The record-union., 1895-03-29
TEE THEORY OF The SINGLE TAX.
Addresses on the Subject Delivered
Last Night.
National Lecturer Louis T. Post at
Turner Hall-RemarkS of Albert
NJ. johnson.

the Single Tax League of the United
States, and who is now on q tour of the
coast, delivered an address on the subject
of THE Single TaX-Land Values the
True Basis of Public Revenues"
The audience was small bat apprecia-
tive, and listened with deep attention to
Mr.. Posts exposition of the doctrine ad-
Vocated by Henry George in this country
and III England. MIR. Posts argument
was along the well-known lines followed
by his chieftain, Henry George, made
familiar by the latter's works and ad-
dresses. 1t possessed many original
points, however, which the audience did
not fail to observe.
Mr. Post is pleasing speaker, other
wise his lecture on subject of that char
acter would not have been listened to
with so much interest.
ADDRESS BY a. NJ. JOHNSON.
The lecturer was introduced to the au-
dIonCe by Albert NJ. Johnson, the we'll
known lawyer, who delivered an address
CT some length, as follows:
This representative gathering, said Mr..
Johnson, attests the interest that is taken
III social questions by those OF our poo
pie who have thoughts for others as we'll
as for themselves.
We are assembled this evening. not as
Democrats or Republicans or PopulisLs
or Prohibitionists. We are not here 10
further the interests of any candidate or
TO advance the principles OF any political
party; we have not met to denouuce
measures or upbraid men, This is not.
therefore, political meeting in the Ordi-
nary sense OF the term. But in a broader
and a better and Il higher sense, it is q
political meetIug. Our purposes concern
The best interests Of our country: the
principles that we shall discuss involve
the common welfare of mankind and the
future OF our race, and we who have as
sembled here tonight, belonging not TO
that class who, when their own front
doors are closed, viii swear that all the
world is warm" have met to hear ey-
pounded by one OF its abiest expOuents
doctrine which Will DO more toward the
ameliOration of the condition of our
brethren than all the creeds and dogmas.
religions and professions, that have been
formulated or are being advocated by the
restless and the thOugAtless throughout
our land to-day.
/ am proud 10 be able TO aid in the in
PRODUCTION TO this community Of such
doctrine. L am proud to contribute nv
mite TO the efforts that are being made
Tor the relief of real distress
Coming down town ID a car the Other
day, l engaged in conversation with q
friend, who assured me that he had no
time to consider the well-beiug OF society
or the interests OF his feIIOW-nen. thai
the world Is good enough, anyhow: that
II never had been any different. and II
never would De, and he DID not propose
10 bother his head" about other peoDIs's
welfare, or destroy his own peace OF
mind by thinking about what ne could
not change. This is surely the posDeI uF
selIshness spoken OF by SIR. George, and
Is sufficient and selt-satisiying TO those
who, having Jared well thense. YES. think
that every body should he content: Duf T
CLunOt bring myself 10 believe that such
man has any true conception Of his
duty as 4 citizen.
We have met tonight to listen to an
exposition OF the philosophy and doctrine
OF tie single taxa theory new to most
SacramentanS, yet, alter all, il is pecu-
IIarIy ntung that the subject should be
introduced here, for in years gone by one
OF our earliest pioneers and most re-
speCLed citizens, man who was far III
advance OF ms time, = dlIigent student Of
economic questions and an earnest ad-
vOcate OF social reform. discerned with
prophetic vision the conflict inevitably 10
arise, and pointed out through the col
umns OF the journal that he founded the
destruction sure TO follow upon the mo-
nOpOlizalCn Of the soil OF the earth.
it IS proper, therefore, that in this citv.
where there early Impressions still eyist.
the interest Of our people should Be re-
awakened, and that they should be TAUGHT
that this truth IS steadily advancing: that
It's converts are rapidly increasing in
number, and that everywhere men ara
beginning 10 realize what the early pi0-
neeTs Of the new movement 50 clearly
iOresaW.
II IS needless for me 10 remind Won Of
the OmInOus signs that EVERYWHERE CON
f- Frl .E+ .Fs,r.. IL
that oppresS6s he farmer, the laDOrer and
the manufacturer.
Notwithstanding the diversity and un-
para-ie.ed adaptaJiiLy OF our great re-
sources, the multiplication Of inventions
and mechanical appliances, the uuex-
ample1 progress III luduslria. achieva-
moals, the stupenUOUs advance in art, in
science, in all the modes and forms of in
dUSJEy, the superior capabilities OF men
themselves Notwithstanding all these
The chasm IS continually WIDENING he
tween the very rich and the very poor.
Great wealth, arrogance ana luxury on
the one side, wretcheduess. woe and
misery on the other, everywhere youDd.
while the millionaire and lEe tramp
those twin products Of civilization, and
UOtn equally omIuous Of its dccIiue-con-
tribute their share TO the corruption that
prevails IN puHuc places, and intensity
The IguCbIe desire iOr wealth which de-
nature; ana even the Attorney General
Of the ulLed States, in q briel filed the
other day III the Supreme Court in sup
port OF the principles Of the income tax.
actually divides our people into the upper
and the lower classes.
Everywhere over our fair land men are
begging for an opportunity to Labor
Give US but market say our manu-
iactUrers III convention assembled aJ san
Francisco; Give us but work - say Tho
IaDUrerS, thousands Oi whom tramp the
streets OF the very city where the manu-
iacturers meet; while in our own civ,
prosperous beyond all others on the coast,
men, and men OF family, too are glad to
break rock Tor the price OF meal. such
a condition Is of serious concern to those
OF our comfortable classes who have the
/ heart to think that there is another world
than that III which they move and have
their being
1t cannot be that all this is to be attrib-
uted to Gods providence; it cannot be
that our great Creator has deliberately
condemned so many people to want and
woe, while permitting others, who con-
tribute nothing 10 the common stock. to
revel in luxury and wealth.
To harbor such thought is a reflection
upon the omnipOtence, TO say nothing of
the goodness, OF God.
Reform IS possible, therefore, and it
should be the aim Of every thouphtful
citizen, before death finally claims him.
to aid in the dissemination of ideas cal
cuated to effect the desired end: but this
end cannot be accomplished by sitting
the cries Of men VINO call aloud for assist
auce nor by the strong arm of military
power, nor by court made law, nor gov
ernmant by injunction; nor yet will the
remedy be found in destroying the prop
erty OF others, or in impairing vested
rights; the end may be attained without