294 Evolution and Social Reform: 



this right, on the plea that somewhere in its past history 

 there is a taint of violence, a point in which, as I have 

 already shown, it resembles practically all other jjroperty, 

 and they propose to confer it upon whom? Upon 

 those who first occupied the land and held it in common ? 

 Kot at all: these, so far as our country is concerned, were 

 the Indians, and the Indians still remain elsewhere, having 

 been driven from here by violence and fraud. Ultenre 

 are these to whom the value is to be given ? The answer 

 must here be as in the jjoem, 



" Out of the everywhere into the here." 



Yes, to stragglers from all parts of the known world, who 

 have never heretofore had any riglit to this land, whose 

 right if it exists is, according to JNEr. George's theory, founded 

 upon violence and fraud, the value of the land which is to 

 be wrung from those who have honestly acquired it is to be 

 given. It is proposed that the change suggested by Mr. 

 George might be made gradually. If a man must submit 

 to the loss of his leg I am not sure that theie is much more 

 comfort in having it cut off say an inch at a time, once a 

 month, than in having it taken at one fell swoo]). 



The question of taxation, which Henry George claims to 

 be such a simple one, is on the conti-ary a very difficult 

 one. This is not the tune to go into that matter, and I am 

 not competent to handle it thoroughly if it were. But as 

 I may be expected to suggest something I will state two 

 principles which I believe to be absolutely sound, and ex- 

 press an opinion which I think worth consideration. 



First Principle: Taxes should be so levied that their 

 amount and effect may be clearly understood. This is not 

 the case Avith our present protective-tariff taxes. If it is 

 best to give pecuniary encounigement to certain industries 

 - into which question I do not ])ropose to enter the only 

 straightforward and honest way is to pay a bounty for their 

 develojunent and prosecution, and to obtain the necessary 

 funds by just and equitable taxation, the character and 

 extent of Avhich is plain to all. If the amount and result 

 of all taxation were clearly understood, you may be very 

 sure that the total would soon be rapidly reduced. We are 

 troubled by a surplus and its consequent enormous evils 

 simply because the national taxes are levied in such a way 

 that the j)ayer does not know when or what he is paying. 



