Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-25
HENRY GEORGE,
The Great Political Economist, Opposed
to the Theory of Nautilus, aud
Holds That
Vice, Want and Misery are Owing to
Bad and Unjust Laws-Much-
Needed Reforms.

George lecture on The "Malthusian Theory"
in Chickering Hall Monday evening. The
gas was turned down dim until $50 o'clock,
when the interior OF the hall was fully IL
luminsted and the lecturer stepped upon
the platform. Ee was introduced to the au-
dience by the Rev. DR.. Newton. After in
viting the few people 10 the rear seats TO
come forward and help to fill the front seas,
he Isaid the subject of his lecture was one
in which every human being was interested
Malthus, the founder Of the theory which
bears his name, died at the age of sixty-ive
yesrs. He wrote several books which at
trscted attention. He became famous. He
taught that famine, war, pestilence, disease
and death were necessary evils-thst without
them the population of The world would in
crease TO such an extent that there would
not be sufficient food TO feed the people.
Nautilus said: at is mistake TO suppose
that the increase in the food supply increases
in exact proportion 10 the growth OF popu
lation."
'OId beliefs are dying out" said Mr..
George. "Old abuses are passing away. We
look back 100 years ago, to the time of the
great political revolution in France. Refor-
nation of political and social systems we're
the order of the day. Malthus promulgated
his theory that diseases originate in vice.
Some of the most terrible diseases-those
which cause the greatest number of deaths
are the results OF wrong-doings and ignorance.
Hence vice and ignorance are important fac
tors in the economy OF the system which
governs the world. When population iu-
creases 10 an extent greater than the food
supply in any section OF the world, the people
in that section die OF starvation. There are
too many people in the City of New York.
The poor men who seek work find that there
is not az much work ss there is labor in the
market. Look at the crowded tenement dis
tries. The occupants can say there are not
enough homes for US. We are too numerous
As population increases it becomes more and
moresdifficult for each two hands to fill each
two mouths. This light lead us 10 suppose
that il the increase OF population were
not checked 1t would ultimately be
impossible for the one m6qh 70 b
satisfied by the Two hands. I have de-
scribed the theory OF Nautilus II it is true
it would be better to prohibit early mar
riages or 10 adopt some easy and painless
methods of putting the surplus population
to death. But is the Malthusian theory
true? How is it that there are thousands
apon thousands of acres of Hnoccupied land
on the face of the globe? Population GIBBS
and hows. There must have been time
when population began, for there was time
WHIT n this earth was uninhsbita BILE. But we
have no historical data reaching IS far back
as the beginning of population. / say that
vice and want and all kinds of misery are
owing TO bad laws, and bad Institutions.
Take Ireland, Tor Instance. What il tie
cause of the unfortunate condi ion of the
masses of the population to-day? Bad land
laws. The landlords are empowered 10 op.
press the people. Ireland is not densely
populated. The idea that there is an over
plus of population in Ireland Is great mis-
take. Why is it that Ireland is poor? The
land is not improved to the fullest extent.
The tensnt-fsrmer will not improve the
land or add to the value of his house or
pig pen by the application of a coat oil
whitewash, lest the landlord come
along aud increase the rent, When a
mans family can be turned out of house
and home on slight p'etext What en-;
couragement Is there for him to do anything
10 increase the parliament Valiie Of that house
and home? With proper laws to govern
people-with proper institulions-there
would be enough food for all. Here in the
United States the great trouble il, the popu-
lstion is not properly distributed. The pec-
pie crowd too much into the great cities,
while in the great West thousands upon
thousands of acres OF land are unoccupied
and untitled. There is great difference
between mankind and the brute. Ii is nstu-
raj for brutes 10 destroy each Other; but it is
unnatural for man TO destroy man. The
MalthitsIan theory is not trtte: Look at all
the CIVILIZED countries. Wherever there is
an increase Of population there is an in
crease of wealth. The great trouble is the
wealth is not well distributed. A few men
grasp the greatest share of the wealth. Il
is not The fault of God that there are pow
erty stricken people among as. We should
lay the blaEie 10 our Unjust laws and bad
institutions. II is absurd that few people
own the land that should be divided among
the many. The land belongs 10 the people.
Every man is entitled to his share or the
benefits that would accrue from his share.
There is r space OF ground down town upon
which a building occupied by the World
newspaper was burned. I am told that The
owner of that piece of land values it at
100000 When he cells il for that price
the Interest on the money will enable him TO
live in luxury. Why does he own that
land? SIMPLY because so-called title has
been handed down from some old Dutchman
of Peter Stuyvesant's time. Peter is dead,
and so are The other Dutcbmen of his day.
Why SHOULD not. the, people of New York
take possession Of the land. The Law of
land and rent Is unjust. 1t is an imposition
upon the rights of the people. What shall
be done with the law? Reform il. The
held by the nation-by The government.
The Income from the land should be div ided
amons the people"
Prof. Felix Adler occupied seat upon the
platform during The Lecture. In response to
calls from the audience be made a brief adj
dress, in which he said that he fully ac-
corded with the views which had been
expressed by Mr.. George in so able and pro-
found a manner.