Henry George on Civilisation

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 128, 22 April 1890, Page 4

Henry George on Civilisation

At an « at home* given by the Mayor t)f S.vduey in hodour of : . Mr Henry George, the single tax advocate gave his experiences with regard to Custom houses j remarking that he was surprised when informed by the officer on his entering Sydney harbour that his boxes and trunks would not require to be e'xatnined. " You can't go ftshore that way in : England," he remarked. "And when you come to the Great Bepiiblic, why — good heavens- you sail into New York harbour^ you see a colossal statue of liberty, with her torch lighting the . world— Liberty ' with her ■ face to the east, and, why, up runs a Gustom House boat, and up comes, a Custom, House officer'; and wliat do they do ? Well, they ask 'you to statfd in line ; and hold up your rigiit ? hand, and call ; upon prod Almighty, the makfer ot Heaven . and-, eartli, ; and , ,of all things in Heaven and : earth,, to ; witness that you haven't/anything: dutiable in ypur trunks, the great Republic— the Eepublic that is to eniighten the world, 5 ' continues Mr George* with ; facetious ■emphasis, " calls ,upon_you to do that;!, -And when you have .^one thatj when have hadryour..swear-^(laughter), — why, the great Republic, she don't believe ryou. She asks ; -you ;. to open .your trunks for, the ■ inspection u pf ■... £f lynx-eyed officer. Lynx-eyed . dfficerj; indeed 1 But if, there jp a green^baQk there they ! won'jt see far. Yes," "he*" went on' when the amused'int^rrup.tibn "♦ "j^oiir, are" nearer civilisation than we "are— to a Chrfetikii "civilisationi It is all part of a' system' which teaqhes.jnen o that ,they don't know ey^erjthing-jdckw.ii in Judee." .. ,