National Republican., 1886-10-04


The Rev. Dr. Edward Mctilynu, OF st..
Stephens Roman Catholic Church, New
York city, is generally acknowledged TO be
one Of the most cultivated members Of his
profession, as well ms one Of the best speak
crs and clearest thinkers in this country.
He is an intimate personal friend OF Henry
George, and has great deal to say about
that gentleman. Among other things said
to n SIN reporter, Mr.. McGlynn made the
following remarks about one OF the caudi-
dates for mayor Of New York: at would
be impossible to exaggerate my admiration
and love for Henry George. lie is the best
and greatest man know. He is an uncon-
sclous genius, born with powerful aud
active brain and big heart. A natural
thinker, his heart impelled him to seek out
the causes that underlle the increase Of
poverty with the increase Of wealth and the
progress OF art and science. The result Of
his thinking is his series Of mastery books.
Mr.. George is q socialist only In the broad,
humanitarian sense. lie respects individual
ownership of property, but would make the
state, county, town, or whatever unit Of
community may be found practicable, the
landlord. 1t is most remarkable TO my
mind how he ever found the time TO
think so much as Is involved
in his books, 10 say nothing OF
doing the manual labor OF writing them.
lie has always been poor man-never saw
a year that he did not have to work for
living. lie is wlse brave, good man; and
he is, besides this, a moderate man. The
ends he seeks TO attain in the reconstruc-
tion Of our industrial system need not en-
tail violence; they can be brought about
peacefully, and 1t is as promoter OF peace
that Mr.. George works. For the people are
waking up to the truth of the terrible
wrongs under which they suffer, aud 1t
does not always need George to enlighten
them; but they cannot always reason clearly
or find patience to blde the time as the
| philosopher can, so unless the powers OF
the day--statesmen aud captalists-yieli
to the demands OF labor through legislation,
the time will come when the people will
refuse to submit longer to the In
| iquitous domination Of money, and will
rise and accomplish their purpose with
dynamite. 1t is to avoid such terrible
catastrophe that Henry George works. It
is better that these things should be effected
by the gradual process of education. 1t Is
gratifying to observe how much has been
accomplished In this way already. The
labor agitation has made the working people
better; 1t has inculcated virtue aud
dignity. We shall have better citizens IN
respect to morals and intelligence as the
result Of this widespread work OF education
that is now in progress The working peo-
pie are listening to lectures and reading
books and the books they read most are
those by Henry George. All, he has done a
wonderful work. He has lifted the science
Of political economy from the slough of
despond TO n region Of hope. The best pro-
fessors Of the science have admitted that
the end Of their studies was despair.
George has infused into IL an atmosphere Of
humanity, has made 1t accord with the
divinest teachings Of Christianity; and all
this without sacrificing in any degree reason
and logic. cannot but regard the advent
of this good man at this time as provien
tiOl. 1t is time when the people are grow
ing restive, when vital principles are to b,
brought into dispute, when issues affectin!
whole nations and races are to be fou III
out; and at this time, behold lea Ter ap
pears In whom the people connde-a see
who points the way to release, to liberty,
DR.. McGlynn Is not an anarchist com
munist, or even socialist, in the accepted
meaning OF this last term. He is hard
working Christian minister, whose dutleI
compel him to know much about the lives
Of those who dwell in the tenement houses
Of New York city. A man OF such charac-
ter and experience is, perhaps, Of all others
the one whose estimate of the Requirements
necessary for a great functionary In tn,
greatest city on the continent is entitled t
unhesltating Difference.