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T0 the memory of Henry George, Preceptor and Friend
a Philosopher who profoundly explored the principles of social life for very love of mankind, a Political Economist who scientifically traced economic laws to their roots in the moral law, a popular Leader who quailed before no moral wrong, a devoted Champion whose faith was grounded in moral right, a constructive Statesman who saw in the ethics of democracy the natural laws of human progress.

Association in equality is the law of progress. Association frees mental power for expenditure in improvement, and equality, or justice, or freedom - for the terms here signify the same thing, the recognition of the moral law - prevents the dissipation of this power in fruitless struggles. Here is the law of progress, which will explain all diversities, all advances, all halts, and retrogressions.

- Henry George, Progress and Poverty, Ch. III. of Book X.

The law of human progress, what is it but the moral law? Just as social adjustments promote justice just as they acknowledge the equality of right between man and man, just as they insure to each the perfect liberty which is bounded only by the equal liberty of every other, must civilization advance. Just as they fail in this, must advancing civilization come to a halt and recede.

- ibid

Saving Communities

Bringing prosperity through freedom,
equality, local autonomy and respect for the commons.

The Ethics of Democracy

A Series of Optimistic Essays on the Natural Laws of Human Society

by Louis F. Post

Moody Publishing Company
35 Nassau Street, New Y0rk
1601 Unity Building, Chicago
Copyright, 1903

Table of Contents

Dedication

Introduction - Democracy

Part One - The Democratic Optimist
Chapter I. - Spurious Optimism
Chapter II. - Affirmative Negations and Negative Affirmations
Chapter III. - Optimistic Pessimism
Chapter IV. - Destruction for Construction

Part Two - Individual Life
Chapter I. - The College Graduate
Chapter II. - Success
Chapter III. - Respecting the Respectable

Part Three - Business Life
Chapter I. - Honesty the Best Policy
Chapter II. - Justice or Sacrifice
Chapter III. - Service for Service
Chapter IV. - Great Fortunes

Part Four - Economic Tendencies
Chapter I. - Department Stores
Chapter II. - General Business Concentration
Chapter III. - The Rage for Trusts
Chapter IV. - The Trend of the Trust
Chapter V. - The Trust as a Natural Evolution
Chapter VI. - The Trust and Socialism
Chapter VII - The Trust and the Single Tax

Part Five - Politico-Economic Principles
Chapter I. - Political Economy a Science of Tendencies
Chapter II. - Free Competition
Chapter III - The Laborer and his Hire
Chapter IV. - The Wages System
Chapter V. - Our Foreign Trade
Chapter VI. - An Economic Exploration and Survey
Chapter VII. - Social Evolution

Part Six - Democratic Government
Chapter I. - Self-Government
Chapter II. - Universal Suffrage
Chapter III. - Crime and Criminals
Chapter IV. - Public Debts
Chapter V. - Trial by Jury
Chapter VI. - Imperialism

Part Seven - Patriotism
Chapter I. - What is Patriotism?
Chapter II. - Patriotic Ideals
Chapter III. - Trampling upon Patriotic Ideals
Chapter IV. - Partisanship
Chapter V. - Patriotic Celebrations

Conclusion - The Great Order of Things


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