ROAR TORS 2S et BPS BEAT DORA YES Ua MUNA RG ST ham CSIR ee PENNE VELEPAAAAN OO ee DMM HO iodO6iisr©A ywr»ryunr ia RS. PW AArisss SRR. WRK \ ANS \Y, ig ie ip Mie CLGE \ iy or, g Li WS RK WAVsy OX SN \\ Ge fy SNS YO MV RK WV AA WS \ RRA SN Ry AS SS N \ s \ NX \ \ pegs LITA CAAA AS IAA LI LESS pf LAE LED SSIES ARGO RRR e . CCRDIVRAANAAACN ARS S/ y Vy ros yy Cf) NS, : AN? S ANZA BY, —. ~ ¢}) 3 hae a = Wits Ui ‘i AN iw 4. : nH j OA - 2 NA 1 Z ; d VE , : vas v SN o> \ > _ 4 a THE UNIVERSITY GF ILLINOIS LIBRARY by in memory of a 30 Casad Hdmund J. James iW) ot a » ae Gots een - et etd trcs i, Mae r ae vay < ns alee ook cunt PROTECTION OR FREE- TRADE. An Examination of the Tariff Question with Especial Regard to the Interests of Labor. LY: ee Vine XVI. By HENRY GHORGE. 12mo0, Cloth. Price, $1.50. CONTENTS: . Introductory. . Clearing ground. . Of method. . Protection as a universal need. . The protective unit. . Trade. . Production and _ produ- cers. . Tariffs for revenue. . Tariffs for protection. . The encouragement of industry. . The home market and home trade. . Exports and imports. XIII. Confusions arising from the use of money. Do high wages necessi- tate protection ? Of advantages and dis- advantages as reasons for protection. The development of man- ufactures, (1) XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXXVI. XXVIII. XXVIII. XXIX, XXX. Protection and produ- cers. Effect of protection on American in- dustry. Protection and wages. The abolition of pro- tection. Inadequacy of the free trade argu- ment. The real weakness of free trade. The real strength of protection. The paradox. The robber that takes all that is left. True free trade. The lion in the path. Free trade and social- ism. Practical politics. Conclusion, EXTRACT FROM PREFACE. By carrying the inquiry beyond the point where Adam Smith and the writers who have followed him have stopped, I believe I have stripped .the vexed tariff question of its greatest difficul- ties, and have cleared the way for the settlement of a dispute which otherwise might go on interminably. The conclusions thus reached raise the doctrine of free trade from the emascu- lated form in which it has been taught by the English economists to the fullness in which it was held by the predecessors of Adam Smith, those illustrious Frenchmen, with whom originated the motto Laissez faire, and who, whatever may have been the con- fusions of their terminology or the faults of their method, grasped a central truth which free traders since their time have ignored. My effort, in short, has been to make such a candid and thorough examination of the tariff question, in all its phases, as would aid men to whom the subject is now a perplexing maze to reach clear and firm conclusions. In this I trust I have done something to inspire a movement now faint-hearted with the earnestness and strength of radical conviction, to prevent the division into hostile camps of those whom a common purpose ought to unite, to give to efforts for the emancipation of labor greater definiteness of purpose, and to eradicate that belief in the opposition of national interests which leads peoples, even of the same blood and tongue, to regard each other as natural antagonists. PRESS “NOTICES: ‘*An argument of great ingenuity and power, logically worked out and attractively formulated.’— Chicago Times. ‘“ Whatever may be Henry George’s defects as an author, he never writes a dull book.’’—Home Weekly. ‘* Another great book, written in that clear, eloquent, analytical style that made fame for * Progress and Poverty.’ The most thorough investigation of the subject that has yet been put into type.’’-—W. Y. News. ‘‘The appearance of this book marks a new epoch in the world-wide struggle for Free Trade. For the first time this great question is fully dis- cussed by one whose whole sympathies are well known to be with the laborin classes, and who has in a special manner won their confidence. They wi listen to him, and he can make himself clear to them. Henry George hasa power of putting economic truths in such clear and limpid language thata child can understand him, while the most learned man can enjoy the accuracy of his statements and the suggestiveness of his thoughts. 4 ‘This book is in itself a complete refutation of the often expressed belief that the Tariff Question is so profound and complicated that no one can hope (2) to understand it without a special technical education; for the whole subject is covered in these few pages so thoroughly, thut all the masses of statistics which may be found elsewhere ure but illustrations of the principle here stated; and itis made so simple that any woman, no matter how unfamiliar with business, can understand every page, and any boy of fifteen ought to be ashamed if he does not find the book both intelligible and interesting, while the argument is so logical and so conclusive that the most scientific scholar cannot fail to enjoy it, and would find it difficult to improve its precision without diminishing its force. “Its argument on the main question is simply unanswerable, and it is stated so clearly, so calmly, and so dispassionately, that none but those whose minds are sealed against all reason on this subject can fail to be convinced by it ; and many, even of these, will find an unusual intellectual enjoyment in reading a book so admirably written, in English of the purest water, fitted equally for the refreshment of the wise and the instruction of the igno- rant.’’