Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-09-27
Monday, September 81, 1856
HENRY GEORGES PLATFORRI.

The "Declaration of Rights which those
who have nominated Henry George for
Mayor of New York city made at their con-
vention is an interesting and significant ut
terance. 1t is supposed to be the work of
Mr.. George himself.
According to this declaration those who
support Mr.. George aim at the abolition of
the system which compels men to pay their
fellow creatures for the use of Gods gifts to
all and permits monopolizers to deprive labor
of natural opportunities for employment.
Holding that the advantages arising from
social growth and improvement belong to so
cie;y at large, they aim at the abolition of
the system which makes such benefcent in
ventions as the railroad and telegraph a
means for the oppression of the people and
the aggrandizement of wealth and power, and
at the abolition of all laws which give to
any class of citizens advantages, either judi
cial, financial, industrial or political, that
are not equally shared by all others. And
in order to carry out their ideas they propose
some change which, though mild compared
with some of the demands that have been
made, will not find general acceptance in
New York. For instance, as remedy for
the oyercrowding of people in tenement
houses they say that all taxes on buildings
and improvements should be abolished and
that taxes should be levied on land irrespec-
tive of improvements, SO that those who are
now holding land vacant shall be compelled
either to build on it or to give up the land to
those who will. They also say that the enor7
nous value which the presence of 1 500, 900
people gives to the land of New York city
belongs probably to the whole community;
that it should not go to the enrichment of in
dividuals or corporations.
These and the declaration that the city
should take charge of the horse railroads
and other means of transit are
the most radical parts of the
platform. 1t is declared, however, that if
things were as they should be government
would be employed in the maintenance of
that sacred right of property which gives to
everyone opportunity to employ his labor
and security that he shall enjoy its fruits.
The New York Evening Post thinks this
means that hereafter Boss that is, man
who has saved up the fruits of his labor and
is using them in the employment of other
1abor-will not have laborers quartered on
him against his will; or be compelled by vio-
lence or threats of violence to pay them
greater wages than he thinks he can afford;
Or to conduct his business in way of which
his judgment disapproves, and which will he
believes, result in his injury. 1t MEANS too,
the Post trusts, that the 'scab," or non
union man, is to be allowed to avail himself,
in his discretion, of such Opportunities to
employ his labor rs may seem to suit him,
and that the unionists will not assault him
on his way from his daily toll, or frighten
his wife by threatening his life, or endeavor
to ruin the business of his employer, in order
to secure his discharge, by boycotting, or by
breaking windows, smashing machinery, or
riotous assemblages in or around his work
shop or dwelling.
OF course it is not expected that if Heniy
George is elected mayor of New York city
all taxes on buildings and Improvements will
be Immediately abolished The farmers of
New York would have something to say
about that. Neither is it expected that all
the other reforms mentioned in the platform
will be Immediately brought about. But the
Declaration of Rights Is well worth atten-
ton because it states with more or less clear
ness what many of the workingmen who will
vote for Mr.. George believe.