Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-19
SOCIALISM DEBATED.
Both Friends and Foes of the Land
System of Mr.. Henry George
AMONG EPISCOPAL DELEGATES.
The Relations of Labor and Capital and
Other Social Topics.
COMPETITIONS GOOD AND BAD POINTS

COMPETITIONS GOOD AND BAD POINTS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1s.-Rev. Reese
Falshop, D. D., of Brooklyn, opened the
second days proceedings of the Protestant
Episcopal Church Congress this morning
with an address of socialism. He urged
adherence to the present system of social
economies, and held that if labor forced a
change it might kill the goose and lose the
golden eggs.
He did not believe that the present condi-
tions were so bad as they were made out to
be. Labor has its reward; enterprise
rarely fails to reap its profits. Everyone
of the socialistic authors were bitterly op-
posed to investment. Henry George was
the leader in that movement. To expect
thrift and well being to result from such
| theories would be to expect the stream to
rise higher than its source
| There are bitter complaints of the pres
ent system of wealth distribution, and it
was asserted that its tendency was to enrich
the few and impoverish the many. Is that
true? Adam Smith, 100 years ago, had
shown that it was not, and the facts of to-
| day bear him out.
An oft-Repeated Assertion Denied.
1t is not true that the rich are getting
richer and the poor getting poorer. The
laborer of to-day enjoys luxury that was not
dreamed of by the 1aborer of 100 years ago
The tendency of capital is to push down
prices and so help the consumer, who is the
laborer. Out of every hundred eggs the
goose laid, 80, at least, went to the work.
man, and not more than ten to the capitalist.
There are abuses under the system, such as
vast monopolies and trusts that lead to
illegimate profits; but they are the diseases
of the system and to eradicate them would
be to DESTROY the body.
Prof. Gould, of the Philadelphia Divinity
School, held that competition means that
two persons or more are trying to get the
same thing In business it means that one
man is trying to get all and leave nothing
to his competitor. That is not the proper
spirit. The community which consumes
the dealers products is steadily pressing
for cheaper prices, and the dealer gives
them cheap products-cheap and nasty.
Adulteration was general Nothing can be
bought for the house or the home that is not
adulterated. If man is held down all day
under the grindstone he has no time for
spiritual growth. The serious evil is the
destruction of individuality.
Socialism Is Bound to Come.
Rev. H. NJ. Bartlett, of Mont Chanin,
Del, declared that given Christianity.
democracy is sure TO come. After democracy
socialism will come. 1t is impossible to saw
what forms socialism in its development
will take. 1t might be sometimes ridiculous
and sometir IS dangerous. That had been
frr1n Of ,.rinn IS ell
growths. Socialism must win its way
against the most powerful influences that
ever beset reform. 1t has no hope of final
success until it can prove itself reasonable
and practicable. We are already well along
toward socialism. The movement cannot be
stopped and should not be feared.
DR.. Bartlett quoted Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, the great English Parliamentarian,
Rev. P. w. Sprague, OF Charlestown,
Mass, said that the great number of OBJ
jections against socialism are based upon
an absolute misconception of its principles.
He is himself, avowedly and openly, a
socialist. He said that the principles of
socialism were the ideals of Christianity.
Rev. f. M. Prall, of Detroit, said the
principles of Christianity and socialism are
the same, except that Christianity goes
further than socialism; goes further than
Justice, or even than mercy. The differ
ences between Christianity and socialism
are to be found in the socialistic belief that
by changing the condition of men their
characters will be changed. 1t is fall
lacious belief
The Seller as Useful as the Buyer.
Rev. Dr. Kirkus, of Baltimore, was sorry
to find himself in an almost hopeless minor
ity. The audience had been told that thev
were all selfish, all covetous. all guilty of
the basest meanness Competition does not
mean selfshness. Everybody knows that
the seller fills as useful part as the buyer.
Religion is never less than common sense.
When people do not understand the Ser
mon on the Mount they cannot be expected
to understand John Stuart Mills political
economy. Is "brotherhood" such a potent
word to coniure with? All preachers call
each other brother, and of course they no
longer have any differences. lLaughter.1
What would become of all the fine arts
under socialism? You cannot butter bread
with fine picture, so you will not be permit
ted to paint pictures, but must go to work In
the fields What will become of the free
dom of the press? Will not religion be
taken charge of, as well as marriage, and
every individual?
A Representative of Henry George.
Henry George, of New York, had been
set OOWu ds Tile ueAb SptdAcIt as bc "dS
prevented from attending the congress from
domestic reasons, Rev. j. o. S. Huntington,
of New York, took the platform. He said
he is not Socialist, but he recognizes the
fact that there is discomfort among the
people. 1t is now an intellectual discomfort
and is moving toward socialism. The
capitalist is a hard working man. The
landowner is not Men did live
without iron and gold and
silver, but never did or never can live with
out land Is it not absurd to class land
the gift of God-as private property, with
the things men make? He did not favor the
division of the land into little bits, any
more than he favored the division of the at
mosphere; but he hates the landlord His
title is blasphemous, for there is but one
landlord, and the human race are His ten
ants.
At the evening session, the topic for dis
cussion was, 'The Relations of the Clergy
to Politics" Papers were read by Rev.
James Mulcahey, D. D., of New York, and
Rev. H. L. Myrick, of Sing Sing. The
speakers were General Morris Schaff, of
Mass. Rev. John W. Kramer, Of
New York, and Rev. Charles R. Baker, of
Brooklyn.