The independent., 1903-10-08
The Single Tax

sClnclAnatl, 0cLss4 -fCduQlQdCe her
rick's Lecturen on the Single Tax :,
This was the subject of an c idress de-
iiyered by Mr.. Herbert S. BigelOw in
hie pulpit at the Vine Street Congre-:
gational church. 5. s.es g
Text: LET there be light. Gen. 1:S.
Mr.. Bigelow said in part:
Is the story of Genesis the literal,
truth? We have mere important busi-
ness than to quarrel over that Ques-
tiOn. We are engaged in building upon
the earth human society which shall
make possible the perfect development
Of all the latent powers OF the race.
Our work is to create world where
all men shall grow into the widest
possible freedom. where all shall be
clothed with the light of reason, and
bow in glad submission to Loves roy
al law, and bow to that alone.
Such state of society is what Jesus
called the kingdom Of God upon earth.
Salvation | hold to be that condition
OF mind and heart which fills a man
with hope and energy to work for the
establishment of this coming society
of the sons of God.
But how shall we work? Let us
find the answer n the 4lnguage OF our
text. There is the hint OF profound
truth in this Genesis story. In con-
tains some gooa philosophy if it is
rot good history. For we are told
that the first condition of the world
was that OF utter darkness. We are
told that the first command of the Gre
ator was: Let there be light" We
cannot go back of these luminous
words. Whatever imperfections exist
Ia the world are due to mental dark
ness. II order is to come out of chaos,
ii ugliness is to give way to beauty,
If freedom is to taEe the place Of slav-
cry, if there is tC be progress, it must
be by letting ths light in on the dark
problems. Let there be light. Let the
truth be known. Bring every proposal
for the improvement Of society out
into the broad day. Let us welcome
the clash of opinions. There is no
health in stagnant water. Let the bat
tic of bayonets cease that the battle
OF ideas may proceed. This is our
OILY safety.
The republican candidate for gov
ernor, Mr.. Herrick, is trying to keep
people from voting for his opponent by
telling them that the single tax, whicn
Mr.. Johnson is known to favor, has
been disastrous failure wherever it
has been tried. Every man who is
Informed as to the single tax move
ment knows this Is not true. But
those who are most isolicitous for the
advance of this movement, may LOOK
with serenity upon such statements.
Even though they are false, they serve
to force this question into the arena
O. public debate. Out of this debate
will come the truth. Even the enc
mics of truth are pressed into her SER
vice, and those who seek to defame'
her, do but publish her virtues.
After Mr.. Herrick's remarks thou
sands Of people will be asking for, the
filst time in their lives, What is the
single tax and where has it been
tried?' To ask that question is to
throw open their minds to the light
The first city in the world to edont
Henry Georges plan was Palmerston
North, little city in the north of New
Zealand. In 1897. this city ecided by
vote of 262 to IL to raise their local
revenue by assessing the land values
alone, and exemping all buildings and,
personal property.
If. as Mr.. Herrick says, this plan
had proven failure, do you not think
the people of Palmerston woul1 have
heard of 1t? They have had it now
for six years. Wh., have they not re-
pealed it? After 1t had been working
for three years. the taxing district i'm
mediately adjoining Palmerston
adopted the plan by vote of 105 to 10
Do you not think these next door
neighbors had a letter chance than Mr..
Herrick to judge of the merits of the
plan?
Wellington is the capital of New
Zealand and has population of 5O,-
Geo. On the 14th CT November. 1901,
b. vote of 1851 to sol, this city
aGopted the single tax plan of raising
local revenues. In his annual report
OF last year the city clerk of yelling
u0WsC TsIyCo