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THE BULLETIN
Fix this textVoL 2.—No. 93.—New Series.
Fix this textSATURDAY. FEBRUARY 21, 1885.
Fix this textFrloe-M.
Fix this textThe Bulletin.
Fix this textSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1886.
Fix this textThe Plutocrat in Power.
Fix this textAmong the books, pamphlets, magazine and
Fix this textnewspaper articles on social quesiions of the
Fix this textgreatest moment to the civilized portions of
Fix this textmankind, which are being constantly issued
Fix this textfrom the English press at the present day, a
Fix this textnondescript publication, called by its
Fix this textauthor “A Politico-Economical Sonata in
Fix this textfour movements,†deserves attention, not
Fix this textonly on account of its substance, but also on
Fix this textaccount of the earnestly-playful spirit in
Fix this textwhich it is written. Its title is “ Mr. Heney
Fix this textGeorge’s Unproved Assumption; or, the
Fix this textPauperism of Capital;†but as the writer
Fix this textmerely states in his opening paragraphs that
Fix this textthe author of “ Progress and Poverty †be-
Fix this textlieves firmly in competition, and assumes
Fix this textthat “when the great monopolies, of which
Fix this textthe monopoly of land is the greatest, have
Fix this textbeen abolished, labour and capital will not
Fix this textlonger stand opposed as enemies, but that
Fix this textthe dependence of the one upon the other
Fix this textwill result in harmony between them;†and,
Fix this textmoreover, towards the close of his first
Fix this textmovement, acknowledges that, in the event
Fix this textof the reforms he advocates being also at-
Fix this texttained, “it is difficult to see why some such
Fix this textharmony as Mr. George and others have
Fix this textdreamt of should not be realized,†the in-
Fix this textcorporation of his name in association with
Fix this textthe phrase “ unproved assumption †would
Fix this textseem only to be a device to attract the
Fix this textfavourable attention of persons in search of
Fix this textan exposure of the American economist’s
Fix this textarguments, it may be the case, however,
Fix this textthat Mr. F. J. Bruce, to whom we owe this
Fix this textsprightly and able essay, is not acquainted
Fix this textwith Mr. George’s “Social Problems,†for
Fix this textin that work he would have found a chap-
Fix this textter dealing with the very question he sup-
Fix this textposes that Mr. George has overlooked. He
Fix this textis, certainly, not one of those critics who
Fix this textcharge Mr. George with contending
Fix this textthat the abolition of private property in
Fix this textland is more than an indispensable pre-
Fix this textliminary to the establishment of “ the
Fix this textKingdom of Heaven on eo/rth .†There is no
Fix this textantagonism, but, on the contrary, there is
Fix this texta great deal of harmony between the objects
Fix this textaimed at by the two writers, and the
Fix this textgrounds on which they base their arguments
Fix this textIn support of these objects. Both find in
Fix this textthe iniquitable distribution of wealth the
Fix this textmain cause of the prevailing poverty and
Fix this textmisery of the mass of the people in every
Fix this textcivilised nation at the present moment; and
Fix this textMr. Bruce, with the aid of Herr Franz
Fix this textStopel, to whose book on “ Individualism
Fix this textand Socialism†he acknowledges his indebt-
Fix this textedness, further agrees with Mr. George
Fix this textthat there is a moral wrong at the root of
Fix this textevery social evil, and is as eager aa him to
Fix this texteradicate the cause; instead of merely allay-
Fix this texting the symptoms of the disorder. What
Fix this textMr. Bruce, who incidentally informs us
Fix this textthat he has never earned a penny all his
Fix this textlife, complains of is, that the law interferes
Fix this textiu the free competition of capital by guaran-
Fix this textteeing great debts incurred by the State, and
Fix this textsecured on property, thereby giving 30 sav-
Fix this textings invested in these debts an artificial
Fix this textsecurity, which they cannot find in produc-
Fix this texttive employments.
