The San Francisco call., 1897-07-11
LOuGSTREET ON
NATURAL LAWS
The Well-Known Single
Tax Orators Only Lee
ture Here.
On His Way to the North to
Take Part in the Com
ing Campaign.
The Orator Took Society to Task
for Not Making Study
of Nature.

IIOlcSSOI D. t. LOugStIeeg, Cn0 2lItou
and welEknown single-tax orator from
Boston, arrived in this City lew days
ago and last evening he delivered an in
teresting lecture before the Single-tax
Society OF San Francisco at 80 O'Farrell
street. This was the only address that
the doctor, as he is called, will deliver
here and those who failed to hear him
speak missed an excellent opportunity of
listening to an eloquent speaker upon an
interesting theme.
DR.. Longstreet is originally from Louis
vile, KY, but OF late years he has claimed
Boston as his home. He is man of
means and is one of the pioneers in the
single-tax cause. In Its interests he has
canvassed Delaware. Texas, New Mexico
and many other of the States and Terri
tories, and is now on the way to the State
of Washington, where he intends to carry
on the work to which he has given up his
entire time and attention.
The meeting was opened by President
Manner who announced that ''the next
Governor of California, the Hon. James
G. Mcguire" would preside. Judge Ma
guire was re celved with cheers. In speak
ing OF DR.. Longstreet he said that the
p
ary who is travelling over the country
preaching the gospel of social and Gov
ernmental evolution, and he himself is q
firm believer in social evolution.
He added: II believe that conditions
and not men are forcing this social evolu-
mankind, and that the first step in this
direction is on the line of single
tax. The great advantage in the single
tax is that man may enjoy Gods great
bounty and that the system will be self
supporting" He then introduced the
speaker and his subject, The Natural
Law in the Social World"
DR.. LongStreet Is man OF medium
height, of about As years of age and well
n0urished. His hair is dark, mustache
ditto and his blue eyes twinkle with good
nature that at once makes him popular
| with his audience. TAKEN alto sether his
! personality is pleasing, and while present
ing his points he introduces many pleas
i ant little anecdote that enlivens his theme.
! He began his discourse by explaining the
meaning of natural law and how scien ce
came into the world. thus making plain
many OF these laws that before were re-
garded with superstition by the people.
| He said that it is our duty to make study
OF these laws and apply them to our every
dav life and to the Government.
As rule political economists try to
preconceived views of government and it
was not until Henry George broke
through this superstition that the world
was able TO see the wisdom of advanced
thought. The builder who fails to OBJ
serve his plumb.line soon has to begin
| putting up props in order to make the
structure stand, and this prop also has to
| be propped. So 1t is with many OF our
laws, especially the bad ones. They are
| propped and repropped until the whole is
a mass-a patchwork.
The speaker stated that we are the most
conceited in the world, except the English,
from whom we spring. Thousands OF dol
lars are spent in sending missionaries to
teach the heather Gods laws, when as a
fact the heathen could teach US great
| many of the natural laws. Poverty, he
| said is the evidence of violated law, and
he cited the birds and beasts to show that
they do not suffer thus, for they do not
violate the laws of nature.
DE- Longstreet took a sly rap at those
who are in favor of restricting immigra-
ton and said hat nature is not niggarIly
and why should man bep He declared
that the United States is large enough to
contain the entire populationo of the world
One valley in Kansas. he said, is suffi-
ciently rich to provide bread for the whole
world. There is more than enough for
all, then WHY should any of the Creator 8
children suffer? The trouble is that soci-
etv does not understand the law of disIri-
| button. One man stands ct the door of
natures storehouse and holds the Key
and let's none take therefrom unless he,
the keyholder. receives portion thereof.
The speaker went on to discuss the rela-
ton OF capital and labor, money, rent,
ETC., and IN so doing he gave a very clear
explanation OF the single-la1 doctrine
and principles. At the conclusion of his
address he answered questions asked by
| those in the audience relative to the SUBJ
| ject of his discourse. DR.. Longstreet will
only remain in town for few days.