The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-03
GEORGE AND BEECHER.

The Formers Candidacy for Mayor-The
Brooklyn Preachers Vacation.
| Special to the lndianapolis Journal.
! New YORK. Oct. 2-The local election in New
| York, this fall, will be the most momentous po-
ltical event in the history of the city. For the
| hrst time the working men have set themselves
squarely in opposition to the old political parties
| that have always been profuse in their promises
of assistance, but conspicuous in their failure to
| fulfill those obligations. Henry George, who is
the standard-bearer of the workingmen in this
canvass, and who is their candidate for Mayor, is
not professional politician. nor is he mere
theorist, as he has been often called, but is enti-
tied to be regarded as one of their number. Per-
sonally, he is below medium height, bald
headed, red bearded, clear-eyed, quick and alert
in manner, and he is dead in earnest / never
met man who impressed me more deeply with
his sincerity and truthfulness than Henry
George. With man like this for leader,
man who is conducting his canvass openly and
without whispered conferences with ward heel
ers saloon-keepers and political bummers, a man
who has been wage-earner for much of his life
and knows the needs of the labofer the cam
paign opened by the workingmen will be vigor-
GUS. Within the present month may look to
see the labor movement fostered by the ReDub-
lieans in the hope of widening the breach that it
is already making in the Democratic party. and
incident to this method of campaigning the Re-
publicans may suffer slight loss themselves.
Mr. George, when seen at his political head
quarters the other day, expressed his satisfaction
with the run" that was about beginning He
considers himself advantageously situated in be-
INN OtA IN nnlIf ala al
Mayor, he is determined on ridding the city de-
partments, as far possible of the corruption
lists who hold places there. of the idlers who are
paid large salaries for holding down easy chairs
of the incompetent and weak who have been
put in positions of trust through political in-
fooence." New York is reputed to be badly
governed, said he, ''and my first duty would be
to ascertain how and in what departments bad
government exists If I found that thefts were
going on IN the dock departments, for instance,
or black-ma in the police department. or that
injustice was being done by the assessors you
may be sure that / would do my
best to relieve the present in
honest men. To that end must have liberty Of
action, and the city must secure thorough self
government l can hardly expect to put my land
theories into practice in the city OF New York
just yet,' he added with smile" 'but there are
abuses that cry loudly for reform The teue-
ment system should be abolished or mitigated;
court procedures should be simpfed: the work
Of the sanitary officials should be more thorough
and impartial, and there many things look
ing to the health, comfort and enjoyment of the
people that will receive attention"
Henry George is utterly fearless. and he means
what he says. Though he is devoid of political
ambition in the ordinary sense of the term--his
desire to effect reforms taking precedence over
his desire TO work them out himself--the mayor
atty of New York is not likely to be his stopping
place.
Henry Ward Beecher's holiday, if such it can
be called, since it involves constant lecturng
and preaching, will last for nearly a month
longer but he may be able to occupy his pulpit
on the last Sunday of the month Much indig-
nation has been aroused among his Pensioners
and friends by the reports from various quarters
'the other side" Of the failure of his lectures
and public indifference to his preaching lie Ca
joys the enmity of some Britons but he has
gained the esteem and friendship of thousands
of others A gentleman who returned to New
York few days ago reports that at every
Beecher meeting he attended in England the
hall was crowded to the doors, and that the at
tention and enthusiasm were spontaneous.
DIR. r. S. Storrs, who resumed his pulpit in
Brooklyn on recent Sunday, and who man
of twice the learning and half the popularity OF
the pastor of Plymouth. still feads the conserva-
tive element in the Congregational Church, as
Beecher leads the liberal. 1t is doubtful if the
breach between these eminent diyines will be
narrowed before the death of either-an event
that may be looked for in the near future,
though Mr.. Beecher resents with spirit the ap-
pellation of venerable" There was touch of
humor and a touch of pathos in the pulpit an
nouncement by Mr.. Beecher of a missionary
meeting in his rivals church, just before his de-
parture for England. II hope you'll all consider
yourselves at liberty to CO." he said. drily. II
should like to be allowed to go myself"
c. M. SKINNER.
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