The examiner., 1888-03-03


through the files of Mr.. Georges own pa
per will discover multiplicity of instances
where the coming national party is referred
to, both in general editorials and signed ar
ticles from Mr.. George himself. But we
will pass from this to a consideration of the
only remaining point, whether the doc
trine of Free Trade is involved in the SYRIA
cuse platform, and whether that platform
was at any time considered by Mr.. George
as all-sufficient on which to go before the
country. The squarest evidence we have
on this score is again found in Mr.. Georges
own testimony. We all remember his over
whelming reply to Patrick Ford when that
once idolized reformer undertook to re-
prove him for cowardice and deception in
bringing his Free Trade doctrines into the
Syracuse platform through the back door.
Here are Mr.. Ford's own words
A very important occasion presented it
self to him the other day at Syracuse, but
Mr. George failed TO breathe O. word about
Free Trade. < < Henry George
thus contrives covertly to bring his Free
Trade plank in by the back door, which he
dared not introduce by the front.
And here is Mr.. Georges magnificent re-
ply
ssCould have written the Syracuse plat
form as I pleased certainly would not
have declared in it either for protection or
free trade, as Mr.. Ford and the Evening
Post understood the terms. For while
have never hesitated to avow myself an out
and out free trader, [ have at the same
| time always declared that I consider any
question of tariff as of trivial importance
as compared with the question of restoring
to men their natural rights to land, and it
would seem to be little short of treason to
the greater principle to provoke any divi-
sion in its support by thrusting forward the
smaller principle. Let Mr.. Ford
| attach to the tariff question what import
| ance he may. What does it amount to as
compared with the question of the continu-
ance of the injustice which he has over and
| over declared in the language of Bishop
Nulty to be a crime and blasphemy?
Let him ask himself whether the
man and the paper that have preached the
gospel of the land for the people on two
continents so long and SO well shall now,
when the standard is raised and the Issue
is joined, stand paltering about the tariff. ,
Here, it will be observed, that no allu-
sion whatever is made to the point of is
sue on which Mr.. George now rambles off
out of the fold. He doesn't reply to Mr..
Ford that the Syracuse platform is a State
affair, while the tariff is a question belong
ing only to the nation. Not word of it,
no, but to more clearly emphasize the situ
alton he turns the tables on the recreant
land apostle to taunt him with his recrean-
cy by suggesting the self-query, whether
the man and the paper that have preached
the gospel of the land for the people on two
continents SO long and SO well shall noso,
s1hen the Standard Is raised and the issue
is Joined, stand paltering about the tar
if"
How the mighty have fallen Now it is
MIR. Henry George who stands paltering
over the tariff when the standard is about
to be raised and the issue joined, and who
sinks to the rear exclaiming:-
But for one did not see then (at syria
cuse) any more than ] see now how it
would be possible for US to enter national
politics without more explicit declaration
on the tariff question, and that such de-
claration was involved in the Syracuse
platform never had the slightest doubt.
Just the very thing which Patrick Ford
tainted him with, and on account of which
he charged him with cowardice for failing
to make this ssmore explicit declaration;"
and the very thing too which Mr.. George
evaded by the counter taunt above record
ed. He now admits it all.