The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-02
NOT WITHOUT HONOR.

The extraordinary honors paid to
the memory Of Henry George go
far toward disproving the old adage
that a prophet is not without honor
save in his own country. A life Of self
denial and a death which leaves unwon
the highest public prize would seem
to be well compensated by such an
outpouring of sympathy and such a
tribute of respect and love as have fol-
lowed the death of this great leader.
The hopeful fact is always that, what
ever men may do, however weak may
seem to be their attachment to princi-
pie, however they may misunderstood
and fall short of high standards, they
do appreciate and honor them. The
electric spark Of comprehension of no.
bic ideas is quick to flash from the
American people when it is honesty,
sincerity and courage that appeal to
them. This last campaign of Mr..
George and the tribute which crowded
thousands hasten to pay to him have
proved it in remarkable manner.
Only small portion, comparatively,
Of those who lament and praise him
had ever come in personal contact with
called a magnetic" man. He did not
win others by the charm of his manner,
or even by the graces of his speech
Among those who have gladly wit
messed their, aDnrapi q tiOn of hic worth
are scores of men who disbelieve ut
terly in the principles that he held
most firmly. 1t has been, indeed, a
feature of his New York campaign that
he was supported ardently by men
who were no believers in the single tax
idea, and who rejected almost entirely
the platform of theory upon which Mr..
George took his stand. They follow
ed him simply through faith in the
man. More and more do our political
struggles seem to be resolving them
selves into a balancing of personal
merit. The party organization passes
rapidly into the machine. 1t then is
represented to the public mind by a.
few individuals, such as the heads of
the Tammany and Republican organi-
cations, and their conspicuous nufitness
for place or power furnishes a great
object lesson. 1t is seen that, after
all, in all governments that are worthy
of name, the great desideratum is an
executive head upon whom the people
may rely absolutely without fear or
hesitation. A wise man, a true man,
an honest man is the first requirement
for good government anywhere.
Not often is it given to any man to
stand as prominently before the public
eye, to be exposed to a light so search
ing, thrown upon character, action and
motive, as that which blaZed upon the
figure of Henry George. His worst
enemies admitted him to be personally
irreproachable. There is not a hint of
the reproach of self-seeking in the dia-
tribes of his foes. Now that he
is gone, and no longer to be feared
as a disturber of political peace, friends
and enemies alike hasten to bear tes-
timony to his singleness of purpose, to
the absence from his work and hope
of personal ambition, to his entire de-
votion to the peoples cause. 1t is an
ever fresh inspiration to the race to
find that the world recognizes and
comes at last to understand those who
are worthy. Success in the ordinary
meaning of the term may not be theirs
Neither wealth nor station may wait
upon their coming. But he whose
heart is true to duty, whose mind is
open to the truth, whose services are
given in all sincerity to the people,
will be understood and loved and
mourned by them. Many a man has
died full of years and outward honor
and distinction, with high sounding
titles and covered with decorations,
who might we'll have envied Henry
George the honor, affection and tn