is meant
one who is a foreigner by birth, and
does not live in this country, and does
not intend to remove here. He SIM
ply proposes to seize upon a part Of
our territory and prevent the citizens
and natives Of the soil living upon it
except as tenants. His lands SO taken
should be ruthlessly confscated and
his money returned to him.
With the original purpose of Henry
Georgia. very able gentleman, for
whom we have the highest respect
in formulating the single-tax theory
we have great sympathy. His object
was to enable poor men to obtain
homes in the cities, which they are
now denied by the high price of
lots. 1t is the industry of the workers
that has built up the cities;-not a
stick nor stone, not a brick nor a
bolt, nor anything else, useful to man
therein, but has come from the toll of
human muscles:-and even the capital
which Gays these, came also from the
same source;-the labor of men. In
fact without labor there would be
nothing on the globe but the bare
earth, tenanted by wild creatures and
wilder men. And it is great i7jus-
tice that those who make everything
should possess little or nothing;-that
those who manufactured the brick
and the lumber and the nails and the
glass and the paint should be without
homes, constituted from these very
things, made by them. Hence with
the purpose for which that great
philanthropist, Henry George, sug-
gested the single-tax policy, every hui
mane man must sympathize. But the
question remains is the policy itself a
wise one? Will it realize the objects
sought for by Mr.. George? We all ad-
nit it is benevolent, but is it practic.
able?
The theory is that by piling the en-
tire taxes of the country upon land we
shall SO crush it down, that the rich
men cannot pay the tax. and keep it
but will be forced to sell to the labor
ing men. For instance, here is a lot
which is taxed for $1O0;-the single-tax
makes that $lG0, $500 or 81 900; and the
rich man is forced to part with it to a
poor man. But where will the
poor man get that $500 or 81 900 taxes
to pay annually? In other words how
can poor man afford to hold that
which a wealthy man cannot? 1t is
not proposed that as soon as a lot
passes into the hands of a laborine
man the tax is to be remitted. No: it
is sto be permanent governmental
systematic land is to support the
government, national, state and
municipal, forever. The land is to he
crushed into valuelessness, and vet if
is to bear all the burdens Of organized
society. How can you get taxes out
OF that which is worthless?
How would this scheme work with
farmers? They now have desperate
struggle to live-millions have lost
their homes in that struggle. Now. it
Is proposed to take the tariff tax off
imports. the internal reveue tax of
certain manufactures, the income tax
oil the great fortunes, the railroad
taxes, the bank. taxes, the personal
taxes, and all the rest. and pile them
all on the poor devils of Agriculture
lists. who are now submerged to theil
chins, and struggling for a few shreds
from their creditors on which to sun.
port Themselves. and families. And
for what? why" says Mr.. George,
to force the holders to part with
their property: so that some poor man
may get h6me.' But can you find