The independent., 1903-10-08
SOCIALISTS AND SINGLE TAKERS.

EQlLOr lQucpcuueut. ApIOpOc VI tuC
numerous communications that have
appeared in The Independent concern
ing the agreements and disagreements
of socialists and single takers, | beg
to be allowed to call the attention Oh
your readers to recent very small
pamphlet published by Frank Vierth,
Cedar Rapids, Ia, under the tile
~ Leok Ahead" In this pamphlet will
be found the fairest and clearest state
ment nave anywhere seen OF the real
difference between the ultimate prin-
ciples of the single tax and that OF So
cialism.
do not say the difference between
single takers and socialists, but be-
tween the single tax and socialism. For
believe in all sincerity that there
are thousands of socialists who do
lot really believe in socialism. | have
not tall ed with a thousand, but
have with some, who, while protesting
to be socialists, certainly did not be-
lieve in socialism, except as all of us
more or less do, namely, in the things
that are properly neither thine" nor
mime" but ours" am sure there
are many other socialists who have
the same attitude toward socialism as
those with whom / have spoken.
This distinction between socialism
and any socialist party is alluded to by
the author, MIR. Louis F. Post, in the
little pamphlet to which have re-
ferred. am quite sure that the fol-
lowing quotation will be of interest to
those who have followed the discus
sions in your paper:
THE principle which animates the
single tax policy is one of two forces
that today are gathering for conflict
The other is the socialist principle. |
do not allude to the socialist party
That may or may not figure in the
struggle before us as the representa-
tive of the principle of socialism. No
one can tell. What ! do allude to is
Is now an expression. Whether it
finds ultimate expression in party
calling itself socialist, or otherwise,
Tafes no difference. So with the sin
gle tax principle. This raises no ques-
tion of particular political parties or
platforms or programs. 1t is the vital
principle of practical individualism
1t is the principle, with reference to
property, not of the sacredness of
mine" or of thine" nor of mine
and thine," but of the sacredness of
mine, the sacredness of thine, and the
sacredness of ours. In the conflict
between these two principles, social
ism and the single tax, every man who
lives much longer will be compelled to
choose
'"The question he must sit in judg.
lment upon is whether, on the one
hand, he will promote a social prin-
ciple the philosophy of which is eco
nomic fatalism and it's ideal to ma e
everything of society and nothing of
the individual; or will, on the other
hand, promote the principle which
distinguishes social from individual
functions, social from individual
rights, social from individual duties
conserving them all by taHing for So
ciety what belongs to society and leav-
ing to each individual what belongs to
him. This is the issue"
We NAV fully agree in the spirit of
Mr.. Ernest Crosbv's fine article In the
Henry Georee Edition of The Inde-
pendent in wishing to minimize differ
eDces, yet where there are real diff
ferences of principle. of co"rse there is
Ho profit in hiding the fact.
J. H. DILLARD.
TICON To CpAT nTNTC