Milford chronicle., 1895-08-23

ling, you Immediately threaten then
with dire disaster should they az
tempt to follow your advice by con-
templating such practical work a:
the Delaware campaign.
Surely, friend Livesey, you are
exceedingly severe on US poor Sin
gle Takers, for you laugh us to scorr
when we preach, and promise to de
stroy us if we practice. You advis,
the good people OF Delaware iftheS
are afflicted by the incursion Of Sin
gle Takers to send for you, " and al
the very mention of the dread name
of "Livesey" you promise thaE the
Single Takers twill getaway about
as quickly as the tramp does from g
bull dog" Now, honor bright, my
dear sir don't you think that is about
the stlliest thing you ever wrote
Such boastful remarks are really IN
becoming for an intelligent gentle
and like most all hrags,it is not
true. Single Takers will not run
away from you-try them with your
sharpest weapons of argument and
you will find they will be glad to
meet you and answer any fair Objec
tions you may offer against the sys
tenn they advocate.
You attempt to make great capital
over the recantation of Herbert Spen-
Ger. We are not troubled about men
changing their opinions, even if Mr..
George was to repudiate his present
position on the land question, he
could not cause to sluniber the
thought he has awakened. The fact
that Herbert Spencer has attempted
to prove the existence Of insur-
mOuntable obstacles to the practical
application of truth that he has not
nor cannot deny, viz "That all peo-
pie have equal rights to the use OF
the earth" merely proves that he
has not considered the merits of that
system which will secure those equal
rights known as the Single Tax.
1t is hopeful to know that men
will change their opinions, and for
the few that may renOunce a truth
for the mean motives of mereenary
gain or social distinction, there are
many who will eagerly grasp a truth
when once seen by the light Of rea-
son, for the noble motives of the love
of truth itself and justice, and will
cling to it through life even though
crosses and scars be their lot; among
which may l not hope in the near
future to find "Francis B. Livesey,
of Sykesville, Nd"
Your article in the CHRONICLE
states that the Single Takers are a
set Of shGrpers, who by means of the
adoption Of the Single Tax would
in some inconceivable manner gain
an unfair advantage over the rest of
the community,or to quote your mis-
construction of the extract from
Progress and Poverty" the Single
Takers would get the kernels and
the corn and all others would have
to get along with shells and husks, )"
You should endeavor to prove this
wild assertion, the statement was evil
IDENTIFY made to play upon the pre-
judices of the unthlnking. The
claim made by Single Takers, is that
the benefits arising from superior
location represented by land values,
are produced by the community and
in justice belong to the community
and should be taken for the common
needs, thus dispensing with the ne
cessity Of taking from individuals !
The products oftheir personal energy |
by taxes on personal |
and real estate improve
ments.
Now in conclusion. let me inform I
you, that the only way to drive the
Single Takers out of Delaware is to
down" the Single Tax; prove that
t is not more equitable than the
present system of taxation; prove
hat it will not lower rents, raise
wages and give every willing man an
to earn a comfortable
prove that it will not give
,reater freedom to humanity and in
rease the sum of human happiness,
nd you will then have done some
hing more effectual in stopping the
Jingle Tax propaganda, than you will
y INDUCING in personal abuse or silly
casting of your individual prowess
Yours sincerely,
JOHN w. DICK.
Aup IL 1894 II