Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-03-21
CIVILIZATION ITSELF THREATENED
NtW York Star.


One Of the most eloquent passages in
Henry Georges remarkable book, Prog
ress and Poverty" is that describing the
condition of the great cities Of this country
to day. He truly declares that in every
such city there is a clearly defined }plips
Glass; whose members cGryY wards in their
pockets distribute Offices and levy tribute
Upon rich corporations and powerful pecu-
MARY interests. These men are not the
wise, the good and the learned, but gam.
blers, saloon keepers and professional noli.
ticians, who add nothing 10 -, wealth Of
society, and yet vesg rich clothiug, display
costly diamonds aud spend money lavish
" in the qualification Of their vices ard
appetites. They stand" he savs, 10 the
government OF these Cit;a2 ss tie Pr@to.
RAN gus:dG aid TO that Of declining Rome
He who would wear the purple, ell the
curule chair or have the fasces ,anied be.
fore him must 60 e send bis messengers
to their camps, give them donations and
make them promises" These people, Mr.
George declares, sre e class who have all
the power without any Of the virtues Of
aristocracy," Meanwhile poverty is deba.
sing those reduced to misery, and the men
who are the victims o! the Tssacity OF
these thieves are hocoLin6 the instruments
for ths persetuati6n Of their power
In these facts Mr.. George sees evidence
not merely that our civilization may de.
cline, but that the process Of decay, which
has destroyed all the great civilizations Of
the past, is already actively at woGi ie ouS
midst and unobservea bi our people,
"Oro Of the characteristics OF barbsrisu,
be says SIS the low regard for the rights
of peFsen and Of property. The penalty
tor murder was fue proportionate TO the
rank Of the victim, while piracy, robbery
and blackmailipg vera G! Que time re
gar1ei CO legitimate occupations, To-day
in theory, the law protects the lowest a.
completely ~ the highest; yet q man who
has enough money Can 90 into one Of oul
great centres Of population ard Eiurdel
..:LLomsoever he plcsxea surrender him
SELF ta justice, With the chance a. 9
hundred 10 one Tat be will suffer NJ
greater penalty than q temporary inpris
onnent, and the lots Of q sum proper
toned partly to bis own wealth and psrtl!
TO sae wealth and standing Of the nan a
klIls." His money will not, however, b
pal 4 to the family of his victim, nor to tn
State, Dus to the lawyers who are expert il
securing delays, finding convenient Wit
nesses and corruptly procuring the dia
agreement Of juries. Again, N mai
steal enough" says Mr. George, he ma!
be sure that bis punishment will PRACTICAL.
amount but to the loss of part Of the pro
ceeds Of bis theft. And il he steal enougl
to get of with fortune he will be greetst
By his acquaintance ss viking nigh
have been sreeted after successful cruise
Even though be robbed those who truste'
him; even though herobbed the widow an,
the tatherless, he has only to get enoug'
and he may safely asuut biz wealth in th
eyes ofdsy."
l. ali this the writer sses cumulative
proof Of the decay Of civilization. Ii
people are growing used to corruption an
ceaSing 70 resent il. There is public ser
,inent that doubts the existence Of O.
honest man in Office, and looks rather cor
temptuously upon one who claims to b
such. The people themselves are thsrt
fore becoming corrupt. II such CORFU
ton becomes chronic, public spirit will b
lost and law brought into contempt. Whe
the burdens become unbearable, stron
and upscrupulous men will make then
selves exponents Of popular desires en-
passions, and become lesdera iI demo,
STATIONS OF brute force and destruction
THENCE forward the descent to the nodsr
form Of barbarism that slternstes betvee
anarchy and temporary imperial despc:isI
ia swift Ths new berbarisns, Who shA
destroy olr modern civilization IS the ba
barians Of old destroyed those Of Greec
and Rome, viii not come from . distanc
|, Go through the squslid quarter a gre