Fix this text• * •
Fix this textThe great debts guaranteed by the State,
Fix this textnnd secured on property, with the guaran-
Fix this texttee of law, simply form, Mr. Bruce tells us,
Fix this textan establishment for the [reception of
Fix this textsturdy vagrant capital.†With none of the
Fix this textree classes into which the community is
Fix this textivided by this “pauperism of capitalâ€â€”
Fix this texte creditor, the debtor, and the trader in
Fix this textebte is the writer at all satisfied. Many
Fix this textcreditors practice some art, profession, or
Fix this texttrade, but there are, especially in England,
Fix this textlarge numbers who are creditors pure and
Fix this textsimple —rentiers who practice neither art,
Fix this textprofession, nor trade. “ The modern system
Fix this textof debt, in short, has been invented by the
Fix this textdevil himself for the purpose of producing,
Fix this textin countless swarms, that public nuisance
Fix this textof the Platonic state—the drone.†Of the
Fix this textmoral condition of the creditor class, to
Fix this textwhich he himself belongs, Mr. Brdce pre-
Fix this textsents us with an ugly picture—‘The man
Fix this textwho can live cheerfully like a pauper, with-
Fix this textout doing a stroke of work, and feel no
Fix this textshame or sting of conscience; who can
Fix this textspend on bis sports or his dilettauteism, and
Fix this textbe thoroughly satisfied,â€â€”to cite the linea-
Fix this textments of only a few of his features—“ that
Fix this textman,†Mr. Bruce declares with consider-
Fix this textable emphasis, “ that man is contemptible
Fix this textin proportion to his smug contentment.â€
Fix this textThere are creditors, however, who are not so
Fix this textignoble as this; men who have been born in
Fix this textthe “ workhouse of wealth,†who feel the
Fix this textburden of their disgrace, who wish for
Fix this textduties and for work, but cannot make up
Fix this texttheir minds to cast the cause of their degra*
Fix this textdation from them -these men, he tolls us,
Fix this textare “only saved from contempt by being
Fix this textpitiably miserable.†Of course, there are
Fix this texthosts of creditors who hover between these
Fix this texttwo extremes; “but into the hands of the
Fix this textinheritor of these per cents., mortgages, and
Fix this textthe like, is put the two edged sword of
Fix this textindependence, which not one in a thousand
Fix this textcan use without danger to himself and his
Fix this textneighbours.†Many who suffer from the
Fix this textcurse inherent in riches of this kind, feel
Fix this textthe curse, Mr. Bruce says, but will not con-
Fix this textfess it; and, whatever may be the moral
Fix this textcondition of the creditor class, who fare
Fix this textsumptuously on the earnings of the indus-
Fix this texttrious, “At least it is clear,†Mr. Bruce
Fix this textasserts, “ that the State, in furthering their
Fix this textexistence, is working at its own disorganisa-
Fix this texttion, is wasting the human power at its
Fix this textdisposal, and fearfully accentuating the
Fix this textantagonism between rich and poor in mak-
Fix this texting their relation that of tax-gatherer and
Fix this texttax-payer.â€
Fix this text% * ><•
Fix this textRegarding the condition of the poor
Fix this textdebtor, it is so obvious that little need be
Fix this textsaid. “If the debtor is not a worker,†says
Fix this textMr. Bruce, “someone else who is must be
Fix this textpaying his debt. Debts can only be paid
Fix this textout of produce; the ultimate payers are
Fix this textthe productive classes, and of those the
Fix this textweakest pay, or, at least, suffer most. The
Fix this textemployer, whether he be landowner or
Fix this textcapitalist, may be bound with heavy chains
Fix this textof debt as he sits in his chair of state, but
Fix this textthe strain is on the arms of the working
Fix this textmen who carry him.†As to the trader in
Fix this textd bts, or speculative gambler, or whatever
Fix this texthe may be called, he may be safely dismissed
Fix this textwithout a word of comment. No one is
Fix this textlikely to be deceived in regard to his char-
Fix this textacter. Now, the policy that maintains the
Fix this textcreditor and trader in debts upon the earn-
Fix this textings of the debtor is contrary to true eco-
Fix this textnomy, under which, as Mr. Bruce contends,
Fix this text“ the main object of the laws should be to
Fix this textprotect labour, to encourage it in all, and to
Fix this textensure to it a full and satisfactory reward
Fix this textwhich would imply full protection of the
Fix this textlight to all property which oan be regarded
Fix this textas the accumulated result of labour. It
Fix this textshould not be their object to favour pro-
Fix this textperty, wealth, and idleness at the expense of
Fix this textlabour, poverty, and industry. Yet, such
Fix this textare the effects actually brought about by
Fix this textthe laws on which our great system of In-
Fix this textdebtedness rests. To the poor and industri-
Fix this textous and honest they are a curse, and nothing
Fix this textbut a curse; but to the rich, they give op-
Fix this textportunities of adding to their riches without
Fix this texteffort; to the idle, means of living in perpe-
Fix this texttual idleness; while into the hands of those
Fix this textwho gain control over the money market,
Fix this textand the circulation of money, is put vast ir-
Fix this textresponsible power, which they may, and do,
Fix this textuse without scruple solely for their own en-
Fix this textrichment, and which, at times, makes it
Fix this textpossible for them to dictate terms for labour,
Fix this textto stop industry and commerce by holding
Fix this textback the necessary medium of exchange:,
Fix this textand to ruin more families than a great war/*
Fix this text* * *
Fix this textThere are other counts in the indictment
Fix this textthat Mr. Bruce draws up against the present
Fix this textsystem under which capital is diverted from’
Fix this textfree competition in productive
Fix this textbut what we have given may surely suffice:
Fix this textAs a matter of course, he proposes a radical
Fix this textalteration of the existing laws. Not only
Fix this textwould he pay off and abolish the national
Fix this textdebt, but he would also declare it to be Il-
Fix this textlegal to contract any permanent debt ontho
Fix this textsecurity of the nation or of any local go-
Fix this textvernment. Then he would abolish the right
Fix this textof raising money on the security of land.
