The record-union., 1898-10-19

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it was introduced in the Senate every
Democratic Senator in that grand BODY
voted for that law (Applause) More
than that, it was in that Senate re-
garded so just that every Popultst IN
the United States Senate voted for that
law. Not only that, but it wIs SUD
jected to the judgment OF Repupn-
can and it protected the interests OF
the country so well that every Repuo-
lican Senator of the United States SEN
ate voted for that law. (AppIause.)
Now fellow-citizenS, a, law so gooo SO
Just so mindful Of the rights OF the
American people that not dlsSentlnS
voice in that grand body OF men OF
the United States Senate was raised
against it must indeed be a good law,
! take it. And when was 1t that my
distinguished opponent became pos
sessed of more ability, Of greater Judg-
ment, of greater integrity, of more WIS
dom than all Of the men in the United
States Senate? applause and loud
cheering) Do you wonder that we
say that that is not an issue in this
campaign? Of course it is not. 1t IS
simply a pretended issue Of my distin-
guished opponent, and that is all there
is of that.
Well, my friends, there is another
matter that I will discuss before giving
away to the Ajax of orators OF the
Pacific Slope, my friend General
Barnes. tremendous cheering and ap-
plause.) And, by the way, see that
Mr.. Mcguire says that Barnes is writ
ing my speeches for me. Oaughter.}
That is little rough on the General,
I take it. Naughter)
THE SINGLE TAX.
Now, my friends, desire to call your
attention to the attitude Of my distin-
guished opponent relative to princi-
pie which imperils the rights Of prop
erty, imperils the liberty Of every man
in this State, and I refer to the senti-
ments which he entertains upon the
question of single tax. And, that may
not do violence to him, desire to read
a paragraph or two from the principles
which he has advocated, and which we
claim are destructive Of the rights or
property and Of individual liberty, and
which we in our platform denounce.
Now, he and his supporters say that
the single-tax question is not an issue
in this campaign. Well, why not, ii you
please? Mr.. Mcguire proposed single
tax laws in the House Of Congress.
He proposed laws which would transfer
all taxation from all other property to
land only. He proposed a law and
voted for a principle which denied the
right of the miner to take quartz from
his ledge or gold from the gravel pit.
Now, having done that. the members
of the Democratic party who assem-
bled in this very city in solemn con-
vention passed a resolution indorslng
every act of every Democratic Repre-
sentative in Congress and every DEM
ocratic Senator. When that Democratic
convention indorsed the acts of Mr..
Mcguire, and indorsed his contention
for single tax, then did they not make
it an issue? How is it possible for a
matter to become an issue except III
that way? Now, let US see what his
utterances are? Not all Of them. be-
cause you would not sleep during the
night if I should attempt to read all
that he said on that subject But
will read few passages, which will
be sufficient for the time being to illus
trate the argument that / am about TO
make. I quote the following part Of
his reply speech from the Congress
sional Record" of date February II,
1894, VOL 26, No. a, indicating his
views upon the American property
rights. He said: MY amendment pro-
poses a tax on that unearned incre-
ment as a substitute for the tax on
other incomes prescribed in the bill,
which has just been offered as an
amendment to the Wilson tariff bill.
It is understood by you as we'll as by
me to be the assertion Of a principle
which will ultimately transfer the en-
tire burden of all taxation for the pur-
pose Of supporting our EKderal, State,
county and municipal Governments
from all other subjects to the value Of
the lands of the country" Listen to
that Now again: my proposition IS
to impose all taxes for Government
purposes upon the value Of land" Then
later, when the free homestead bill
was being considered, on the 10th day
of March Of this year, Mr. Mcguire
said, upon the subject which has been
indorsed by our Democratic brethren:
Equity does not permit property In
land: that its good conscience does not
permit any man or any woman to own
land. For. If one portion Of the earth 5
surface may become fully the possess
sion of an individual and may be held
OY MIN IOT MS SUE use anu DClAIAAN IAA~Ai
every portion Of the earth's surface
may be so held and our planet may thus
lapse into private hands" That is the
position that he takes against the rights
of any man to own land, and he further
says that "the rights Of mankind to
the earth at large is still valid, all
deeds, customs and laws to the con-
trary notwithstanding" What do you
think of that doctrine? That, no mat
ter how much you may have paid for
q piece of property, no matter how long
You may have owned 1t, no matter how
strong your deed is, no matter how
perfect your chain Of title, your right
of property Is indefensible. He does not
even stop there; he strikes at the home.
Listen a moment: mot only have pres
ent land titles an indefensible origin,
but it is impossible to discover any
mode by which land can become pri-
vate property. The world Is Gods be-
Quest. and, because you have taken up
residence upon a certain part of land,
subdued, cultivated and beautified that
part. improve 1t as you may, you are
not therefore warranted in appropriat-
ing II as your private property. AT
least If you do so you may at any mo-
ment be justly expelled by the lawful
TIL -OpI,%Iorc.