The Washington herald., 1909-07-26

.speculations as to possible remedies. The
pressure OF population on subsistence
noted by Nautilus is not more chronic
than the pressure Of population upon en-
ployment or the means by which sub
sistence may be gained In either case,
the trouble would be minimized by re-
duction Of population. Overpopulation
still appears to be at the bottom OF much
human misery, just as Malthus assumed
it was"
Overpopulation never was at the bot
tom OF any human misery neither in our
day nor In the days Of Malthus. Can any
thing be clearer than that the cause OF
human misery which exists IN our large
cities is not IN the weakness Of produo-
tive powers? In our largest cities. where
poverty is most degrading. the powers OF
producing wealth are capable, II fully
employed, 70 provide for the poorest and
weakest, not only subsistence, but lux
ury.
The present Industrial depression is GER
tainly not due to the inability OF the
people to produce wealth. Our system Of
taxation. by permitting men TO hold valu-
able land out OF use In expectation OF a
future Increase Of its value. would pro-
duce In stationary population all the
effects attributed 70 the Malthusian theory
to overpopulation.
Tendency OF Population.
Ever since its enunciation. the doctrine
OF Nautilus. that the natural tendency OF
population is to increase In a geometrical
ratio. while the means Of subsistence IN
crease only IN an arithmetical ratio, has
greatly influenced thought not only as TO
the problem OF population, but in regions
Of even higher speculation. IL IS the basis
OF the Darwinian theory OF evolution. and
supports the orthodox theory OF wages
and Ricardos law OF rent. Darwin him
self. in his Origin OF Species" says that
the struggle for existence Is the doctrine
Of Nautilus applied with manifold force
to the whole animal and vegetable king
doms"
Buckle. in his History OF Civilization"
attributes TO Malthus the honor OF de-
cisively proving the orthodox theory OF
wages by advancing his theory OF popu-
latiOn; but holds that without Smith
there could have been no Nautilus. ''Un-
less Smith had laid the foundation he
says. Nautilus could not have raised the
superstructure."
The orthodox doctrine Is that wages are
fixed by the ratio between the number OF
laborcrs and the sum OF capital devoted
10 their employment. and constantly tends
70 the minimum OF subsistence, because
the number OF laborers tends naturally 10
increase faster than capital can be ac-
cumulated The number of laborers be-
ing limited by the minimum rate OF wages,
capital may be Increased 10 lnfnity with
out increasing wages BY substituting In
the formula OF wages population for la
Dorers, and subsistence for capital. and
an arithmetical rate OF increase for sub
sistence and geometrical rate for popu-
latiOn. and We have the famous NIalthU-
sian doctrine OF population identical with
the orthodox theory Of wages.
The, gratuitous and unwarranted as
sumption Of geometrical and arithmetical
rates OF increase Is too absurd for dis
cussiOn. John Stuart NIL speaks OF It
as IAN unlucky attempt TO give precision
10 things which do not admit Of It. while
every person capable Of reasoning must
see It is wholly superfiuous 70 the argu-
ment"
Wealth producing Power Increases.
A reversion OF the rates would be much
nearer the truth Since the days OF Nal
thus has not the power OF producing
wealth increased a hundred fold. and IN
some instances a thousand fold. while the
population Of the earth has remained
practically stationary?
The Malthuslan theory afirms that
whatever be the capacity for production.
the natural tendency Of population is TO
outrun f. and thus produce that degree
Of poverty and misery which prevents
further increase: so that as the powers
OF production are increased population
will correspOndingly increase and produce
the same conditions as before. This the
ory is absolutely contrary TO the facts.
There is not a country in the world
where poverty can be properly attributed
to the pressure OF population on sub
sistence in the then existing standard OF
Intelligence. The poverty attributed 10
overpopulation can be traced 10 the
monopollzatiOn OF land and TO the chronic
warfare and aristOCratiC privileges which
prevent the development OF mental DOW
er and deny security essential 70 produc-
ton. Nor would the trouble be mini
miZed. as you contend, by a reduction OF
the population. How could the reduction
Of population lessen human misery?
There is no necessity here for abstract
reasoning. The question is one OF simple
fact Does the relative power OF produc-
ing wealth decrease with the Increase OF
population? The answer is so clear and
convincing that II Is only necessary to
point II out 10 compel conviction. We
have observed this city advance in pOpu-
latiOn. Has 1t not at the same time ad-
vanced more rapidly in wealth? 1t is
still growing. Is Il not augmentlng its
wealth in far greater proportion?
Land MOnOpOIiEatiOn.
The monopolization OF land, and not
pressure OF population upon subsistence,
is at the bottom OF the human mis-
cry which afiicts the world to-day. The
remedy is simple. There is only one way
to abolish an evil. and that is remove its
cause. Human misery increases as
wealth augments and wages are lowered
while the powers OF production increase.
because land. which is the source OF all
wealth and opportunity for all labor IS
monopolized To abolish poverty and al
leviate human misery and make wages
the full earnings Of labor. we must place
all taxation upon the value OF land. ire
specuve OF improvements. and thus rem
der IL Improbable 10 withhold land from
use in anticipation OF future increase.
The value which attaches TO land Is
due to the growth Of the community
therefore the community should take It
for public purposes and leave TO the indi-
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