Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-27
An Old l'aIlaCy.


1t is often asserted that as nations re-
sources are developed and its population
increases the rich are always. and all the
time growing, richer and the poor poorer.
This is the creed of Mr. Henry George
and his school, and of the socialists and
agitators. The statement rests upon as
serton. Is it true?
An Englishman, Mr.. J. :. Jeans, has
been collecting statistics bearing upon
this point, and his work somewhat irrele
vanity entitled, "rhe Supremacy of Eng
land lis full of suggestive information,
and the conclusions at which he arrives for
England are in all probability true tor this
country. From extended examination
of the English "blue books" Mr. Jeans
finds that statistics are all against
the assumption that the rich in that coun-
try are growing richer and the poor poorer.
On the contrary, he discovers that the
number of persons in England ying
taxes on incomes ranging in amount from
goo to $1,000 was in 1874 los, 955, while in
1884 the number was 203,0 G7. Thus it APP
pears that within ten years the number Of
persons in England paying taxes ON mod
crate incomes has increased by cjyhty
the number of those who paid taxes on in
comes greater than $1,000 increased only
thirteen per cent.
Mr.. Jeans further shows that, during
the last hundred years, the average
wages of the English workingman
have steadily increased, while the
cost of living has decreased This fact
will hardly be denied by Mr.. George or
any other economist, whether peSsimistiC
or not. Another factor tending to the in
creased health of the laboring classes, and
so to their increased earning power is the
improvement of sanitary systems, at pub
lie cost-the benefits of which are enjoyed
alike by rich and poor.
Such facts as these would seem to prove
that the condition of the English work
ingmen is not steadily becoming worse
Yet the wealth Of Great Britain is in
creasing, and according to the fallacy
which we have mentioned, the wealthy
classes ought to be enormously increas
ing in wealth, at the expense of the work
ing classes Il fact which Mr.. Jeans's
statistics do not at all support
In our own country while no such sta
tistics as those compiled by Mr.. Jeans are
dNdlltDle, lltIt can Dt lllllc uOiDJ tIlttt IL
similar condition of affairs exists. Indeed
Mr.. Jeanss conclusions ought to apply
even more forcibly here, for the same con-
ditions are intensified with us. Our re-
sources are being developed at an enorm-
Gus rate The absence of social distinc-
lions and the great demand for skilled
labor, together with the immediate re-
wards which fall to energy, enterprise and
business tact, give the laboring and mid
die classes in this country chances to i'm
prove their condition, and to acquire
wealth and influence with uneXampled
rapidty. In this country, at least, every
mans condition in life is largely
a matter of his own choice. That we have
any pauper class is largely the fault of the
individuals composing it. Shiftlessness,
intemperance and improvidence make Il
man poor anywhere and the man who is
marked by such qualities, does not de-
serve to be considerable steward of this
worlds goods. The fallacy that the rich
are growing richer and the poor poorer
applies least of all to American society
The fact doubtless is that the rich are
growing richer and the poor are also grow
ing richer and as Il rule the man who
deserves to prosper prOspers.