The independent., 1903-05-14

dollars his farm would sell for, but
by the number and extent of the OPP
portunities he may make use of to
give his family comfortable home,
to educate his children and to give
them a start in life. What better
could the farmer do for the future of
his children than to make the land
forever free?
But why should the single tax be
singled out from all other proposed
industrial reforms and be condemned
on this ground? Is there now or has
there ever been q social or economic
measure advocated or adopted that is
not open to the same objection? Many
people honestly believe a protective
tariff is a benefit to the farmer and
wage labOrer, yet its adoption de-
s.rcyed immense values based ON the
shipping industry and foreign trade.
or at least large reduction Of exist
ing tariffs would better the condition
of the masses, yet this would evil
IDENTIFY result In heavy loss to large
class of investors. Several states
have adopted laws against the manu-
facture and sale of intoxicating liq-
uors which entailed great loss upon
the liquor dealers and manufacturers.
The repeal of the national banking
act would cause slump In the price
of government bonds, and the remone-
tization of silver would reduce the
value of credits. Even the destruction
or regulation OF trusts and combines
would cause a tumble in industrial
stocks, and the widows and orphans
whose savings are invested in these
securities would be impoverished.
Have the advocates of any Of these
movements ever considered the ques-
tion of loss or compensation to the
classes affected. 1t is true that the
government reimbursed Queen Liliuo-
kalani for the loss of her throne, and
the sultan of Sulu and his datos have
been given a monthly allowance for
permitting their subjects to revel in
the benefits Of higher civilization,
but there never has been or never can
be a social movement for the better
ment of mankind without some indi-
yidual loss or temporary hardship. OF
all the proposed reforms the single
tax would be attended with the least
inconvenience and result in the great
est benefits.
Allusion has been made to the anti
slavery movement in it's early days,
when the opponents OF slavery always
advocated compensation to the slave
holders. 1t may be that at that time
the advocates OF freedom thought it
the right thing to pay the Shareholder
for his lawful property or they may
have made this concession in order to
escape persecution, but It is motor
ious fact that when the anti-slavery
movement gained sufficient power to
accomplish results the public con-
science was not so considerate of the
slave-owners' rights. Apologists may
say that the abolition of slavery was
effected as military necessary and
perhaps this is to some extent true,
but the emancipation proclamation
did not aid the federal cause so much
by weakening the south as it did by
Strengthening the north. There was
widespread fear among the old anti
slavery leaders that the war might
end without the slaves being freed
and some definite action on the part
of the government had to be taken
in order to hold the abolitionists in
line with the government. 1t was not,
however, military necessity that led
congress to adopt the thirteenth and
fourteenth amendments which set
free the slaves, not only of the states
which had seeded, but of the loyal
states as well: not only the slaves of
men who had given their aid and sup
port to the rebellion, but of those also
who had held true to the stars and
stripes and at the same time inserted
a clause forbidding congress ever to
allow a claim for the loss of slaves.
The single tax, like all other pro-
posed measures for the good of man,
should be tried on its merits and if
| it would result in benefit to the masses
after once it became established any
temporary hardship that might result
| on its adoption should not be consid-
cred. J. Fl. SHEETS.
Browerville, MINI.
What's in a name? Is there any
Significance in thn fact that FREE