The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-01-17
From the Goshen Democrat. (.
LAND REFORM. 81


cause we are satisfied that an invesiiga-
lion will place the mass Of the people in
their true position; and as the proposed
reformation depends entirely upon then
iction, il is important high time, indeed
that, something more than mere
buzz of appreciation, bo done.
Land monopoly traces its origin to a
cnrrupt and dorkened age, when the righ.
of might was the only title man had to
proper,y--a right unstable and insecure
at fist, but which has gradually wound
itself around the body Of socieiy--with
the same fatality that the spider weaves
his thread around the fly. 1t was right
that was tolerated by an uuholy age-a
right that has been recognized by Re-
public protesting 10 be the freest and
happest in the world; Cor, disguise it as
you may, it was the right of might, and
that only, that drove the native popula.
ton of this country back, and still further
back, until there is scarce vestige Of
them len. I, was the sperit of aggran-
dizement that possessed government in
the same manner that it does individu-
ais.
TO what do we trace the misery and
starvation Of ihec-fourihs of the popula-
ton of Ireland!-to thu Monopoly OF
Land. Look at the facts. Ireland has ar
area Of t,oenty millions, eight hundred and
eight thousand, tpo hundred and thirty
one acres, of which, in lS47, there were
fpe millions, t,ro hundred and thirty eight
thousand, fue hundred and cepenty- one
acres, or about ONE FOURTH, in crops!
Instead, therefore, Of there being any
necessity of starvation in Ireland, she has
abundant land for the support Of three
times her population. Abolish the mon
opoly ofland and it can be done. Look
at another fact. The report from the
electoral divisions of Belmullet aud Bir.
minghanlstown, sums up thus:
Arer, 1886 acres
Population in ls4l, 22,775
Occupers Of Land, 392
Area Cultivated, 2,775
Here are 1896 acres of land ol
which the people are permitted 10 cult.
vate only 2,775 acres; while out ofa pop
ulalIon Of 2,775 only 1852 are permitted
10 occupy the whole! In view Of these
facts is it surprising that the cry for bread
is waited to our shores by every gale2
Bu, Land Monopoly, if possible, has
done ye, more. Though Germany, France
and the Netherlands it has reduced the
prices oflabor 10 such an extent that it is
mystery how the wretched inhabitants
keep up the fame of lite. We find. upon
exami nation, that the wages Of farm SER
wants, laborers, and shepherds, in these
countries, average tocnty fre dollars
and Sirty y.stpen cents a gear.
Think Of this and thetf ask yourself
the question, "What is 10 prevent simi.
lar results in this country. if things are
permitted to proceed as they are now
tending9" Nothing! Our public domain
i, even now gradually passing into the
hands Of the spncul .tors and monopolists
OF the land. We have an area Of $751;.
243,2)O acr,s. Wha, disposition shall
be made Of IT? Shall we disregard all
history and experience, and by increasing
the amount of individual wealth throw
our destitute population into still more
hopeless poverty? or shall there be made
wise distribution of the public land-a
distribution which will give every family
u home and the means Of supporting life :
We contend that the time for action
has arrived. Every year brings with it a
vast amount Of emigration; and some
provisions should be made TO keep the
country from being flooded with home
less und penniless population.-By re-
fusing 10 act, the people are only encour-
aging the advoctes of the odions system
Of Land Monopoly, and has.ening on the
period when the United States will pre-
sent the same deplorable aspect that Ire
land and the States Of the Old World
now present Ifsuch "co lmmation is
devoutly to be wished" let Land Mon,
opoly, and its ten thousand attendant
evils, take their slow but certain way
let man still be denied the land which
good Providence intended for his use
let the damp niue still send up its hollow
and cracked voices TO the empty air, and
the factory turn out brvken cons titu'ions
aud pale faces TO an ursympathetc
world--let the cries that are waited to
US by every breeze that crosses the Allan.
tic go unheeded-let US smile graciously
at the Monopolist, and disclaim at once
the doctrines of God, and of humanity by
declaring that the soil was intended for
the benefit of the few and not The many
But we hope for something better
We live in thinking age, when people
are prone to discard the bad and subst;-
tute the good. Corrupt systems, must
crumble. The people will arise in
their majesty, and declare that the rights
of man shall be respected-that they lave
been loo long disregarded. A new era
in the history of the world is approaching,
and the day is not far distant when man
will appear as man.
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