Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-03-04
From tie Nsw Yerk Daily Glotc:
Dispositi0n of the Public Lands.

From tie Nsw Yerk Daily Glote:
Disposition Of the Public Lands.
We have received from an esteemed
friend a letter containing SO much good
sence, good argument, plain fact and
sound suggestion, that we cannot with
hold i.s publication. The press generally
have sneered at the organic alton in this
city known as the National Reform As
sociation." the main object of which We
believe to be the prevention of all further
traffic in the public lands ofthe States and
ofthe Uniteed States, and to cause them
TO be laid out in farms and lots for the free
and exclusive use Of actual settlers. 1t
10 proposition worthy the most profound
consideration, and not one which should
call forth abuse and ridicule. For our
own part, If the National Reform AS
sociation have in view the establishment
Of q Landed Democracy, however much
we may differ from them in other matters.
we say God speed it! The people need
only to have the matter properly present.
ed 10 them, disconnected and disentangl>
ed with irrelevant matters, to prompt its
contamination. DR.. Douglas, from
whom we received the following. is long
and lavorably known as an able and en-
thusiastic Democrat. We commend the
letter 10 the attention Of our readers:
NEw LONDON, c., Nov. 10th, 1915.
DEAR S1R-Not few observing per
sons are alarmed at the present condition
and prospects Of our Republic. They
are apprehensive it is moving forward
with rapid strides towards the goal Of
atistocracy, and will soon reach it, unless
its mad career can be effectually stopped.
II 10 obvious that our sel6shness has al
ready obtained an ascendancy over our
patriotism; and that our legislation is not
less partial and corrupt than the legisla-
tion of the Old World. Capital is every
day encroaching upon the rights Of labor,
and subjecting 1t to its tyranny. The
power Of Monopoly seems to be par
amount to the power Of the People. and
Special Privileg ges more highly esteemed
than Popular Liberty. The men of
money occupy more lofty and inauen-
tial position IN society, than the men Of
work; and the Producing Democracy are
fast becoming the slaves Of the Non-Pro-
ducing Aristocracy. The cultivator OF
discord is more important character
than the cultivator Of the soil; and the
vender Of a useful article, than its ma
ksr. The merchant is the ship captains
master-the sailors the captains slaves
land the Almighty Dollar the master 9
master. In our manufacturing establish
ments the employers are KiDgs-the en-
Ployed, their degraded Subiects-the
voters Of their will, and dependent on
their sufferance for bread. Our Army
and Navy are manned from the Demmoc
racy, oticered from the Aristocracy-ant
the soldiers and sailors not more caret
for, nor less oppressed, than the soldiers
and sailors of Queen Victoria and the
Emperor Nicholas. Under the loud and
constant cry Of frugality in the public
expenditures, the march Of extravaganza
is onward and upward. with constantly
- increasing strength, and increasing rap
idity. Our law system, like the law sys-
TEN of Monarchjes, is based on fayorit-
ism, and controlled by money; hence the
article Of justice, 80 called, like articles
Of merchandise, can be purchased in the
largest quantities, and ofthe best quality,
BY those who have the longest purses -
In word, are we not pursuing the same
course which has proved SO disastrous te
all other Popular Governments ant
will we not split upon the same rock they
have, unless we Immediately change it?
In this fearful condition of things
what can be done1 Will low Tariff
no Tariff, Free Trade, Direct Taxes, OF
any other surface reforms, save use In
my humble opinion they will not. The
disease isbeyond their reach, and re-
quires a more searching and effectual
remedy. Some plan must be devised and
carried into effect that will elevate labor,
and place it on level with capital
The Producing Millions must occupy as
high and dignifed position as the Non
Producing Thousands. They must nc
longer be less cared for, less legislated
for, less protected. less favored, than the
Monied Aristocracy. Noble work must
be ennobled in public opinion-it must
lead, and not be led, by ignoble idleness
and pelf-it must be placed in such an
influential position in our Legislative AS.
sembl.es, thatit can make our laws Dem>
ocratic, all our political institutions Dem
ocratic, our social system Democratic.
Can plan so mighty for good, be
devised and carried into effect? be-
lisve it can; and that It will effsctually
stop the giant strides Of aristocracy-
destroy the slavery of wages-elevate
labor, and place the Working Democracy
beyond the control Of the Monied Aris.
tocracy. This plan can be easily cons
summated by the Government: it is
merely to make the Public Lands free to
actual settlers, in limited quantities, in>
stead Of selling them to spectators, as
10 now the case-the title to the lands to
be in the Government, and their occu.
pancy in landIess individuals; each occu-
pant having the right to sell his or her