The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-30
Those Were Among the Last
Words of Henry George.
ssLet Us Be Done With Asking
Privileges.
LAST NIGHTS WORK.
People Followed Him From
Place to Place.
They Struggled to But TOuc b
His Garments.
LAST NIGHTS WORK.

New York, Oct 8O.-When Henry
George accepted the nomination for
mayor at Cooper Union less than a
month ago, he said: IN make this
race if it costs my life. This is a call
to duty and as a good citizen, have no
right to disregard it on account OF mere
personal consideration
On the last night of his life he said !:
Il believe that all the needed reforms
are summed up in that philosOphy-the
right of every man to eat, to drink, to
speak, as he sees fit, so long as he does
not trench on the rights of any other
man. I believe that God, the father,
can take care of his own laws-there is
no need for US to get into trouble try
ing to NEEDLE with Gods laws, to en-
force them. If 1 am elected, and be-
lieve that I will be elected, I will en-
force the law upon the rich and poor
alike
I have pledged myself to search out
the charges popularity made against
Mr.. Richard Croker. If l am elected
these charges shall be investigated. If
they shall be proved untrue, let him go
unScathed back to England or to any
other land he pleases- But if they are
true Mr.. Georges voice rang out in
menacing tones that visibly excited his
audience, let the law be enforced. Let
him 60 to the penitentiary. He shall
go there"
Mr. George picked up his hat, saying
goodbye, and started for the door. The
crowd rose, cheering and elbowed and
fought to get near him. They reached
out their hands to touch his clothing.
At College Point, there were 1900
common labOrers, a rough crowd close
~ packed in the hall Mr.. George was
introduced as the friend of the work
ing man. He began: I have never
claimed to be a friend of the working
man. do not now make any such
claim. (There was a pause of dead 81
lence). I have not and do not intend
to advocate anything in the special in
terest of the laboring man" (AnOther
dead pause). Mr.. George walked the
full length of the platform and let out
his full voice in a shout: I am for
men" (The crowd set up such a cheer
ing and stamping that the room was
filled with a choking dusD.
Il am for men, the equal rights of all
men. Let US be done with asking priv
ueges for the laboring man.
There was much cheering and shout
ing as the speaker pushed his way out
of the hall He drove to Flushing, a
long route, at the end of which he spoke
to 1900 people, who had waited an hour
to see and cheer for their idol Off
again, and this time to a hall in the
center of Manhattan Island. Here he
said:
I hear above your shouts the roos-
ter's crow Next Tuesday you will hear
that rooster crow again, and the party
of freedom and the common people viii
hl. to come in again, after years of
longing and Of waiting, and after var
ious other kinds of DemOcracy-after
that VI OItN 0laIiQy o1lGI lIldt OL CIOhGI-
I have Travelled much, wishing, after
the Democratic fashion, to show myself
to the people whose suffrage ask. I
have met everywhere crowds like this,
intense in spirit and large in numbers.
After meeting them I believe I shall be
elected.
Since '86 I have not hid my light I'M
der a bushel You know what 1 be
leve. I believe in meeting my fellow
men and talking to them. If elected,
will honestly, fearlessly and cOnscien-
tiously carry out the principles for
which I stand. You may believe and
trust the result
Then Henry George broke away from
the crowd, his long days work was
over; his busy life's work was done He
went to his hotel after midnight hoping
to get a few hours sleep and rise strong
enough for a still more arduous days
work. for he was to have addressed six
great meetings last night.