The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-06-23
FIRST PAPER.
GENERAL OBJECTIONS.
1-EXTRAVAGANT CLAIMS

1-EAIRAVAGANTC CLAIMS.
In the first place, dogmatism on a
mere theory, or an untried experiment,
is an evidence of weakness.
The advocates Of single-tax put forth
Progress and Poverty as a text book
and it's claims with gospel positiveness.
The remedy will relieve poverty, set
tie all disputes between capital and ia
Dor, close the gap between the rich and
the poor, and it will do this certainly,
while no other possible remedy can ac-
complish any material relief or reform.
Is not this broad claim for a single
remedy?
Taxation is only one of the elements
in a system of political economy, and,
while, or even if, single-tax might be
superior in merit, to other modes of
levy, 1t is yet open to experiment, and
therefore it can not be put forth as a
panacea, even as to matters of taxation,
much less as remedy calculated to
bring the millennium.
Progress and Poverty cannot be re-
garded as a text book, from the simple
facts that it deals altogether with a the
DRY, that it does not weigh and discuss
opposing theories nor other proposed
remedies, and that it contradicts itself.
An infallible text book, or a proposed
political remedy claiming superiority Of
merit over all others, must not only be
free from contradictions. but it's argu-
ments must be based on incontrovertible
maxims OF philosophy and experience,
or those established by precedent In
addition to this, it must thoroughly
weigh and consider all opposing argu-
ments and all other proposed remedies
pretending to meet the same wants or
to relieve the same ills
None of these conditions are met in
single-tax literature, to lay nothing Of
the possible defects of the theory itself.
For instance, on page $40 of Progress
and Poverty" the author asserts that
single-tax would increase the price 6.
land, while, on page 313 he asserts that
it would decrease the price to such an
extent that land speculation would re-
ceive it's death blow"
This is a plain contradiction that
must be regarded as fatal to an argu-
ment dealing altogether with a theory.
In speaking of the business of the
remedy of single taX,in book VII P & P,
the author asserts positively that every
man "has the right of absolute owner
ship to the fruit of his labor" yet he
denies generally the right of private
property, and, in the same book, it
seems that his enthusiasm for land in
common so far gets the best Of his
judgment, that he denies the right Of
ownership over the fruits of ones la:
Dor, by advocating the unconditional
confiscation Of land, on the same prin-
ciple that the slaves of the south were
emancipated.
He advocates confiscation in another
way, by taking the entire rental in
taxes, if necessary (pg 303) and that the
state should apply this stringent rule
yet he cites quotations from McCauley,
Rev. w. S. Tenant and Miss Florence
Nightingale, showing the misery and
squalor Of the peasantry in India re-
sulting from excessive government ren-
tails and usury of money-lenders.
In book VI he asserts the impractic-
ability Of cooperation, government di-
rection. ETC., yet closes the book with
an approved quotation from Marcus
Aurelius advocating cooperation.
2-DOGMATISM.
If Progress and Poverty" is examin-
ed closely, it will be found to overflow
with bald dOgmatic assertions, espe-
cially when it comes to the considera-
ton OF other proposed remedies, which
it aims to get rid Of in this way
Rather than discuss them, the author
simply makes the broad assertion that
they are impracticable.
This is characteristic of the enthusi-
asst and dogmatist who imagines that he