Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-04-19
land Reform.

Land limitation ndtrccdom ofthe public lands
are questions which have grown popular with
surprising rapidly. There is a reason for it,
They are so plainly right that every unprcudi-
ced eye at once perceive it, and so clearly be-
neticial to the industrial masses, that they only
want to melt loose from other organizations. to
take hold of and carry them out All countries
of the world exhibit one fact in the condition Of
the people, viz; the prosperity of few AMI the
degradation and suffering of the many In our
country this same condition is steadily growing
upon us. The number of poor is increasing and
the wealth concentrating in fewer hands; labor
is growing to be less and less rewarde :, and the
condition of the laborer more dependant and alb
ject. Whilst in other countries the suffering
condition of the people is clearly recrrib,e to the
monopoly of the earth by a few, so in this coun
try, our growing social evils, are also clearly to
be referred to the same growing cause. Now
we have the power TO remedy this evil, or else
the idea that a republican government may be ad-
minIstered for the good Of the whole people is
a fallacious one. Boyoad question the elements
Of air, water and earth, are eiits of the Greater,
equally to all men, and as none of them can be
rghtfully monopolized neither can they be mo-
nopolized without great dctriment to those who
are robbed Of their rightlul proportion. In Eu-
rope the early inhabitants parcecd out The land,
it dcscended to a few, and the great mass subse-
quently born, are of necessity slaves. The wick
edness OF this pohcyis apparent, and yet in de-
gree it is our policy, and if unchecked, it will
some day be as universal Units nature and results
as tits there, and hence the wickedness Oft here
should be equally apparent.
This land reform question, is bat another
phase Of the labor question. The monopoly of
land is one of the very greatest instrumentalites
Of oppression, and in rising against it, the mass
are but rising to the vindicaton OF their rights.
Labor does all that is done for the world. and it
should rule the world bet it is instead depend
@nt and abiect. We cannot prosper, under such
circumstances, as nation. The causes of this
state of affairs must be sought out and removed
Any reform to be permanent, must have its ba-
sis upon the earth. Our natural rights and re-
Iaiions 10 it must be recognized aud secured by
government, and from that correct basis, will
growup true system of republicanism in which
all men will hold the position TO which their use
fitness entities them. aud it can be attained in
10 otter way.
This land reform idea is worthy OF being made
the cardinal idea Of the democratic party. If the
mission of that party be really to benefit and ele-
yate the masses. the freedom and Limitation of
the public lands is the way, and the only way, in
which the work is to be effectually accomplished
If the south will but turnin and help US achieve
his reform, we, for one, will agree never to say
another word about the Wllmot Proviso. Give
but labor its rights, and we will cheerfully run
the risk Of It's working out its own salvation.