—THoMAs G. SHEARMAN, in New York Star. ‘* Written with a clearness, a vigor, and a terseness that at once attract.” —Philadelphia Record. ‘*Mr. George is a wonderfully clear thinker and logical reasoner, and invests his subject with a halo of interest which holds the reader to the close. The charming style in which the book is written is one of its best features. It is English pure and undefiled.’’—Jacksonville (Fla.) Times. “‘The strongest argument for free trade ever yet made. Everyone who wants to get a clearer view on the tariff question should read this book, and, whether he becomes a free trader or not, he will know more of political economy than ever before.’’— Omaha Republican. ‘*This book will be a classic. Never was such close argument, such clear deductions put between covers.’’—Burlington (Ia.) Post. ‘‘ The singular success of Mr. George is that he has made political economy interesting. No writer has approached him in the power of clothing its dry bones with life. Those who deny him the title of a social architect cannot refuse him the claim of being an economic artist. “** Protection or Free Trade’ takes a grip of the reader such as ‘ Progress and Poverty ’ laid upon hosts of men in all walks of life. Those of us who knew Mr. George had been for a Sar or more engaged upon a book upon this well-handled theme have awaited its appearance with curious wonder, to see whether this threshed-out subject could take on new life at his touch. The miracle is wrought. He has written a book which, whether it convinces the reader or not, cannot fail to interest him and allure him on through its pages with a zest that never flags from title page to /finis. f ‘*He is a master of words, because he is a master of ideas. He thinks clearly, and thus speaks clearly. He knows what he means, sees the thought clearly in sunshine, and puts it on paper so that he who runs mayread. He goes straight for a point he hasin view and strides along in a good, honest axon gait which leaves it easy for the plainest man of the people to keep in his footsteps. . : ‘One of his striking powers is that of lighting up an argument with an illustration. His images are, as Mr. Beecher calls them, ‘ windows.’ Another of the striking features of this work is the complete absence of those elabo- rate tables of statistics which we had come to regard as quite as essential to the making up of a work on the tariff as a cover. Those of us—and our name is legion —-who always flunked in figures have come well-nigh to despair of mastering a subject which, we had thus been taught, is and was, and ever should be, a labyrinth of statistics. What then is our soul’s delight to find a book on the tariff which neither in the text. nor in foot notes, nor yet even in appendices, marshals the dreadful line of figures from which we always ran ay . ; ‘“*This book reads easily, very largely because of that which enables it to dispense with statistics,—its Eraep of a great principle, and its lucid applica- tion of that principle to the problem in hand. The argument moves with the (8) Maxx for thyself a definition or description of the thing which is presented to thee, so asto see distinctly what kind of a thing it is, in its substance, in its nudity, in its complete entirety, and tell thyself its proper name, and the names of the things of which it has been compounded, and into which it will be resolved. For nothing is so product- ive of elevation of mind as to be able to examine methodically and truly every object which is presented to thee in life, and always to look at things so as to see at the same time what kind of universe this is, and what kind of use everything performs in it, and what value everything has with reference to the whole, and what with reference to man, who is a citizen of the highest city, of which all other cities are like families ; what each thing is, and of what it is composed, and how long it is the nature of this thing to endure.— Marcus Aurelius Antoninue. PROGRESS AND POVERTY: * AN INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSE OF INDUSTRIAL INCREASE OF WANT WITH INCREASE OF WEALTH. THE REMEDY. BY HENRY GEORGH. NEW YORK: HENRY GEORGE AND COMPANY, 16 ASTOR PLACE, 1887. el There must be refuge! Men Perished in winter winds till one smote fire From flint stones coldly hiding what they held, The red spark treasured from the kindling sun; They gorged on flesh like wolves, till one sowed corn, Which grew a weed, yet makes the life of man; They mowed and babbled till some tongue struck speech, And patient fingers framed the lettered sound. What good gift have my brothers, but it came From search and strife and loving sacrifice? Edwin Arnold. Never yet Share of Truth was vainly set In the world’s wide fallow; After hands shall sow the seed, After hands, from hill and mead, Reap the harvests yellow. Whittier. PREFACE TO FOURTH EDITION. Tue views herein set forth were in the main briefly stated in a pamphlet entitled “ Our Land and Land