The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-03-08
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Mr.. Ralston Advances The Single
Tax Idea and Gives Els Reason
Therefor,

Therefor.
To the Editor of The Republican.
have very briefly pointed out that
the people of the City of Baltimore are
scourged, as it were with whips of scor-
piOns, through the misuse of powers OF
taxation, through turning oyer for pri-
vate exploitation public rights and
franchises, and through delivering
Government into the hands Of machines
which conduct it primarily in their own
interests. Because Baltimore is a SIN
ner in these respects to a degree great
er than any progressive city ia the
United States, because the citizens of
Baltimore to an extent beyond those of
any other part of MARYLAND display the
unconscious cruelty of great wealth, let
it not be thought that the counties are
guiltless. Their offenses against the
well being of their citizens are in the
matter Of taXation-and this is the best
that can be said of them-not greater
or different from those of practically
all other counties in the United States
Taxation furnishes the life-blood of
government. 1t has been said that all
the great battles for liberty have been
fought over it. Certain it is that the
struggles to do away with the
feudal system were efforts to deprive
great lords of their powers of taxation,
though not always so described The
English revolution of 1910, was a con-
test on the part of the Commons to con-
troll taxation. The American revolution
was primarily based upon the fight of
taxpayer to determine his own taxes.
The French revolution was a fight
against enforced taxes. The spring of
action in the movement of mankind to-
ward higher civilization for several
hundred years past, had had little basis
other than the question of taxation,
and withal we have not vet advanced
much beyond carelessly following the
dietum of the French minister who said
that the Science of taxation seemed
to be to pluck from the goose the largest
amount Of feathers with the least
amount of Squ- viking"
In some parts of the Union the IN
dustrious goose has commenced to
squawk about the needless robberies of
feathers, but has hardly peeped in
MARYLAND. Baltimore kisses the hand
that plucks and the counties generally
do not know that they are robbed. A
mere discussion of possible evils in taxa
ton aflicts many of their citizens with
cold shivers.
Consider for moment the associa-
ton between liberty and local taxation.
Liberty means something more than
the right to put slip of paper IN the
ballot box. 1t means the unobstructed
right to own ones self, TO put ones
faculties to their best use, to create to
build, to manufacture, to set nature at
work according to ones will, without
let or hinderance at any point. ct also
means of course freedom of speech and
of the press, freedom of movement and
a right to think whatever one will,
whether it be pleasing to the majority
or nor.) If l am right, let US see
whether we have liberty in MARYLAND
IN state or county.
If l desire to make q purchase of a
erchant or lumber dealer, may not
so until he has paid large taxes upon
stock in trade and oft times licenses
the privilege to do business. Nv
right to trade with him in respects
night be useful to me and bene-
, him is checked. His right to
! TO sell, as natural as is that of
9 and as essential to his liberty,
cd and almost DESTROYED in
5. He would like to do
2tageous to the community
elf, and the community com
aY for the right as if it
lege.
completed my purchases
merchant or lumberman |
-lings so bought and frame
then. INTO the form of a house, nv
taxes are increased not once but for as
many years as the house may stand.
Protection against the winters cold
and the summers heat, therefore, is
not freely enjoyed as a right but bought
as a privilege. The possibility of my
employing my fellows under circum-
stances advantageous to both sides is
diminished.
So it | furnish my house | find the
State and county at every stage in the
production of the furniture would buy
have levied their toll upon production