The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-08
Platform of the Henry George Combinatio

Platform of the Horny George Combination
New York, October 5.-The following
is the platform in part adopted by the
Henry George meeting tonight:
I'VE, democrats of Greater New
York, in mass meeting assembled, do
reaff1rm our adherence to the creed of
democracy as set forth in the platform
adopted by the national convention of
the democratic party in Chicago July
9. 1896. We declare our allegiance to the
principles enunciated in that document,
pronouncing them the formal express
sions of the spirit Of true democracy;
and we point in corroboration Of this
belief to the fact that the mere pro-
mitigation of the doctrines drove from
the democratic party those who by
force or corrupt, mercenary and ambi-
tious ends, had striven to make it
menace to the rights and liberties of
the people rather than the defender
It declares there is no regular dem
ocratic candidate for mayor except
Henry George and sends greeting to
the gallant leaders of the democratic
party, William Jennings Bryan
Continuing it says:
I'VE declare the true purpose Of gov
ernment to be the maintenance of that
sacred right of property which gives
to every one opportunity to employ his
labor, and security that he shall enjoy
it's fruits; to prevent the strong from
depressing the weak and the unscrupu-
1ous from robbing the honest and to do
for the equal benefit Of all such things
as can be better done by organized So
ciety than by individuals: and we aim
at the abolition of all laws which give
to any class of citizens advantages
either judicial financial, industrial or
political, that are not equally shared
by all others
Municipal ownership of city railways,
gas and electric lighting plants, fer
ries, telephones and telegraphs is ia
vored ...<>
The platform demands the compu1so-
ry reduction Of the price of gas to $1.OO
or less per 1000 feet and of street car
fares to "a just and reasonable point" !"
The platform hints at the single tax
by declaring for the "reasssamption of
diverted wealth, through wise. eQuita-
BILE and scientific taxation"
The platform demands the repeal of
the Raines excise law and continues:
"DeplOring with full hearts the mas
sacre at HazeltOn, Pa, of a score OF
workingmen who were shot down for
eercising their natural right to use the
public highways for orderly procession,
we call the attention of the people of
NcW 4OTh 10 the IdcC tndC the cXCre-
able perversaon of law by which the
bloody deed was given a. hollow SEM
blance Of Legality exists equally in this
city.
I'VE denounce the interference with
the peoples rights by the mandatory
order of a court, issued after an ex
parte hearing. and the disregard OF
which results in the denial to the sciti-
zen. who has asserted his historic
raights, opportunity to defend himself
before jury Of his peers. Whether ex-
ercised by a federal or a state eourt.
government by injunction is hateful,
un-Aaa erican and in fragrant violation
of the principles of individual liberty
which our fOrefathers defended.
I'VE declare that this mass meeting
was made necessary by the denial to
the people Of the right Of self govern
ment by men who having seized the
machinery of the democratic party or
ganizatfon believed thmesIves able to
dictate to the citizens Of Greater New
York, not only their rulers but the very
political questions with which they
may occupy their thoughts. We are
here to demonstrate that what demo-
Gratis shall or shall not think and
speak Of is not to be determined On the
English race tracks nor in secret con-
claves Of se.f-constituted Eosses.'
1t is stated that Henry George wrote
the platform.