Policy,” published in San Francisco in 1871. I then intended, as soon as I could, to present them more fully, but the opportunity did not for a long time occur. In the mean while I became even more firmly convinced of their truth, and saw more completely and clearly their relations; and I also saw how many false ideas and erroneous habits of thought stood in the way of their recognition, and how necessary it was to go over the whole ground. This I have here tried to do, as thoroughly as space would permit. It has been necessary for me to clear away before I could build up, and to write at once for those who have made no previous study of such subjects, and for those who are familiar with economic reason- ings; and, so great is the scope of the argument that it has been impossible to treat with the fullness they deserve many of the ques- tions raised. What I have most endeavored to do is to establish gen- eral principles, trusting to my readers to carry further their applica- tions where this is needed. In certain respects this book will be best appreciated by those who have some knowledge of economic literature ; but no previous reading is necessary to the understanding of the argument or the passing of judgment upon its conclusions. The facts upon which I have relied are not facts which can only be verified by a search through libraries. They are facts of common observation and com- mon knowledge, which every reader can verify for himself, just as he can decide whether the reasoning from them is or is not valid. Beginning with a brief statement of facts which suggest this in- quiry, I proceed to examine the explanation currently given in the name of PU economy of the reason why, in spite of the in- x PREFACE, private property in land always has, and always must, as develop- ment proceeds, lead to the enslavement of the laboring class; that land-owners can make no just claim to compensation if society choose to resume its right; that so far from private property in land being in accordance with the natural perceptions of men, the very reverse is true, and that in the United States we are already beginning to feel the effects’of having admitted this erroneous and destructive principle. The inquiry then passes to the field of practical statesmanship. It is seen that private property in land, instead of being necessary to its improvement and use, stands in the way of improvement and use, and entails an enormous waste of productive forces; that the recognition of the common right to land involves no shock or dis- possession, but is to be reached by the simple and easy method of abolishing all taxation save that upon land-values. And this an inquiry into the principles of taxation shows to be, in all respects, the best subject of taxation. A consideration of the effects of the change proposed then shows that it would enormously increase production ; would secure justice in distribution; would benefit all classes; and would make possible an advance to a higher and nobler civilization. The inquiry now rises to a wider field, and recommences from another starting-point. For not only do the hopes which have been raised come into collision with the widespread idea that social prog- ress is only possible by slow race improvement, but the conclusions we have arrived at assert certain laws which, if they are really nat- ural laws, must be manifest in universal history. As a final test, it therefore becomes necessary to work out the law of human progress, for certain great facts which force themselves on our attention as soon as we begin to consider this subject, seem utterly inconsistent with what is now the current theory. This inquiry shows that dif- ferences in civilization are not due to differences in individuals, but rather to differences in social organization; that progress, always kindled by association, always passes into retrogression as inequality is developed; and that even now, in modern civilization, the causes which have destroyed all previous civilizations are beginning to manifest themselves, and that mere political democracy is running its course toward anarchy and despotism. But it also identifies the law of social life with the great moral law of justice, and, proving previous conclusions, shows how retrogression may be prevented and a grander advance begun. This ends the inquiry. The final chapter will explain itself, PREFACE. xl The great importance of this inquiry will be obvious. If it has been carefully and logically pursued, its conclusions completely change the character of political economy, give it the coherence and certitude of a true science, and bring it into full sympathy with the aspirations of the masses of men, from which it has long been es- tranged. What I have done in this book, if I have correctly solved the great problem I have sought to investigate, is, to unite the truth perceived by the school of Smith and Ricardo to the truth perceived by the school of Proudhon and Lasalle; to show that laissez faire (in its full true meaning) opens the way to a realization of the noble dreams of socialism ; to identify social law with moral law, and to disprove ideas which in the minds of many cloud grand and elevat- ing perceptions. This work