Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-07-28
Who Owns the Earth?

Who Owns tho Earth!
Does one man own the Earth by na4,sul
righ,s Na-se.f.eviden,ly Dot;, else the
whole Earth would be under natural des~
potisla. which is absurd. Those who own
ias land are the,rulers Of the Eaftn, for as
cit sus,enanca:sls derived from the soil,
those who have no, land, either us q farm
OF q town lot, are compelled TO submit unto
he iand holders for The privilege of living
on The. ear,h.l. The Ian ile>s farmer Is
forced 10 'lookaae. ano:her not only for
a plaeeain which to sleep but on which TO
labor and produce the nscessa,ies "t lie.
TIE iuadless mechanic must look t"the
landlord for his hcns -nnd as he supplies
the farmer with bis, work, md receives
food &c. -in exchange, he must assist him
10 paying the rent of his farm-because
he cannol supply the mechanic on as good
terms. by paying rent. as he could withon'
that drain upon his labor.
Ii, then, one man has no natural right
to the whole Earth, has be right 10 own
awhole nalian OF territory? No-evident-
~ aot-eise the nation would be despo'-
is.n, while freedom is the law of nature
lie who owns nation, TO great extent.
owns also the people far they cannot live
without iand, aud he owns it all.
n, then, one man has nonatu-al right to
own whole nation, has he The right to
own whole county? No-evidently not
--elsc be would be the despnt Of the ccun.
sy; exlorting as much rent rs might please
hkas and sporting upon the hard toll Of his
subjects.
Ii, thea, one man has no natural right to
own whole county, has he the right to a
whoie townships No-eviden,ly not-else
he would be king Of the township; drawing
iamenss revenues from his dependent ten.
alis. and stripping Them OF all the attributes
Of their manhood.
II, them. one man. has not natural
Jighs to own whole township has he such
y right TO acquire a thousand acres? No
-epIdently not-because the tenants of
the thousand acres, or the servants he might
employ 70 cultivate the tract, would be has
aae,f to all intenis and purposes, subject to
bis wiil-dependent upon him for a place
10 which and by which TO exist.
A man is q despot in proportion to his
ahilily 10 comman6 his fellow man. The
possession OF more land than one can culti-
vate, himself-wifhout hired laborers-
nnakes the Iundhoider despot over some Of
his species. Bui were all men permitted
r. have land-haye portion Of the Earth,
which as all confess, is God given to all,
and TO one as vel as another-it would be
impossible 10 subject one portion of the peo.
pie 10 The will OF a few, who being the
strongest. might possess the earth either by
El.ce of arms or money. No one there.
fore. has NATURAL right, under any cir.
ean.slances, TO more oil the earlh's surface
Than is sufficient to employ his labor and
aIake his family comfortable. This is a
eight which all bear by nature, ana no one
san 90 beyond this, without depriving some
enc else of his right. No one could desire
more than this amount Of land, had not
land monopoly long since. thrown portion
OF mankind, into dependence upon land
cespats for a living.
.fhis, then. is cIearly the ex ent Of one
nuns right 10 control the earth. To GO
Aeyend this is wrong in the sight Of God
atsd ought 10 be held SO in the morality OF
Tue world. ! hese facts must be recognized
by the governments of the country before
the highest degree Of Liberty ard Equality
ean be enj,yed, The law should prescribe
SONS filnlt 10 the monopoly OF land. II is
the dull of the State to guaranty natural
,ighis -and lhe natural right to Efe is no,
clearer ihan is that TO land, upon which
life depends. Let all think Of these sug-
gestioBs.
It is falsely and foolishly said that the
advocates Of these doctrines go for the equal
distribution Of property. No, so. We go
Cor securing to each his natural right to the
toil, in order that he may apply his labor
h,r The production Of the means Of comfort,
and have what be produces, in order that
NO ole else may be enabled to plunder him
by unholy exaeiions from his loI; in order
Mat the lew may cease to make fortunes at
the expense Of others; in order That all may
have home ard be encouraged to indus
Try, virtue, and manhood. We do rot ad.
vocate the breaking up Of the present un.
Just land estates by sudden operation oi
lakes, but by law Of prospective iimita.
ton. by which oil The farms OF the country,
and all The lnts OF the city, will be finally
owned BY those who cultivate the former,
or occupy the latter. How much Of hu
man gosd is dependent upon the adoption
ef these views by the Stn.e? LIE, the De.
nsocracy seize upon this grea,est Of all
Eohopolies os they hnye upon others, and
strike a still meEe efeetunl blow in fovor
Of Liberty, Equality aud Fraternity. Ilu.
inanit, should own the Earth.
O L. A. HINE.
Cincinnati, July l0.b.