The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-11-10
Henry Georges Theory.

The New Orleans Pioayune has q
very good and brief summary OF the
George system It says:
Heary Georges polisiosl economy is
based on the assumption that all human
beings are entitled to en- equal share in
shs enjoyment OF this world and all that
Is 10 it. No individual should be allow
sed 10 have any more Of the earth and
It's products than Is ueoessary for MS
personal maintenance. and the land or
substance Of our globe should be free
for ali. AS consequence. any large
ownership, or any ownership of land at
ali, is . wrong upon those who have
none. In this view OF the matter the
Qrea. land owners, whether io cities or
10 the country. are ousraging the
natural rights Of their less successful
fellows
But since this private ownership Of
the substance Of the earth has been
allowed to exist for 80 many ages. it
cannot be broken mp without bloody
revolution, snd Mr. Georges remedy
is TO lay such tax upon all lands as
will absorb all the profits, and barely
leave to the owner enough to pay bin
for the care Of the property. This
would virtually be .hs assuming OF
ownership bg the government of all
lands, and the renting Of them to the
owners, who would be really tenants.
The George policy proposes to raise
all the money required for the uses OF
government from tax on the lands
alone, so thatstbere would be DO tariff
or any other restraints or tributes laid
rpon the business Of the people. But
it is easy to sec that the assumption BY
the government of ownership over all
the real estate 10 the country would fall
far short Of Satisfying the people
There would still be vast accun ulatlons
of wealth, jast as there are now. The
lands are only . portion Of the accumu-
lated riches,
The rich men would be able to rent
from the government as ssnuch land as
:mighs be needed for their uses. while
The poor vho to-day cannot buy land
would not then be able to rent it.
Therefore this land socialism would
entirely fail Of Its avowed object. which
is to establish an equal distribution OF
wealth.
But the only difficulty would be 10
taking the first step Be that the
assumption By sbe government of the
ownership Of all lands, or all railssys
aud other private corporations, the
movement would ultimately ain at the
seizure and distribution of ali property
OF It's administration by the government
for the common use.
Il is not intended here to do more
than present mere outline of Henry
Georges political philosophy, aud GER
taiiDly no. 20 disease it IN detail. But
the candid observer must see that Mt.
George. ID bis effort 10 solve the pro.
blem Ok tbe>squal distribution Of wealth
among mankind. has lost sigat Of the,
extraordinary Inequalities IN the per
sonai endowmen.s OF individuals,
through the exercise Of which some
have discovered, developed, created or
collected vast wealth. while others
have done nothing in that direction.
II all adult men we're equal in physi-
cial, mental aud moral qualities. there
would be some assurance that wealth
once divided would remain so. and be
properly used But when the actual
differences in men arc considered, such
q distribution coald not be maintained
for even short period, for very soon
some would havs all, and Others would
have nothing OF their newly acquired
possessions
Bot there is no desire here to die
pa.aee either the ability or the phil
an.hropic designs Of Henry. He vas
filed With pity for the distress 10 the
world. aud be devoted his great mind
TO the devisiog of some means for It's
wholesale amelioratioo All such at
sempts heretofore made have failed,
and it appears frou the very nature of
man that only divine wisdom can ever
right the evils which George, in spirit
Of the highest beoevoleDce, has at.
tempted TO remedy
CHARGE on HEROES ON