The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-11
"PROPRRTY IN LAND
The Subject Discussed by Henry
George at Plymouth Church
Last Night

Henry George, the renowned orator and
sgitator at Plymouth Church last night
faced an audience composed of the most in
tellight men in the city-one that was much
more demonstrative than that which greeted
him on Wednesday night. Mr.. George
stepped to the front of the platform or altar
at 8 o'clock. and without the for
mality of an introduction began
to spesk, announcing first that his
theme would be Property In Land In
his inistory remarks Mr.. George said that it
was his purpose to 80 over large subject
ltswas his sole aim 10 excite thought, snd at
the conclusion of his lecture he would gladly
answer any interrogatory propeunded
The speaker stated that he had bsen told
on more than one occasion that poverty was
the result OF an indispositiOn on the part of
working classes to save, and sgain that hard
tunes were induced by an over
production. This was not the
case. There was common sense for
all this poverty. 1t had been brought about
by our treatment of land all over the civil
lied world. Land on which and from which
the people must live had fallen into the
hands OF q small portion Of human beings.
Let one man own all the soil In one country
and he would he the absolute ruler OF that
country. Let one class own ali of the land
land ownership was distributed this absolute
power would not arise so soon. II was no
wonder that all over the civilized world We
found Widespread poverlY. TWAS because the
msjority of men had no legal right to live
With ali our progress it was becoming more
and more difficult for the average man to
live. Insanity was increasing all over the
civilized world, simply because more and
more severe strain was being put upon the
human system. Thousands of men aud wo-
men would starYe to death were il not for
charity. They we're leading even worse
life than the veriest savage. This ought not
10 be- There was no natural reason
for il. Wages had not come up as
the power OF labor had increased,
and even in what wers called the best of
times hundreds OF unemployed men willing
to work loiteTed about the streets. Was
not this the result of the shutting up OF
opportunities? There could be no over.pro-
duction until ell wants were satisfied, and
the very men who talked about over produc-
ton cid not believe in it. The speaker said
that be did not intend TO throw out the
impression that the land question was the
only question, but he did know that il
was the fundamental question. In
many ways the many were impoverished
for the few. we were accustomed to con-
slider property IN land as property In right.
Such was not the case. That which a man
brought into being was his by right-his own
against the world. No man could show IT,
tie to lard coming from him who made il.
1t was clear perception that We were ali
here on equal terms. The right to life and
the right 10 land was equal. The speaker
then dwelt at great length upon our system
of taxation, giving several clear
illustrations. TX man built
house he could see no
reason why o collector should fiae him for
so doing. After making a few more re.
marks on this subject, Mr. George said that
ary person in the audience who so desired
could question him. and among those who
responded to this invitation were ex Govern.
or Porter, lHon. James Buchanan, Philip
Rappsport, Major j. w. Gordon, Represent
alive Taylor and Edward Pope, Mr.. George
answered all the questions proposed, aud
many of them were very difficult ones, with.
out hesitancy, and took great pains to go in
to details in order that his questioners might
clearly understand him.