Fix this text“ Englishmen, not to speak of the rest of/
Fix this textprint-reading mankind,†he tells us, ** are
Fix this textgradually waking up to the fact that there
Fix this textdoes not and cannot exist a right to property
Fix this textin land as absolute as the right to property
Fix this textin things made by hands; and there is no
Fix this textprobability whatever that the classes in-
Fix this textterested in the abolition of monopoly in
Fix this textland will ever again close their eyes and
Fix this textsleep as quietly as before. Land reform
Fix this textthere must be, and the first step,†he says
Fix this text“should be the abolition of the right of lay-
Fix this texting a burden upon the necessary condition
Fix this textof all production.†Moreover, Mr, Bruch
Fix this textwould also decree that the State should
Fix this textcease to give encouragement to any form of
Fix this textindebtedness whatever. We pass over the
Fix this textremarks of the writer on the modes by
Fix this textwhich the remedies he suggests should b®
Fix this textapplied. Of one of the results that would
Fix this textfollow their application, however, we must
Fix this textallow him to say a few words.
Fix this text“ The chief gainer by the free competition of
Fix this textcapital for productive investment will,†be de-
Fix this textclares, “ be the land ; for land will be the Safest'
Fix this textof productive investments. Land reform will
Fix this texttake the gains of monopoly for the State, but will'
Fix this textmake still more secure the rights of the improv-
Fix this texting holder. For the sake of this security, many
Fix this textwho are now content to live on the fixed gains of
Fix this textdebt-invested capital — landless, homeless, and
Fix this textoften useless—will wish to possess. In some country
Fix this textdistrict, land and a house. Those who hold much land
Fix this textwill find it safest to spend savings In its Improve,
Fix this textment, and, rightly looked at, a tract of oped
Fix this textcountry is an inexhaustable field for Improvement
Fix this text—for the creation, that is, of healthy country
Fix this texthomos, untainted by sewers and the abominations
Fix this textfrom which life in large towns has never yet been
Fix this textfree. If more capital Is spent In the country
Fix this textthere will be less crowding In the towns, and the
Fix this textabolition of debts will thus help in the cause of
Fix this textdecentralisation. ’ ’
Fix this textIn laying the views of Herr Stopee and Mr.
Fix this textBruce before our readers, we are perfectly
Fix this textwell aware that they have little chance of
Fix this textbeing immediately accepted by any large
Fix this textnumber of them, and there Is still lew
Fix this textchance of their being immediately carried
Fix this textinto practical effect anywhere. But it is
Fix this textwell, we think, that Australians shall make*
Fix this textthemselves acquainted with the economical
Fix this textand social doctrines, and theories which ar®
Fix this textbeing ventilated in Europe, and w© consider
Fix this textit part of our duty to keep them duly posted
Fix this textin movements of this kind; for any radical
Fix this textchanges that may be made there, affecting
Fix this textthe condition of the people, are certain.
Fix this textMR. J. A. PROUDE, THE HISTORIAN.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239535724
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved February 25, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239535724
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 25 February 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239535724>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 25 February 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239535724
{{Citation
|
| title=The bulletin.
| year=1880
| section=105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| issue=Vol. 2 No. 93 (21 Feb 1885)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239535724
| id=nla.obj-239535724
| access-date=25 February 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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