The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-06-23
The Philosophy of Freedom
THE ANTI-MEDDLERs.

means bad ADVICE, and an Antl-Med-
dlers' Movement" such as is suggested
by Mr.. lie Saulnier, ought to have a
big following. OF course, the great
difficulty will be to find out just
where a person has no business" and
where he has, 1t all depends upon the
viewpoint 1t may be business for
the book agent who insists upon TAX
ing my order for a copy of the Royal
Path of Life" but the chances are !
should regard 1t as meddling."
The Independent is not an admirer
of the ideal anarchistic philosophy;
but nevertheless admits that it is a
force which prevents people from 60
ing too far in the other direction. Mr.
lie Saulnier's letter follows:
Editor Independent: Somebody
sent me The Independent of May IL
with l.. P. Clusters article and reply
of associate editor, both articles
marked.
! think If you will read carefully my
card and anti-meddler leaflets en-
closed, they will explain the single tax,
the money question and all other ques-
tions, at least among intelligent, ex-
perienced men, who want to side with
what seems just, leaving out all other
considerations.
do not expect to invade persons or
property not even with the sanction
Of law. The one exception is in de-
Tense against invasion.
The associate editor surely knows
that wherever land Gas Henry George
understood IT'D is sold for any consid-
GRAFTON whatever, the equivalent OF
yearly rent land value of which would
be paid to the government as single
tax goes to the seller CT land III some
form. Where no government exists
or government supports Itself by other
forms Of taxation. land values are
largely if not entirely earned by the
owners in some form.
In the absence of organized govern
ment, no title to land would be rec
ognized except that OF reasonable use
and If the strongest rule, they will
naturally do great deal to get con-
genial company and have to take an
active and vigilant part in securing
their safety One Of the best express
siOns | heard lately is that natural
friction is better than organized gov
eminent can ever hope to be for the
masses; another good expression is,
Society leaders at present hold one end
of the chain of industrial and social
slavery The anti-meddler movement
is designed to do away with all forms
of slavery.
AS long as people will pay taxes and
government not spend them in use
less or frivolous ways. government
paper currency will be as good as pri-
vate banking paper is under good man
agement. The IL per cent which the
national government levies on all
money not issued by the United States
treasury department makes virtual
monopoly money and when govern
ment compels the payment of debts Of
private parties in that monopoly mon
ey, this gives our big financiers the adj
diti0nal legal power to crush the
smaller ones and get wealth without
giving an equivalent. The legal power
to collect rent, interest, profit or
ished, SO that contracting parties
would have to secure their contracts
privately and of course pay the ex-
pense, and when no laws interfere
with freedom of competition In the Is
sue of money. reasonable use OF the
only title to land, in fact no legal med
ding of any sort. then natural condi-
tions can prevail and light dispell the
present dark outlook for superslitious
people. LOUIS LIE SAULNlER.
Red Bud, Ill
Mr.. lie Soulniers business card con-
tains the following:
THINGS 1 AM ASHAMED TO DO.
1.-prohibit the reasonable use OF
idle lands not reserved for public or
special use
2.-Rob people when they bring mer-
chandise from foreign countries, not
even for revenue or protection Of in
dustrics.
3.-Scare or compel people 10 pay
my tax whatever, for Henry Georges
plan IN ample for government needs:
government and society produce
ground values. let them collect them,
4 MAYnF MANI 4 aANsA Aanp a.