from Land and Freedom, January-February 1940, at https://cooperative-individualism.org/land-and-freedom-1940-jan-feb.pdf
Prophetic Words
I CAME upon a sentence which I submit is prophetic in high degree:
“Is it too soon to hope that it may be the mission of this Republic to unite all nations of English speech, whether they grow beneath the Northern Star or Southern Cross, in a league, which, by insuring justice, promoting peace and liberating commerce, will be the forerunner of a world-wide federation that will make war the possibility of a past age and turn to works of usefulness the enormous forces now dedicated to destruction?”
Those words were spoken in San Francisco by Henry George in a Fourth of July oration, 1877. They are prophetic in their insight and prophetic in their appeal.
Shall we sit still indefinitely and let the world drift with all which that may mean, or shall we concern ourselves with the task of leadership in a broken, impoverished, and war-torn world? Shall we lead, or shall we sit and watch and wait and take the consequences?
—Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler.
Dr. Butler (1862-1947) was president of Columbia University from 1901 to 1945. His 1931 commencement address was centered around Progress and Poverty, and ended with this quote from Disraeli:
"We live in an age when to be young and to be indifferent can be no longer synonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour. The claims of the Future are represented by suffering millions; and the Youth of a Nation are the trustees of Posterity."
Henry George's 1877 Fourth of July oration follows, and the thoughts of the San Francisco Examiner are the two posts after the speech itself.
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