, 1890-08-21
HEINZ Y GEORGE AGAIN.


HENRY GEORGE AGAIN.
Mr.. John Fleming, who In an
other column defends the Henry
George theory and Its immediate
application, evidently has more
trankness than patriotism. He
agrees with the REVIEW In its prop
oslton that II the single tax theory
had been applied at the birth of tho
republic II would have restricted the
development Of the West, accepts
the proposition that this rich and
fertile domain would have fallen in. =.
to the hands of the British, and can
see In that conquest only the happi-
est consequences, Mr.. Fleming goes
a long way from home for his
roseate picture of life In
a British colony. Distance
is apt to lend enchantment to the
view. Let us look at u British pos
session nearer home. British CO.
lumbia is not so distant as Australia,
and there we can obtain clearer
view of life under the British flag.
Are railway freights aud fares less
burdensome across the line than we
find them here? Wherever the
Canadian Pacific railroad desires to
bid for business in the United States
the people and the government offer
every reasonable encouragement, In
order that there may be the freest
competition in the interest of
the producing classes? Has u
similar policy been adopted by the
dominion government in It's treat
ment of American lines seeking bus
mess over the border? An answer
Is unnecessary. If Mr.. Fleming
will talk with Americans who have
travelled in British Columbia he will
reach the conclusion that after all
it is better that the Henry George
theory was not in application fifty
years ago to give this fair land to the
crown.
Mr.. Fleming's illustration about
his load of wheat and stove Is un-
fortunate for his cause. He will
hardly dispute the fact that he can
buy stoves the cheapest where land
values are the highest, and right
there, upon the other hand, he will
receive the highest price for his
wheat. AS lard values have gone
up in Spokane the prices Of stoves
have gone down and the price of
wheat has risen.
The difficulty with the Henry
George theorists lies in the fact that
they take too much for granted.
They see the evils of poverty, and
with philanthropic intentions they
conclude that q cure can be found in
legislation. 1t never occurs to them
that those nations practicing their
theory have ever been the deepest
cursed with poverty. Mr. Fleming
seems to think that q remedy lies
in the concentration of population.
According to his theory the wealth
produced in the West within the
past fifty years has increased the
evils of poverty.
He errs in another direction. He
takes 1t for granted that it is next to
impossible for the poor man to ac-
quire land, and that the money he
puts into q piece of land is wasted
energy. This Ia radically untrue.
In ninety-nine cases out Of hum
dred the poor men who have bought
land have profited by the invest
ment. Not only can they get their
original Investment back, but n rich
reward for their energy and thrift,
Mr.. Fleming has farm. Sup
pose tomorrow he should make the
discovery that the soil of that farm
was peculiarly adapted to the pro-
duction of some valuable product
Suppose that in the production OF
that product he should be
able to utilize only ten acres
Would he favor law that
would deprive him of $50 acres and
turn IL over to number of men
who followed after him only after
his energy and courage had made
the discovery? That is a similar
proposition to the case of Spokane
Falls. The land here at one time
was considered valueless, and now
that 1t has acquired an enormous
value, sense of fairness demands
the protection of the property rights
OF the original settlers. Thereby we
encourage other men to go into
other wild places. The nation stands
pledged to protect them in their dis
covereries, and to guarantee their
peaceful possession of farm, even
If changing conditions should make
possible the building of a city
OUR EA RLLE.ST HLSIOR y.