National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-09-27
Henry George.

humor appeared on saturday morning IN
the editorial columns OF q sometime estim.
able contemporary. Not many days ago
the star expressed satisfaction at the posi-
bility Of Henry George being elected
mayor OF New York, aud those who know
anything about that distinguished man, or
have taken the least trouble to investigate
his manner Of treating those economic sub
jects which he handles with such signal
ability, will join with the Star In wishing
that Mr.. George may have at least fair
field during the pending campaign. The
morning paper to which we refer takes
prospects, and treats us to summary of
his principles and a sketch of his career
which are so humorousy and absolutely
incorrect that, out Of pure charity, we are
driven to the conclusion that the writer
knows nothing about Mr.. ieorge and has
never read line of his books.
In discussing this question II is not neces.
sary to give in our adherence to the pecu.
liar opinions Of the author Of progress aud
Poverty" but 1t is necessary, II Washing.
ton journalism is not to be credited with
arrogant contempt for all efforts to relieve
the strained relations now existing between
capital and labor, TO try and understand
something of the issues involved and the
arguments on both sides of the great ques-
| tion.
First, as to the qualification OF Mr.. George
to write upon social science at all. We
were told on Saturday that "llenry George
is a moderately intelligent man, but a man
uho, rs breddWinncr, has been too busy
| for much serious StUdy." We cannot help
regarding it almost an impertinence on any
mans part to assume tle defense OF Mr..
Georges intelligence, but with such q chal-
lcnge before our eyes 1t is au act Of public
justice and Of decent Journalism to accept
It. If the writer OF the passage In italics
will condescend to take up any unmuti-
lated copy oil Mr.. Georges "Progress and
Poverty" or Social Problems" he will
find a page Of press opinions which beaI
ample testimony to the high order OF Mr.
| Georges intellect and attainments Every
first class journal in the United States ha'
given On opinion of "Progress and Poverty
and not one has attempted q charge Of de
ilcicnt intelligence or insufficient knowl
edge. The North american RericW, Tn
Contemporaries FOrtaightiy, aud NinctecnH
Century have for the past seven years beer
only too glad to find Mr.. Georges mInu
script among the contributions. Can tn,
writer of "Moderately Intelligent" say 81
much for his own literary productions9
Continental economists OF the highes
reputation, many OF whom differ wldell
from the opinions Of Mr.. George, have fel
themselves compelled to admit that hi
presentation OF the social question is worl
of true genius, of which the matter teem
with ripe and rare knowledge, and tn
manner represents the consummate artIs
in words. NJ. dc Laveleyc, conseryat,v
French thinker, who has maze for himsol
an honorable place among English writer
upon economic and financial subjects de
clares that Mr.. Georges book Is the mos
important contribution that has been mad
to social science in this century, and sucl
papers MS the New York Herald, Times, .SW,
and World have expressed themselves II
almost similar terms.
BY all this we only desire to prove FOL
the present that ~ Mr.. George is m )re
than moderately intelligent and (2) tina
he is not, even from the necessity OF bread
winning, such an illiterate person as his
tremendously enlightened Washington
critic would wish torepresent him. Enough
OF the personal question. Let us have on
Of the arguments upon which tue crlti
would lmpale candidate for the New Yorl
mayoralty. After ridiculous misstate
ment OF Mr.. Georges theory of Lane
naturalization the censor proceeds In thl
wondrous fashion: "Pretty nearly 100, 90
OF the workingmen of New York city owl
their own houses, aud they will not be verI
likely to vote for the man Uho proposes
coafscdtc their houses aad gre them {
0hers.n
They certainly will not be likely to votC
for such a man, but where is the man who
has committed his reputation to sucl
ldiotic drivelng? The two main principles
OF all MIR. Georges writings are; 0), tn
land Of country, not being the product o
human labor, should belong to the govern
ment of that country, in trust for thos
Of the people who desire to possess 1t, an
who are capable Of making 1t most pro
duetlye; (2), all improvements OF an,
additions to the land, houses included
which are the results Of human labor
should belong to the people VIII
lave made them, or the representa-
tiyes of those people. Instead of Mr.
George being anxious to take houses away
. from anybody, the entire intellectual life ol
that grcGt-hearted and clear-headed mal
has been protest against the fact that onl,
one hundred thousand workngmen of New
York own their own houses, when undo
such conditions as he advocates every falrll
industrious workingman In the Untet