Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-01-25
Land Reform ia France.

Before the first French Revolution said Dr.
Baird, in one OF his late lectures in this ci,v the
sell of France was in the hands of the Crown,
the Church and the mobility The masses were
landle>s-tenants, ana laborers, were ignorant,
and sorely oppressed One of the result Of
that revolution was, TO enable those tenants and
laborcrs to b. come landed proI rielors. And
now, out of SO million of France, it is estima-
ted that 8 millions own lands and have homes
An amount it is b licvcd as large in proportion,
if not larger, than the number of land owners
in the United States.
The effect OF this change upon the masses
was most striking and bcneticitnt France
now, IS not the France tlat she was The
masses of the people have homes, Independence,
se,t-rCspeCt, education and comforts far voud
anything they be.,r re had. They are far higher
up in the scale of being. They were interest
cd in the country, and better informed Of thor
rights and interests. A knowledge of their
highs thus acquired, embroidered them to de-
mand of Louis Phillip, the liberty of the Press,
universal suffrage, and emancipation from the
despcGc laws which forbade them to assemble m
or Il er numb rs thnn twenty at tim, to con-
suit in regard to their rights, and interests. And
because the Fr.nch monarch refused .heif de.
mands, TREY became excited--and the first drop
of blood that was Internationally sh,d, I'll
among lhcm like s"ark ot fire upon the most
conbTsubte materials, gntcd them into Il flame,
which consumed tic monorchy, tn ministry,
and nohi!i;y-droyc the king from France. de
Clartd Universal ,maEcil alton, and federation,
and confused all the kingdoms of Enropn.
We allud1 to this historical fact, to illustrate
the truth, we SO often assert that homes for ALL
is mt only the natural right OF all, bat iadi>-
pcnsible to indiyi 'ual happiness, and social pro-
grcss. Man, in the possession Il the earth, and
n. fhA ta1fAt-t ant ,,}
lis place the diNine arrangements Secure il
such cssassion, lie aitains the greatest Growth
OF moral, physical, and intellectual manhood
and woe II the despot who darcs assal him.
And why should he not b. secure in the DOS
session OF a portion of Gods free Cnrth2 WHY
shoaid he b. told that he is born upon it, with
out the night to any place on it where he may be
born--tat those who were born before him hal
the whole-and that the yielding to him such
spot, Is only an indulgence and that he may not
demand il as right! VINO that reflects docs
not know that every nan is entitled to a portion
OF The earth, as truly, as he is entitled TO the
light OF the sun? Who does not admit That the
EARN Is zoo Gift To every man he put upon it,
and that such gift Is all inalienabIe rs his right
10 tho sun? What cl ristian, knowing that The
earth is Gods impartial lilt. dare take il from
any Of his creatures! What government bit
one for,aken of God, dare sanction such an ont
rage! God will Judge the christian who shall
so dare, and not man--and both him anl tn,
government which sanctions such enormity. if
there Is any truth in the Gospels of Heaven,
Should it not timely repent, like the Govern
ment of Louis Phillip, must sink in bloody
wave
France has been best in breaking I'D the old
land monopoly system and making it Ios iblo
for large portion Ct her citizens to ACQUIRE
homes Her next step should be to make it
impossible Tor any enc family TO possess an I'M
reasonable portion Of the Garth. The happiness
OF her people, as the happiness of our people,
d pend upon the possession and ownership of
homes. The great end Of Society, is 10 make
the people, and the ir rights secure. II there
fore, the highest policy OF government, TO pro
vide fer the rights and hapT mess of the poole
IN tins regard. Once settle the principle that
no one man shall own more than certain uuan-
liy OF land, and land would be cheap-and it
ought to be cheap. Then may all people lave
homes-and they have right TO have them.
All men would be interested to sustain such
government No popular competition could de-
stroy it. The people would never again consent
10 become homeless wanderers, as many of
them now are and as all are liable TO be-. under
the wicked governments of the world-JoHy
THOMAS