The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-11-19
The Philosophy of Freedom
An Open Forun for Single Takers

BY arrangement with The Macmil-
Ian Co., The Twentieth Century Press,
II East 10th street, New York, has ac-
Quired the exclusive control of the
paper edition of Mr.. w. j. Clients well
known work, Our Benevolent Feudal-
ism." A new issue, the fourth, of e.,
600 copies, Is now on the press and
will be ready for delivery early in Mo-
vember at popular price.
Editor Independent: Our late cleo
ton in Ohio proves condition of in
dustrial slavery. The powers that be
have for a generation taught the
wOrkingman th.t it is a prime object
OF government to furnish employment,
and they who are creating the ma
tons wealth have never, debated the
question, why is it necessary that
anybody needs to be furnished with
employment" There was nothing in
the democratic platform that every
American citizen could not freely in
Gorse, and the campaign made by the
opposition was that of mastery
evasion. But the ever ready argument
o. threat used during the last month,
Of mills and shops closing in the event
Of democratic success has not lost its
power Of persuasion. The producers
o. this country fear the loss of their
Job more than did the chattel slaves
OF the south, and small coterie of
trust magnates are in position to tie
Up the affairs of business on twenty
four hours notice. Cleveland having
been elected b.. 8 party that de-
nOunced protection as q fraud, there
was a continuous panic during his
term, and he seemed unable, il he were
sc disposed, to point solution for un-
employed labor. Shall we therefore
consider that the party now in pow
er has monopoly of all the virtues
and that production must cease with a
change Of public poAcy? Yet that is
the claim in substance of those who
have control. 1t looks like partisan
rancor run to seeu; the superstition
Of ages manifested in politics, to be
reminded that we dare not challenge
the existing order of things. 1t is it.
self confession that state-craft has
reached very low ebb. LET well
enough alone is the phrasing Of a
Captain Kidd, the shiDooleth of such
as George F. Baer, who claims an
ownership of the earth by divine ap-
pointment.
And here Is the crux Of the whole
matter: Whoever owns the land vir-
tually owns the people who are on it.
There is no escaping the fact that
all labor Is in its last analysis always
land labor, and the first condition of
equal rights is that there be equal
terms OF access. In the exclusive pri-
vate ownership of the elements pro-
vided by nature, there is seen a wide
distinction between those who have
and those who need, and with the rise
Of population and improvement in the
arts, the disparity increases because
of enhanced land values. Even now
nine-tenths of the whole people are
iandless, exist by sufferance and la
Dor only by permission or those hav-
Ing the privilege and power of exclu-
sion.
No political party is held directly re-
sponsible for this system. There
never was time when land values
have not existed, but being due to
the growth and indus y of society as
= whole, large number in every par
ty have arrived at the conclusion that
this value belongs to the government.
While as an issue, the single tax can