TAXATION AND LAND 



revenue system. I do not think so. In the 

 case of any successful monopoly, a certain 

 portion of the winnings is due to adminis- 

 trative skill and effort, and is not the gift of 

 society. Land value, on the other hand, is 

 purely the creature of social deed and toil. 



Professor Patten shows how a monopoly 

 tax may also be utilized for the immensely 

 important purpose of steadying retail prices, 

 but brevity forbids more than a mention of 

 such a possibility in this place. 



Lastly, it is an old maxim of political 

 science that a constitutional government 

 must be kept poor, dependent, unable to get 

 money except by the deliberate act of its 

 constituents. The doctrine has history be- 

 hind it and human nature beneath. A 

 republic is no safer in this matter than a 

 monarchy. Let its ruling powers have ac- 

 cess to resources which are not voted to 

 them, item by item, after debate and reflec- 

 tion, and liberty will soon be but a name. 



Now, by the operation of the single tax 

 in the form desired by Mr. George, govern- 

 ment is provided with the most ample reve- 



287 



