The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-07-23
words, it is this: ''The reason why in
spite Of increase of productive power,
rsooea constantly tend to 8 minimum,

words, it is this: ''The reason why in
spite of increase of productive power,
wages constantly tend to minimum,
which will give but bare living is that,
with increase in productive power, rent
tends to ever greater increase, thus pro.
ducing constant tendency to forcing
down Of wages" Mr.. George has solved
the social problem, and the solution can.
not be escaped, however much it may
diyerge from universally received opin-
ions, and even though it run counter to
our own prejudices, and to the dictates
of so-called authorities, on the subject OF
Political Economy. To those, who
without fair hearing of the "whys and
wherefores," form judgment from super,
fetal considerations, the theory will
apper ridiculous, aud be who is its ex.
FOUNDER, will be denominated "crank."
Having carefully paved the way for
the true solution, by clear and decisive
disproofs of existing theories, which
failed to account for the difficulty; hav-
ing substituted for these, theories de-
yeIoped from first principles, and depend
ing for their acceptance upon no author.
ity other than that of correct logical
reasoning; having by means of these
located the real cause of the evil TO be
in the private ownership of land, Mr..
George comes now to the point where he
is no longer left to simple disproofs and
substitutions of the doctrines of the
Science, but he has assigned to him the
task of producing remedy, which shall
fulfill all the requisites of justice, expe-
diency, and capab bility of application.
That remedy, after careful dissection
of remedies heretofore proposed, and an
exposition of their ineficiency, MIR.
George finds to be, not the con6scation of
land and its equal division among all
mep, as the Communist would say; but
the confscation Of rent and the abolition
of all taxation save that upon land
values. In this way, all the expenses
would be contributed for the support OF
the governmentby the land owners, and
no nan could long own very much more
land than he actually needed. Mr.. George
shows that the remedy is in exact accord
with justice, by demonstrating that the
private ownership of land is not an
inherent right, but has been assumed
after society had left its primitive state.
It is not consistent with nature. and
natures laws, that few should have q
monopoly of what is absolutely the first
great and essential factor of production.
Space will not allow, here, a review of
the ground over which the author goes,
in his careful discussion of the justice,
the application and the effects of remedy.
Our object has been more especially to
follow Mr.. George through his inquiry.
In doing 80, we have found the argu.
ments upon which the final conclusion is
reached, sound and forcible. This being
true, il. only remains for the intelligent
reader to discern for himself the beauti.
full simplicity and exquisite adaptability
of the remedy, which Mr.. George has
offered. Though radical in its effects, its
application need be attended with no
upheayal of the social organism. The
social state would be changed, but the
change would be gradual and would be
from condition founded on injustice to
one based on nature and Gods own laws.
The machinery of Government, as now
administered, would be more than sufti-
cient to carry out the idea, as the taxa.
tion would only be changed with regard
to the articles taxed.
It is in the discussion Of the benefits
arising from the execution of this remedy,
that Mr.. George, if anywhere, exceeds
the bounds of legitimate logical reason.
ing, and becomes eloquent, while descant-
ing upon the millennial season that is to
prevail then. Perhaps his speculations
are too extravaganza. Grant that; yet to
the most cautious reasoner, the results OF
such an action can but appear glorious.
Mr.. George devotes the latter portion
of his work to discussion of the law of
Human Progress. With that we are not
called upon to deal, for while it is init
mately connected with the evils of the
existing social state, 1t only adds empha-
sis to the necessity for an immediate
change in that state, as outlined In the
preceding pages. Suffice it to say, that
in the treatment of that subject, he has
displayed no less ability as an independ-
ent reasoner, than in the primary inquiry
into the social problem. The last chapter
is mastery prose poem on the "Prob'
lena of Individual Life" It is a pro.
duction worthy of the work of which it
forms the fitting finale.
Throughout his work, Mr.. George
displays a mastery of style at once
vigorous, clear and refreshing. Out of
dry discussion, he has made philoso-
phical romance. He has exploded the
old var.cry of Labor versus Capital, and
shown that the real antagonism lies
between Labor and Land. The sum Of
it all is that, with all its imperfections,
progress and Poverty is beyond COM
pare the most powerful production on
the subject of which it treats that this
present age has had the privilege of
perusing. FELIX HOLT.