Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-11-17
From the Philadelphia Times and Keystone.
The Land Monopoly.

Among the causes which have been
instrumental in producing the frightful in
eoualities which now exist, the Monopoly
of Land has been one OF the most powerful.
1t has heaped wealth, honors, political
poWer, upon a few favored ones, while the
MANY have been left IN tie ecankered walks
}.ofabeggary, 10 struggle withapoVeftysan sand
destitutlon as they might. tsss.
We presume it will not be doubted OF
denied, that the ear.h was originally given
to man by the Creator, as a universa
patrimony--the common property OF the
race. Very early, however, the grasplng
spirit of setishness, began to appropriate
that to q few, which was originally designed
for all; to remedy this great and already
growing evil, the great Jewish Lawgiver
ordained that s'the land shall not be sold
forever" Had all civilized nations been
governed by the code of Moses, it would
have prevented deluge Of tears from flow
ing down the sunken cheeks OF penury
and desttution.
The overwhelming evils Of the present
social system are seen, felt, and understood,
bv a. multitude christian philanthropists.
Good men everywhere dep!ore the wrongs
which groaning Labor endures; the ponder
GUS burdens laid upon the shoulders OF pa
tient, long suffering industry, are becoming
too over towering to be longer borne, and
thew will be thrown off. Is it not wiser
that thew should be quietly and gent y
removed, than that they should be cast aside
by the strong arm, smarting under the evils
Of centuries Of crime and oppression!
The great question Of Reform Is be-
ginning TO agitate our whole nation, from
One end of it to the other. The great
ocean of public opinion heaves and swells,
foams and sparkles, on every SIDE; the
hoarse roar of troubled sea will soon drown
every voice that would hush it into calm
ness and repose. The wise will look al al
these significant signs Of the times and will
shape their course accordingly. That the
present evils which so greivously atfiict the
toiling many will be patiently endured, Is
absurd to agine. How shall these grea
social wrongs be remedied, is now the
question, 1t must be answered.
AS one means Of mitigating the unhappy
condition of the houseless, homeless victims
of unjust legislation and unwlse pol'cy' II
has been proposed to make the public lanoS
free to actual settlers. 1t was Gen. JACK
sons deliberate opinion as long ago as 'h'
wear 1882, that it was best to abandon al
idea of raising future revenue out OF tn
public lands He was immeasurap'J
anxious to put an end to all part'ai AM
interested legislation on the SUBJECT an
that every American citizen OF enterprise
should be afforded an opportunity OF secuf
i ing an independent freehold. oee III NJ
messag ge to Congress, Dec. 4, 1872. '"
look upon this as one OF the stronger eVI
dences of far seeing sagacity ever eAhiDite'
by that remarkable man.
Those who oppose universal snfffag
maintain that every voter should nave
, stake in the great interests OF the country
: Now here is alplan proposed oy wn'cI
I hundreds and thousands OF landIess laOo'
ers, can be put in possession OF the 'e'
qualification so loudly conlended iof'-
= These lands belong to the people Inc Q
+ have been purchased and paid tor with the
blood and toll; why then should the re;
owners of these be debarred by their publ
agents in Congress or out of it, from occupy
n ing, improving and cultivoting then
!, They have been of but little if any pro-
r to the nation at large under the system
v sale which has been pursued-why th'
). should it be longer continued! WI
q should immense tracts OF the comm'
It patrimony be monopolized by horde
% heartlsss spectators, the cormorants