The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-01-07
Pampcrisnl and Crime.
Editor Of Portage Sentinel:

Editor Of Portage Sentinel:
If we may judge by the reports in the
newspapers, crime and suffering, if not alb
solute paupersm, are fearfuly on the in
crease in our country, and especially in our
great cities, and calls for the utmost effJrts
of philanthropists to arrest their onward
progress. Should we not, therefore, seek
earnestly for remedies, and, il possible, for
cure for such evils!
For the credit Of human nature aid of
Natures God, | would suggest that the
causes lie hot 90 much in our natures and
Hspositions, as in our circumstances and the
errors of society. The pant, of which SO
many complain, and which induces so mIch
crime, is the result of the homeless condi-
ton of many in the country and Of large
proportion of the inhabitants of the cities.
Land monopoly, BY which, while many own
more land than they can I'LL, others are de-
prved of even home on earth, Hodse I'd
shelter them, or place on which TO Build b
house-land monopoly, l say, is certainly
one OF the most fruitful causes of want, as
who that has q home on earth, and has
health and industry, while this earth is SO
fruitful, need to want the necessaries of life |!
Aud those who have no homes, no houses to
shelter or lands to SUPPORT thettl, are, in
these days when avarice SO predominates,
Compelled to pay high rents, and often lack
etnpoyElen and the means to satisfy the
large demands Of the landlord; and who that
has dear ones depending upon him, and is
reduced to the alternative "to beg, steal or
starvei" Would prefer the latter and the
former is often Of little avail, besides tile
SCOTS, speers and wouhded pride it COSTS
To be brief, ] wish TO suggest remedy to
remove, as soon as it can be done, the great
est and most obvious cause of want. Few
who have homes Of their own are driven to
the apparent necessity to beg, steal or starve;
few who own homes are guilty OF trespass-
ing on the rights of others, to supply real or
imaginary wants. Therefore, let us, if we
can, devise some feasible plan to provide
homes 'or all the people; footing, at least,
on earth, on which homes can be establish
ed. There are among us many who have
no rood or rod of land on which to build
homes. The "God given eafti'' is not dis
tribued to all according to their needs, and
as a consequence, the landless poor are
driven from place to place yearly, and often
In want of the merest necessaries, tempt
ed to crime.
propose that Government may be solicit
ted to aid the andless, homeless poor, BY
constituting the school district o guardian
for them. Let us petition the Legislature tc
authorize each school district organization
10 receive donations and bequests Tor the
banefit Of the landless poor; that the district
officers may hold the same in trust for tht
use of the poor, for their, support and edu-
cation, thus preventing suffering, pauperisn
and crime; and let US, the people, encourage
d public sentiment that shall produce ,
bountiful supply Of such donations for th'
poor. Let our printers print, our teacher
teach, and preachers preach for them unit
the rich land owners shaH see and be con-
yinced that small donatiSn Of 4 house 10
for each of the worthy landTess, will no
make them poor; and land thus decided il
trust for the use OF the landless, not to b.
aIienated, cannot be spent or squandered
And lest The dohations and bequests SO au.
thorized. may cone too slow, let us also asl
the Legislature to enact that all lands; th
owners Of which may die chfldless and with
;, out wills. may--savihg the tights of widow
and saving also life use for any poor pa
rents OF an owner .-inure to the school dis
trict in which they may respectively be sit
uated, TO be held perpetpalIy in trust by sue
. districts for the use Of the poor Of the dstric
! and for educational purposes; the use to b
dispensed or distributed by the school dis
: tricts, with the concurrence ofths people .
the district. sss.a.s,
! can see no probable evil to flow ffod
! such d provision OF land, and anticipate niue
7 good. We hsye seen donations and be.
quests Of many thousapds- -yss, hundreds Q