The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-15
A DEFENCE OF HENRY GEORGE.

Docs Not Believe the Statement Of the Asso-
ciats Press That He Has Abandoned the Prin-
ciplss Of Life Time.
Editor Representative:
Under the heading "A Wonderful Con-
version" there appeared in your issue Of
June oath, an account Of the sudden and
and advocate of the Single Tax and Free
Trade principles, Henry George, and his
going over to the gold bug and protection
list party at the st. Louis convention The
assertion Is based on an inserted clipping
from the Associated Plutocratic?) Press
and followed by q most touching eulogy
over the fallen hero,-which would be ap-
propriate indeed were these things really
90. But what makes the story still more
wonderful IL the fact that series OF let
tiers written by Mr.. George from the st.
Louis convention have appeared In great
number Of the leading papers of the coun
try, In which Qetters) he most emphatic
cally reaflrms his principles Of Single Tax
and Free Trade. Had the editor OF the
Representative been aware Of this, undoubt-
eddy little closer investigation as to the
truth Of the matter would have been
made before giving space to 1t in the COL
umns Of this otherwise so ably conducted
paper. With q full appreciation Of the es-
teemed character and excellent abilities Of
the editor Of the Representative and being
in hearty sympathy with the cause Of the
peoples party, I deeply regret that any
thing injurious to the cause of reform
should appear In the paper, or anything
tending to subvert the fame of such an H.
iustrious champion Of human rights as
Henry George. Possibly these assertions
are based on misinterpretation Of some Of
Mr.. Georges utterances, that il there Is to
be strong protection.st government he
would rather zee 1t in the hands Of the re-
publican party as the avowed advocates Of
protection than being foiled again by prom
.ses Of democrats, free trade In name, but
In practice as strong protectionists as the
others. Here are some quotations from
Mr.. Georges letters:
eff I must choose again between two
protectionists, I would much prefer a
republican protectionist to democratic
protectionist. If an army is to be massed
for the avowed purpose Of putting down
strikes, federal troops are to be sent into
states without call OF their authorities, If
we are to be threatened with wars that
could only profit spoilsmen, and extrava-
CANT expenditures are to be maintained by
1t is better that these things should be
done by the avowed party Of strong gov
eminent than by party that pretends to
follow the Jeffersonian philosophy"
And again speaking on the money Quas-
ton he says:
1.-THE silver movement, which today Is
thrusting it's unwelcome presence into the
councils Of the party Of protection and
prosperity" is really an expression Of deep
popular discomfort, and at bottom q just
discomfort. This was the power that gave
victory to Mr.. Cleveland in 1892. But he,
in turning his back to all he stood for
reform, has diverted this discomfort with
increased intensity to the money question
az the readiest means Of finding express
sion.
It has already swept the democratic
party clean of Cleve.andiszn and German
ism and Morganism. Can the republican
party, with the gold sentiment Of the East
linked to its shibboleth of protection and
prosperity, carry Mckinley into the White
House in the face Of the tide that swells
from the West? This is the question
thoughtful republican leaders are earnestly
discussing tonight.
If the Single Tax Is not yet understood
by all populist reformers, still the reforms
advocated by them will eventually lead to
the adoption of the Single Tax. Many OF
the popul;sts are in full sympathy with the
Single Tax movement, and I, for one, dc
not see any conflict between the platform
Of the Peoples Party and the Single Tax
An annual tax on land values, not Cd
land, Is not a tax on the poor, on the
laborer or on the people at all, nor on any
thing that they have individually, but
taking by the community an annual rent
or payment for the use Of what really be-
longs to the communicative land values
irrespective of Improvements.
In the name Of justice and for the sake
of human rights and liberty let us not on
the least provocati0n tackle any OF our TEL
low-soldiers in their battle between the
forces of an oppressed people and pr1vl-
legged class of ar:stocracy, even II he should
happen to wear a somewhat different uni
form or handle q weapon Of more recent
invention.
hope "The Representative" Will eithel
substantiate the assertions by some more
conclusive evidence, and the Whole army o.
Single Takers will JOIN in the lamentations
or else return the Infamous SANDER te
whence it came would be pleased to SEE
some Of Henry Georges letters from the
St. Louis convention printed in THE Rep
resentat.ve." What we want is the truth
| the whole truth and nothing but the truth
-Gunnar Naumann.