The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-11-05
T. E. HARRIS. Editor.
zrsaY azcsaz AID zis TEACHINGS.


The life Of Henry George has been
a blessing 10 the human race and the
time aud manner Of his death we be-
lleye win prove a henedIction. The
beautiful tributes TO his memory in
the newspapers will draw almost uni
versal Attentions tohls philosophy, and
an understanding OF the theories he so
eloquently and lncidly elaborated,
whether ever put 90 a practical test or
not, win surely In some way lead to !
something that will lessen the burdens |
Of poverty which are growing more |
grievous 10 be borae In all parts Of the
world.
Henry George was a sailor before the
mast; he was a printer at the case; he
was among the seekers after gold in a
miners camp; he knew something Of
the struggles aud hardshlps Of the
great masses, who, by a civilization
that we even boast Of, are condemned
% life Of almost hopeless toll and
drudgery.
Ia the great ciliesin the early morn
ing hours he saw women shivering in
rags hunting among the swiIl tubs for
tie leavings from the tables Of the mo-
tells and restaurants aud the more well
70 do, aud among the ash barrels for
the bits Of coal that had escaped burn
ing. He went among the printers aud
saw from the overcrowded offices an
ever increasing army Of tramps.
Among workmen In all occupations,
eager and anxious for tie privilege to
work, he saw enforced idleness.
lie witnessed the growth Of the
great farms now 50 common in the
west and northwest, and the gradual
absorption Of the small farms, once
the strength and boast Of our country.
he saw the independent farmer be-
coming lassand less independent. He
saw that he was no longer a factor
even In fixing the price Of his own
products much less in shaping the
ends of government.
lie saw an the public franchises
that naturally belonged 10 the people,
aud al natural products, 50 bounti-
fully provided by an All Wise Being
and intended for the use Of all, sliced
upon and operated by n few to the
great injustice Of the many.
He did not, could not, believe that
these things were in the line and pur-
pose and design Of q wise and just and
beniiicent Creator, and this led to the
production Of that greatest book Of
The century. progress and Poverty
He could not find pnblisher for it
IN the east or In England. twas print
ed eventually ON a little hand press in
San Francisco, but found rapid sale,
and he lived 70 zee Il translated into
al languages.
The book produced q profound sen
saiinn. Mr.. George was pronounced
an "anarchisip and a Dangerous per
SOM generally. aud the learned Duke
Of Argyle undertook 10 combat has
theories and hold him up TO the con-
demnation ofall who revereneed order
aud law. No man was subjected to
more terrible and rasping invective.
Dir. Georges reply was so calm, so
dignined, - unimpassioned, and yet
20 lucid, and 20 fair that the
almost universal verdict was that not
since the days Of Socrates had the
world seen such q philosopher.
His books easily won for him the
title 81 the Shakespeare Of Sociology.
He was reared In the atmosphere
OF the abolition agitation, and being
Of q sensitive and loving nature,
naturally shared the sentiments Of
the antl-slavery crusaders and became
. partisan republican, but he was a
democrat By Intslnct and inclination,
and ~ soon a. the war settled the
slavery question and Mr.. George be-
gan 10 think for himself, he naturally
driffed into the democratic party
where he belonged, and his contribu-
tioE 70 It's literature win stand beside
that Of JeiIerson's. His book on
''Protection or Free Trade" is as yet
unanswered and Is unanswerable.
Persons at all interested in this ques-
ton, and all ought to be, have only to
read Mr.. Georges book calmly and re-
fleclively in the quiet Of their homes
70 he convinced that the contention Of
the democrats Is the correct theory
and would greatly contribute TO hui
a man needs II carried out. He makes
aeo plain that IL admits of no argu-
.t..t.
it ut . few years ago denounced as an
arLInEehist' and an 'agitator,n now
asae 'oForid Is sirewing flowers on his
-. q The press nearly everywhere
, lauds him for the purity Of his
Motives, but some, like the Tue,
are moved 10 say that after all Henry
George was but mere dreamer. But
was he dreamerq Is 1t true that "a
man but dreams who believes that
poverty can be abolished and that too
On lines 80 just and holy as to be san
toned Of God1
II he who 80 believes but dreams,
then God Is Knocked; His mercy, and
goodness and wisdom, myth; and
religion an empty she'll
I'm watson for ssvsrnur.