New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-09
HENRY GEORGE As 4 CANDIDATE.


Mr.. Georges nomination is an indignant
protest, mainly 10y Democrats, against the cor
ruption and oppressiveness of Democratic mis-
government. Nowhere else has there been for
many years so heavy Democratic majority,
and nowhere else such shameless plundering
and insoent disregard of the interests of the
people. 1t is natural that Democrats should
protest, aud natural. perhaps. that they should
90 to extremes in seeking candidate TO empody
their protest
But Republican, have been protesting Tor
many years. Again and again they have voted
for worthy candidates for Mayor, who, II
elected, might have done for New-York what
Mayor Low has done for Brooklyn. IL they
have respect for Mr. Georges sincerity, for that
very reason they are the less able to support "a
candidate whose convictions are hostile TO their
own on vital points; who believes In absolute
| free trade, who rouses enmity between employer
and employed, who excuses boycotting and the
tyranny of the few over the many workers,
and whose theories would make rents higher 10
laborers, deprive them Of the chief inducement
to save, and take from the industrious and
thrifty among them the homes they have
occurred.
Mr. George does not mean to harm but to
help the workers He thinks if land were
taxed, and not improvements. rents OF homes
would be lower. But the real estate business
in this or any city yields on the whole only the
average return for money ; if it returned moro,
improved property with unimprovcd, and good
wears with bad, there would not be an hundred
millions living idle here at a time, with any
quantity of real estate for sale A great part
CT the return now comes from the slow apprc-
citation in the value Of land. man can afford
now to put up cheap buildings which rent
for bare interest on their cost because when
the time comes to take them down Gland Will
sell at profit Deprive the owner oil any
possible profit on the land and he can afford
10 put up only buildings that will pay for
themselves in limited time, with interest on
their cost. Thousands of worklngmcn own
their lots and homes purchased with their
earnings, because the advance in the value OF
land renders the investment profitable as well
us safe Take away the hope of return IN that
way. and the worker is deprived of the strongest
induccmcnt to secure a home for himself.
MANY thousands have homes partly paid
for. but heavily mOrtgagcd Deprive the land
of value and the mortgages must lie fOrccl0Sed,
with ruin to the owners and heavy loss to the
other workers whose savings have been IN
vested through banks, insurance or trust com
panies, or building associations, in such loans.
Finally, if Mr.. Georges plan would render land
alone of no value, nobody would pay taxes
on unoccupied land, and the burdens would have
10 10 borne by land improved by building, by
the improvements and by those who occupy
them. That means heavier tax for every
factory and store, and its removal if possible,
and heavier tax every tenement room.
The poor pay these taxes only the rich pay
the taxes on the unoccupcd land.
Mr. George surely is not aware how danger
Gus a thing il is, and to the working people
themselves how dsheartenlng, cruel and hurt
full, to intiame a spirit of hatred against the
rich The worker who tries TO save something
for himself may be stimulated TO the highest
manhood he who excuses his own unthnlt
with the lesson, property is robbery, is trav-
cling the other way 1t will take stronger
hand and stronger brain than Mr. George has,
and he is not weak man, to prevent wild and
suicidal unreasOn following the transfer OF
power over a great city TO men filed with the
passions which his teachings tend TO produce.
How far would Mr.. George himself he pushed
by his surroundings Already he excuses the
Thesis boycotters, and yet he must feel thai
the extortion of money was not more manly
Than il was lawful Already his speeches
kindlc the enthusiasm of lawbrcakers who love
the strike and the boycott, and hate Grand
Master Powderly for denouncng them. Mr..
George strikes hands with the representatives
Of trades unions which, embracing small
minority of the wagc-eTncrs of New-Yolil,
attempt to deprive all other workers OF their
freedom. AS student and writer Mr. George
~
workers who please to organize have any right
TO take the means of livelihood from other
worxers-to drive them out of employment by
threats, or strikes or bOycOtts. AID yet, no
sooner is he candidate than he accepts these
most cruel and unjust notions, because they
please his supporters. How much further
would his sympathy with the most active but
the most dangerous elements in trades unOnlsm
take him, if he were lifted to power by their
favor7 Beginning with defence of convicted
boycottcrs, where would he end
The Republican party believes, not in slave,
but in free labor Its policy has done more IN
the past twenty-five years to advance the wages
and elevate the condition Of labor In this
country than all the theorists ever have done
or can do. lis protection of labor against
foreign competition has brought to this land
of blessings 100000 immigrants, and among
them the very workers who now go with MIR.
George and other free traders TO tear down,
if they can, the system which brought them
here Republican workers are not ignorant
that this system has lifted the rate Of wages
II per cent, at the same timo lowering prices
and the cost Of living 20 per cent. When Mr..
George advocates absolute free trade, they
know that he is unconsciously pleading the
cause of importers and British manufacturers
and not of American labor His success would
powerfully aid the enemies of protection every
where. and especially in Congress next winter
But small fraction of the population OF this