Evening star., 1886-11-03

Mr.. Henry George is defeated in his contest
for the mayoralty of New York. Yet 1t must,
by no means, be assumed that he is not q sub
tect for congratulations. He is a scholar first,
and politician afterward. The defeat of his
political aspirations this fall will leave him his
winter free for philosophical speculation and
authorship. He will make great deal more
money through the sale of his works for having
been brought so eonspicuousIy before the pub
lie, and his economic theories can scarcely fail
TO win some disciples through the widening OF
his circle of readers. Had he been elected, he
would soon have dropped into the common
place routine pursued by other mayor and the
more heroic features of his career would have
been lost sight of altogether, to the detriment
OF his work and of his future personal prestige.
But of more value TO him, ii used Alright, than
money, or honors, or literary leisure, will be
the experience which he has gained In his
notiy contested canvass, not merely In his
capacity as a political candidate, but as a citi-
xen- He has learned in one sweeping lesson
what some other philosophers have lived and
died without discovering-that society, deep
down in its heart, respects itself, however
much IL may grumble now and then at its own
shortcomings. AS long as Mr.. George pro-
ceeded with his electioneering work on a sound
basis, proposing only the peaceful and gradual
accomplishment of the reforms he had
espoused, the intelligent workingmen were
with him to man, and the middle and upper
strata In active trade, the retired capitalists
and the liberal professions were so divided In
their preferences as 10 give little comfort to the
old parties But tue moment the red flag was
hoisted over George meetings without a re-
buke from the lips of the candidate, and when
mob-rulers of the Justus Schwab type shared
the platform with him, there Was a general
awakening to the true significance of the situa-
ton. Mr.. George could not have prevented
communists and anarchists from supporting
him, II is true, but ii was in his power TO make
all the world understand that they and he had
nothing in common. and that he washed his
hands of their uninvited interference in his
campaign.
Here Is where he showed bis one serous
weakness; and capital and labor, commerce
amt scholarship became alarmed. Here and
there q man of conspicuous intellectual force
and personal responsibility stood by the apos-
tie of the new dispensation; but tor the most
part II became question, who could get away
and form some other affiIiatIon the Quickest
Society's selfrespect had come to the surface
Nothing that savored of hostility to law and
order could be tolerated. Neither Of the o.d
party organizations was a model of virtue, but
the success of either was to be preferred To any
thing which would encourage tue internal enc
mics of the republic.
The lesson of Mr.. Georges experience is all
the more striking in view of the handsome vote
he polled in spite of the adverse conditions Just
noted. The vision of what might have been
will serve only 10 intensity the stern outlines of
what Is. The times were ripe for such a move
ment as he had begun. The discomfort of the
working people of New York with the gross
mismanagement of the city government by the
old parties, offered fattering prospects to the
newcomer with his reforms. Mr.. Georges we'll
known private character raised him above the
suspicion OF sordid designs in politics. The man
was there. and the opportunity was there; bu.
the red rag OF the commune fell like pail over
both.