was written between August, 1877, and March, 1879, and the plates finished by September of that year. Since that time new illustrations have been given of the correctness of the views herein advanced, and the march of events—and especially that great movement which has begun in Great Britain in the Irish land agitation—shows still more clearly the pressing nature of the prob- lem I have endeavored to solve. But there has been nothing in the criticisms they have received to induce the change or modification of these views—in fact, I have yet to see an objection not answered in advance in the book itself. And except that some verbal errors have been corrected and a preface added, this edition is the same as previous ones. Henry GEORGE. New York, Wovember, 1880. : a te ’ > hey 4 be a's ay | “a #4 “eh ~ ; Z ae eae fe ea Hike hte i ee then’ : : pao \ , va P ; yan by i v 2 Wt r . - “tot i - 4 ; af ‘ aya %; . f j 2 oa oe gD SDE tag oot = ba rls , ae. $s oh ae eat yl oat fh ers eal rere Vs) ra a. Se vs rats iM ae Ae - ee is treed if 7 ores ‘% zi by y (Ds ‘ ate “foe ia : otis ss ak r 7 ce a ia ta a/c oot ane q Ps 7%! ¥ te 5 tt 4 ++ “ pet < a Vb Re Tal y? re ae Cer ae rath men ae be 5 €e % <1 ¢ “F ee vi eo. © } a? vel Bre Se ersepainl id, ks % Maer ee sake . > : 4 re . * as ’ ’ u JS yal ' a ‘ S » ’ j _ é ; E : By : . 5. = i a \ : : us ’ i" bute - wh PAR has ra dis a * Faken, y) i A a4 . ai < j es oe acs, ~ 4 ‘ vas Pak SIN Pe hiss : \in bAy Ad “f CR Ste 2) We a at alae oy ; ; 1) ee m - i b> aa ee ine ™~, | ps = ey Prather EL) om : er < ey aed : ? | : ay ‘ ¥ Fire oi: ol Rok t 3.5 : - owes eee ek. na ithe Ty or = - = i mt re < a . a q , a = mee 7 ee 2 Weiss 2 ‘ ie oe ~ ee ae . > ee > ! ‘ ca) yl PS OS MR io ieee Ss eh he ee es re i's dye ee eT Tug eae a ( : PP en tah 4 Sahar Wp oh th aw ane HR On ; fuel sete Oe, eee o ie pbs i" . : my ‘ é pH CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTORY. PUGSE TORIC wy evias dutaneuee cece cgus ere cen e's Wisaunsresedesdoctess eed uieseperess =o Book I—WaGEs AND CAPITAL. Chapter I—The current doctrine—its insufficiency...... BEE SE rics erin Spiopodo lie II—The meaning of the terms...... aetcety ois cttriciecie as erates versie ates Soccmmccte: WA Ill-—Wages not drawn from capital, but produced by the labor......... Coa IV—The maintenance of laborers not drawn from capital..............2.. 63 V—The real functions of capital.......0..csseecces Desicle ersigieteis tits sockuonGe (fa! Book II—PopuuLaTION AND SUBSISTENCE. Chapter I—The Malthusian theory—its genesis and support......cssescecesscese Sl TU—-Inferences from Iacbeem s oaenioee oes alee odes severe civicien oft we vee me Ameo We I1I—Inferences from analogy..... Seidinmicdcarisne ea claractese eats Ste lero\s eieicretetrele 115 IV—Disproof of the Malthusian theory.............008 alere's's sterate als SaQ0NBC 125 Book IIlI—Tue Laws oF DISTRIBUTION. Yhapter I—The inquiry narrowed to the laws of distribution—necessary relation OLAGHESOUAWS stains crocs sieve sie cre letieicrarecalelsreee es oe SpOaHC ra aca gene LOD Liz eOt ANAS la WOOL TONG. civicwanacscv sar act sev sascmspevss ses Aon ese! 1iI=Interestiand the-cause of interest. acsccesc ces csi se asic cncesee een 155 IV—Of spurious capital and of profits often mistaken for interest......... 170 N-=The law of inberest acces welsisre ctedie's cn cists cists caicaies 6 ele sratetacdta terse aislers 176 Vig Wares and the lawiOlawases er. catciteceion + sioctee eirecloiertine ole iaaio rie. els ocr 184 ViI—Correlation and co-ordination of these laws....... ABU GOOD GSOOCTOONC . 196 VilI—The statics of the problem thus explained............... ADAG SeOr noc alte Book I[V—EFFEeEcr OF MATERIAL PROGRESS UPON THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. Chapter I—The dynamics of the problem yet to seek..........ecec ee eeeeees Apo 70s) II—Effect of increase of population upon the distribution of wealth....... 207 III—Effect of improvements in the arts upon the distribution of wealth.... 220 IV—Effect of the expectation raised by material progress........ssesecee. 230 Book V—THE PROBLEM SOLVED. Chapter I—The primary cause of recurring paroxysms of industrial depression, .. 237 II—The persistence of poverty amid advancing wealth........... cocccces 20% Book VI—Tusk REMEDY, Chapter I—Insufficiency of remedies currently advocated. ..,...+s0ceeeesceeeeess 269 II—The true remedy. .... escveceswensé erERERERE PERE ee ee eee ee ee 294 X1V CONTENTS. PAGE Book VII-—Justice or THE REMEDY. Chapter I—Injustice of private property in land................. aisieieteie's cis elsie eat 299 II—Enslavement of laborers the ultimate result of private property in land. 312 III—Claim of land owners to compensation. .........0...csceecccecsccces . 322 1V—Property inland historically considered .\.,. ... «« «saisisieless olsis/ecisleicielee ole 331 V—Property in land in the United States........ccccscsese eccscsvececs 346 Book VIII—APPLICATION OF THE REMEDY. Chapter I—Private property in land inconsistent with the best use of land..... «. 357 II—How equal rights to the land may be asserted and secured........... 362 I1I1—The proposition tried by the canons of taxation.............-2..e00. . 367 TV-——Indorsements.and objections #012... ..