The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-02
MINNEAPOLIS MIMI. WEDNESDAY,

Germ pay if this system went into
operation? Simply the tax on few
acres of land, assessed as so much bare
land. Their mills, machinery, stock,
capital, business and profits would all
escape. No wonder they favor such
system. They would be fools if they
did not. With high tariff to keep
out competition, unlimited immigra-
tion, from the poorest lands on earth,
to furnish workmen for them, and the
farmers and mechanics to pay their
taxes, they would indeed be in clover
And the farmers, we are told, are 60
ing to favor Single Tax because it will
be levied on "land values not land
acres"' Well that is pretty. But are
if the tax on an acre is $40 0will not the
owner CT a thousand acres pay $40, 1000?
The railroads of Minnesota pay the
state annually about $1,OO0,O00. Sup
pose the Single Tax prevails and the
corporations are relieved of this
burden and it is put on the lands, and
say One-half of it is levied on the
farmers, will they not be half mil
lion dollars poorer every year than
they are now? And this is only drop
in the bucket. The farmers Of the
nation would have to shoulder large
part of the $500, 900 spent every year,
to support the national government,
and now raised by tariff duties and in
ternal revenues. But the working
men Of the cities, if they got them
selves homes, would have to Join the
farmers in bearing these gigantic bur
dens. The proposition is cruel and
| immeaSurable; and no amount of
ten men are carrying each hundred
pound sack Of flour on board a ship,
at the wharf, and the mate stops the
procession and puts all the ten sack on
the hindmOSt man. it will be difficult
to convince him. as he sinks crushed
under the load, that his burden is less
than it was when he carried but one
sack. II land is necessary to homes,-
and it is, for men cannot support
families in ballOons,-and if it is un-
justly monopolzed by the rich, and
the poor man has no resting place for
the sole of his foot or the cradle Of
his babe, then pass laws to limit the
amount of the earth's surface any one
man can hold, and require occupancy
and use as conditions of title. But
that is not enough. The government
must see to it that every family has a
chance for a piece of the earths sur
face, and that this home shall pay nc
taxes whatever, instead of paying all
the taxes Of the community. The
government permits the condemna-
tiOn of land for railroad under the
laughable plea that it is own
ed by the public: it not only
permits it but it lends its
right of eminent domain to helr
out the corporation. Now, surely the
people Of country, the natural crea
lures, that God made, ought to have
} as many rights as the artificial crea
lures born of a Legislature, conceived
in iniquity and brought forth in cor
ruption. If it is right to use the pow
er of all to establi railroads is it not
| IIRlU W cS I'd DllS Ii IlOIIlCS duu DCIlU.
for the people. who are a Thousand
times of more Importance than all tn,
railroads in the world. A man may b,
happy on few acres and misera bl,
with the right to tramp and starv'
over continent.
"The public safety" said the ole
Roman maxim, sis the supreme law
and surely there can be no safety fo
government if the people are no
prosperous and happy, and therefor
: patriotic. l. D.
Extra copies Of the REPRESENTA-
| TIVE of the issues of Dec. II and &c
: containing Mr.. Donnelly's two previ
Gus articles, for sale at the office, 30
,, Boston Block, or fourth floor, Tribun
Building.
: THINKS TARIFF SHOULD REST