Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-07-11
NOT A SLAMMED 70 THINK.
JuDcs SuGENTs REPLY TO DR.
RANkIVs LETTER
Declares That lie 8. Neither Ashamed
or Afraid TO Think and Give His
Views on -Progre~s azd Pow
erts---sareastIe References

To The Gazzttc: l notice In late
issue OF your paper letter from d.
J. p. Rankin charging me with being
a communist an "inarchist" and a
socialist" To those who know me
this furious onslaught viii b rather
amusing than otherwise; but some p@o-
pie may suppose that the doctor has
ground for his criticisms and for their
benefit 3 vord o. explanation may ap-
prJpriately be given Let me say. how
ever. IN advance that far from de-
uounrinE farmers as robbers" have
always held and stili believe that they
are she innocent victims Of more out
rageous AID sySiematic robbery than
any class Of our citizens The state
ment attributed TO me by the report
OF my speech before the Carpenters
uuicn. which I DO not remember 20
have seen before. has 10 foundation ia
fact 20 rest upon II resulted evideutly
from g gross nisooncepton q what
] did say. Again ! cordially agree
with the Doctor that Interest has been
great oppressCr q the race during
ali o. the ages, but believe that rent
has been equally its curse and destroy
sr DO not believe. however, that
mankind will ever reach q social state
or condition short q the tuilleuium IN
which both interest and rent Will cease
% exist Land labor and capital will
remain 20 the end as the factors en-
rioyed by organized civil society in the
PRODUCTION Of wealth. ard a. long as
these remain rent and interest IN some
form or degree viii continue 10 exist.
What q man produces b. his labor,
eNerted upon land aa1 aided b. his
legitimate surplus wealth I. e. capital
he has q right 90 by the law ~ natural
Justice; Il belongs 70 him. and belong
ing 90 him be has a right 10 charge
Tor its use. Hence. 81 a man improve
real estate. he may leEttmately de-
man1 = rental from him who uses Il.
No one believes In 50 hur1eulnE sgrh
Improved real estate as 20 cypress the
owner. though many thourTrfui men
think that taxation should be- 20 adj
justei as 10 faii most heavily upon the
man who 'm7ropolizes land for specu-
latve purp1=as"
Heritage Of the People.
What sr-effc measures should b.
passed 20 abate The evils ~ laaj sre7-
ulanou the platform % tss Peoples
party Goes rat set forth 80 only dee
e.lrrs that -i4ld and other natural rec
sources are ttr heritage Of the people
and should u1i pr muu1pqliEad Tor
speculative purposes" and This fur1a-
mental pruug Iti1n commands my uu-
qualified ascent 7 have not reached
tae conclusion that ths "slrEl- la.I
ia1' as l4slrataI by Horny George
should be st thi- time adopted iu Tex
as but Father Incline 90 the opinion
mat reasn-Able exemption of lm-
pE"Frfla utaHflat is. az exemption 90
f1 some reasonable yalue-Vauld, AF
Increasing the burden cr unused land
largely held py nuu-r-Eidents encour-
Hs home building and discourage IN
F'stWeutE 90 land 10 be held out of
use Tor fhe purpose Of reapinE the en-
harocd value which results from the
sCtrlrment of The country. While do
ing mis- ! would continue assessments
on other forms % property.
Tn these matters ne in others n might
BE- we'll 90 enlarge tile powers 81 local
communities co as 20 enable them TO
take care of their own interests. The
Doctrines of the extreme socialists and
eammunists have no sympathy what
ever with; Rrilaulyism ] regard ~ the
IuggIipFt OF urHamE-a state or C10dl-
ton that might prevail among angels
Hrf totally unft FOR selfish human be-
iUus. Anarchy 60 ne. o. utterly odioue
end I verify believe pr. Rankin rs
Infinitely nearer o. 70 now than ] can
eser get I believe essentially ir a
government 81 law ard order erected
ON substantial Justice and equality.
To attain tlAa condition the govern
f1e1t should take charge ~ al public
utHi"es-sh5md 500 fact EXERCISE an
strictly social and public functions.
lvut Fhouid leave the citizen 10 fun
uuiimiuished p3EsuasIo of ali his prl-
vato matters. rho nrbiter o. his own
destiny. the architect ~ his own for
tuae-yes. should turn over 90 him
whatever he may legitimately seek 90
attain by the free exercise OF his own
Individual faculties and powers In
fine. ] am pronounced believer IN a
robust individualism exercised in all
leginutc and proper ways that Is.
ways which 90 not infringe upon per
sonrl rights ON the one hand or lead
into the domain Of public functions on
the other
PursHt Democracy.
Destroy monopoly In land. Transport
tatiun and money by any admissible
form OF legislation. and the citizen in
his individual capacity can DE safely