.

" Let us see what are the different characteristics of land as distinguished from other commodities.

" First, it comes from the hand of the Creator, and does not owe its existence to man.

"Second, it is limited in quantity. You can no more add to the area of a country than you can add a cubit to your stature.

"Third, it is necessary for our existence; it is necessary for our production; it is necessary to us when we wish to exchange our products with one another.

" Fourth, land does not owe its value to anything which its owner chooses to spend on it. If it does, I will not tax that.

" Fifth, land owes its value entirely to the presence and activity and expenditure of the community.

"Sixth, land cannot be carried away and cannot be concealed.

"I can tell you, ladies and gentlemen, these are valuable qualities in the eyes of the tax-gatherer. Do you know, does any man in this room know, of any other commodity which possesses all these characteristics? If he does, let him name it now; and I will mention it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

"Yet they tell us that land is the same as any other commodity! What a terrible mess men get themselves into when they venture to make such an assertion. I say that possessing these characteristics land is a peculiar subject for special taxation."