The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-02-25
Equal Rights for All.

Editor Independent: Interest" has
long been looked upon as an evil. Re-
formers have cried out against it;
laws have been enacted to limit it,
and oftimes apparent justice has been
strained to favor its victims. Some
how-though vaguely and falteringly
economists have taken sides in it's
defense, while here and there would
come forth dreamer to denounce it,
knowing in his "soul" it was wrong,
but lacking evidence in nature to con-
vict it. Now comes the evidence, and
with its advent economics" money
systems" and wise professors" must
take to the woods" in search of more
fig leaves with which to cover tneir
newly discovered nakedness.
Sooner or later must civilization
if it is to advance-conform to the
edict of nature that proclaims equal
rights to all to the use of the earth.
Whoever attempts-with voice or law
to institute fundamental reform in
the body polite, without first bring
ing it into harmony with this edict
of nature, is foredoomed to failure
We might as well attempt to dam the
mouth of the Mississippi with bale
Of hay as to abolish interest by a leg
islative statute.
But If interest is wrong and un-
natural, which we admit, how other
than by laws are we to destroy it? As
all roads lead to Rome, so does this
problem take lis to the land question.
In the Single Tax Review Of Octo-
Der Is, Mr.. Joseph Faidy has re-
view of two bookstore written by
Mr.. Michael Flurscheim of Germany,
and one by Mr.. Lewis Behrens, an En-
elishman, in which both authors dem
onstrate that with the withdrawal OF
land from the market as an object Of
investment, interest would be abol-
ished."
The principle, as Mr. Faidy gives it,
is: THAT interest exists on account
OF the opportunity of investing capital
N land, which unlike anything else
that may be bought, possesses the ca
pacity of yielding a revenue in per-
petIity and without labor. Land, US
ing the term in its economic accep-
tation, possesses two qualities COM
mon to nothing else under the sun.
1t is indestructible and cannot be in
creased. The possession of land,
therefore, Is equal to the ownership
of sort of perpetual motion machine
that brings in revenue without
diminution of the original investment.
But remove land from the market as
a means of investment and what 9th
er employment of capital would yield
interest? We find upon reflection that
any other form of property in which
we can invest lacks the quality of in
destIuctibility and is also capable of
being duplicated. Lacking TIE quail
ity of indestructibility the cost Of
maintenance, especially under condi-
lions where labor obtained its full
product as wages, would equal the an
nual revenue; being possible of dupli-
cation it would be found that with
improved methods of manufacture,
the value of the original investment
would decrease. Furthermore, under
natural economic conditions, proGuc-
ton would be greatly increased, and
capital, instead of commanding
bonus, would seek employment on con-
dition of mere safe-keeplng and main
tenance."
The thing is all simpls enough, says
Mr.. Faidy, once the key is given, and
so 1t Is to whoever accepts the prin-
ciple of mans equal inheritance in the
counties of nature. With the instltu
ton of the single tax land would
cease to be an object of investment
and interest could no more be obtained
from capital. Barren metal would
cease to breed and this ravaging fire
in the marts OF civilization would go
out.
Mr.. Flurscheim's book, entitled
Rent, Interest and Wages" is pub
lishei by VIM. Reeves. 1856 Fleet street.
London. and Mr.. Behren's book. en-
titled Toward the Light" by Swan
a CO., Paternoster Square. London.
Him who he's eyes to see, let him