New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-25
A TALK ON SOCIALISM.
PRESIDENT ANDREwSS LECTURE.
HIS INTERESTING TREATMENT OF THIS CUES
T1oN AND OF HENRY GEORGES THEORY.

HIS INTERESTING TREATMENT OF THIS CUES
TIoN AND OF HENRY GEORGES THEORY.
DR.. E. Benjamin Andrews, the president Of Brown
University, lectured last evening before the Young
Pcople's Association Of Calvary Baptist Church. on
Socialism and Henry Georges Land Tax Theory. "
These two propositions for the solution Of " the
social problem" have never been discussed in public
with more clearness, fairness. knowledge and co-
dr6ncc, and it is a pity that the audience was so
small.
DR.. Andrews said that he spoke of both the
" remedies" with a great deal Of sympathy and he held
that they were entitled to respectful consideration, and
were not matters for derision.
He pointed out that there was a sharply defined
distinction between the Socialist and the Anarchist
and the Socialist and the Communist.
1.-THE Socialist" said he, wishes merely to reds
tribute the effects OF toll as II IS carried on now. so
that each man shall have precisely the share he earns.
socialism proposes to introduce what we call In
political economy absolute righteousness Of distribu-
tion. IL is a noble end q perfectly beautiful idea
The lecturer then in detail explained the Socialist
plan for achieving this result. the ownership Of land
and productive wealth by the Government and tho
uavment Of every man who works IN certificates
representing the amount Of simple labor time to
which he is entitled, which labor time may be ex-
changed in the Government stores for articles whose
price shall be also determined by the simple labor
time they represent.
at the plan were feasible, " said DR.. Andrews. "as
I wish il were, it would do away with the money
system. which Is very unjust on account OF fhe
fluctuations in the purchasing power of money. The
socialists usually stand up for the trusts, not that
there are not evils connected with them now, but
because they say trusts are showing the way Tor
society to organize itself on a higher plane and nobler
platform, and when that is done the advantages which
go to individuals 10 make millionaires Will 60
to society 10 keep people from poverty and make
NJ ~ 1900, AL anefa, than AZ nynCADt
Socialism says we will have no corporations.
We will make society as such into one grand, In
elusive corporation.
"Oh. how righteous the men are who labor In the
big exchanges. when they rise up now and then in
the dignity Of their pious wrath and are going TO raid
the keeper OF a bucket-shOp and at the very same
time he is winnirr his pennies meh inside the eX-
change are winning hundreds and thousands In the
same way, with a halo of legitimacy around 1t because
they have seats in the exchange. Socialism says big
operator and little operator shall go by the board,
for we will make these changes quite impossible
But DR.. Andrews went on to show the other side
OF the case. "The difficulties in making cost regulate
prize7 he remarked, care simply awful ana you
CAM quote supply and demand in anything. And
there are other difficulties. You would have to give
immense power to the mon who wOuld stand az tho
top Of society, and how would Socialism help the
shiftless and TO cause them to become thrifty Iio"
wonld u place the spirit Of work in those who do not
now have that spiritl"
OF Henry Georges plan the lecturer said al
have no idea that any sweeping advantage could
come from the system promulgated by Mr.. George,
but / say frankly that the taxation OF the unearned
increment Of land value is the fairest single form Of
taxation man conld devise. II a law should be pro
posed by which the value Of land apart from I'm
provements would be taxed I would be glad to vote
for ii.
"But." he added, "there would still be a mass Of
men cursed by the damnable economic vice Of lazi
ness and u1thrift. The sum Of the whole matter is
this Let ue work in the directions Indicated so far
as they seem good. Let us not be afraid 70 cd
vance. Let us not be afraid Of changing the
present system. We must change It Or sink. We
must have ssne remedies for the terrible evils which
now exist, or we arc lost. Let us advance with
prosperity, without taking stens in the dark. But
when we have done all VIC can DO ip the way Of the
amendment Of society. We shall hnd that the supreme
difficulty still remains until we have put new moral
and new religious Life into the hearts OF men. II We can
not lift men up morally we cannot lift up men socially.
Political economy and sociology can never by them
selves save the race. They can do something. and !
for one am most heartily In favor Of every effort that
can be nut forth In their name. But al last we shall
find that the soul Of man IS the principal seat OF hs
difficulty. and that TO preach the Gospel efficiently.
earnestly. openly and raiiolallv and bring men 70 love
one another Is brothers. viii be the only and Sufficient
social panacca.' tApplauseD
The next lecture Of the course OF the Young Peoples
Association Of Calvary Baptist Church will be delivered
a fortnight hence by Eras'us Winan, who Will speak
Of The Great North Land and Its Relations TO the
United states"