Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-13

Seemingly under the impression that
he is stating facts, Professor Buck
cnunciates fourteen proportions. and
doubtless could as easily make the
number 1900 K space had permitted.
The first four are general propositions
MS applicable in the case OF private
tltle, as In that of community title
under the single tax. The others arc
purely assertions and incorrect c0nclu-
s.Uns, not one Of them as yet demon.
s,rutcd by argument or supported by
statistics or admitted facts 1t Is clear
that the negative is not called on 70
dispruve tho mere statement OF propo-
sitions; but In order to get forward
with the discussion, l will here take UP
and dlssect the idea advanced in the
opening sentence OF the last PROPOSE
tion, vi2' that 1t is the community that
gives value to land This is the most
plausible Idea IN the single tax theory.
and upon 1t mainly rests the claim OF
the cOmmunity's right to appropriate
such value
Let us see how far this is true; how
far other considerations enter Into the
matter, and II communities are not
on the whole equally indebted to the
owners Of lands. When Texas, for ex-
ample, was a province Of Mexico, In
rested with savage Indians and I'M
der the tyrannlcal government OF a
semi-barharous and allen race It did
not afford or offer desirable homes for
such thriving and prosperous cummun-
tiles as now inhabii IL, and N its con-
ditlons were yet the same these COM
munities would not be here at ALL 4
great change has been made which
has operated to the benefit Of these
communities In so large a degree that
without 1t they would not even be in
existence here.
How, by whom, and under what con-
dltions was this change effected. and
this land made available to the COM
munltlts that now enjoy Its benefits?
What was 1t that induced the pioneer
settlers Of Texas to leave their kindred
and friends In the east. the scenes OF
their nativity, the graves OF their an
cestors the advantages Of civilization,
and adventure here to meet dangers
that often ended In death. and 90 en-
dure for years the hardships md priva-
lions OF frontier life, It's lack OF society.
of schools and churches and the conve-
nlences OF civilized life? While they
were animated by a love Of liberty and
desire for Its Advancement. vet the
lnducement Of a material character was
the acquisition OF lands here that were
c!sewlse destined 20 remain useless TO
mankind and without value until
brought under the dominion OF civilized
government by Just such enterprlse
and selt-sacrlfce as these men under
TOOK Their reward should be portion
OF the land which they should wrest
from the hands OF tyranny and barbar-
Ism, and the value which their achieve
ments should give It when the country
should be made safely and conveniently
accessible to large settlements.
Such provision for their declining are
ana as an inheritance for their children
the situation here offered to tho feyv
hardy pioneers who were willing 10 on
counter It's hardships. its dangerous ana
doubtful conditions, and under these
conditions the fathers OF Texas stoled
ne ana fortune alike upon the enter
prlse' ana IN ITS successful issue gave
10 liberty and TO civilization a mlrhtv
empire. For their individual use fhey,
reserved only small portion Of The
land not a thousandth part of Inc
whole-a league and labor for each
mead OF family, and a third Of n
league for single man. The remain
der they made free to all the people ana
communities that would come and oe-
cupy what had thus been provided for
Now these later communities. undo.
the single tax theory. are to turn unon
the pioneers and say, "You have NOT
- NN''N NAANAEA AbA us we now
mand or ycu every foot of your land
that you do not actually occupy and
cultivate, and even for that which vo,,
90 cultivate we demand that Won na,,
us ground rent. II your hands, pnlsia5
with age, can no longer cultivate ann,
part OF the land, you may 20 to he
poorhouse, or look to the charity ~
relatives As between the viper ana
the single tax theory, It can be said in
favor OF the former that while Ii do.
stfoys the bosom that warmed II int
NE, II mas no reasoning faculties and
stinct. ~
The majority OF the people const,,p,
ing the communities for whose bensGt
the aged pioneers are now to be despoiis
ca are persons who have flown here an
wings OF steam and alighted In the
midst OF CIVILIZATIONS advantages Ao,-
ual occupants Of the lands 10 he -
taken must pay ground rent. and IL IL
therefore to the ''eolnmunity's" benefit
that the appropriation principally ne.
erues IN the FORM OF protection and In
erty, free schools. graded streets. eleo-
trio lights, water works and other s,,ct,
pupue Dement'S OF modern government
Under the single tax theory an two
ieEged animals on the globe that wnii,
upright, saving, possibly. the eorillns
nave an lnallenable right to any pari
OF the earth not actually occupied ma
become. for this purpose. members 81
any community the instant they nm
pack their baggage there; and whether
they are gamblers or prostitutes. dead
beats or swindlers. beggars, fakirs or
tramps, lousy lazaroni OF Italy or ,tncrs
q China, savage brutcs from seneyan-
bia or the rotten and diseased scum ana
ou-Acourings from the public hoa,it ~