Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-10-12
LAND REFoRhI..NO MORE LAND MO-
NOPOLY.

LAND REFoRMI--No MORE LAND MO-
NOPOLY.
Land Reform is based on the doctrine
that every human being has natural
right to some place in which to be and
exist-a natural right to share in what
God made for all for one as we'll as
other-and for each one so much thereof
as he can use with his industry. That
the soil was designed for the use of man,
there can be no doubt; therefore, those
who will use it ought to have it, while
those who will not use it should not be
permitted to get it. No man can be
truly free without some portion of the
earth on which to exercise his freedom
without interference from others. Every
family should have its own home free
from tlre exactions of the landlord. No
one should ever have been permitted to
obtain land and build houses to rent !;
for no one has moral, natural or divine
right to more of the earth than he and
his family can personally use; and had
this just method prevailed there would
not be homeless family in Ohio to-day.
Every young man would be compelled,
under such system, to get his own home
before marriage, because there would be
no monopolies to rent him either a farm,
or house and lot.
But, how different is the prevailing
system! ne-half Of all the families of
Ohio are now homeless and poor, and
generally afflicted with the privation,
anxiety, ignorance, humiliation and vice
that are SO destructive to happiness
On the other hand, there is class of
rich monopolists who are luxurious, fee
BILE, and still more corrupt, in conse-
quence of having wealth enough to bring
up their children in idleness and genteel
dissipation. Then, we have a middle
class that is corrupted by the miserable
influences of the aristocracy, and by the
vulgar vices of the poor.
The Land Monopoly system is, there
fore, not only the grossest outrage ever
perpetrated against humanity by robbing
half the people of our own country of
their natural right to the soil, but also
a most serious injury to all classes. On
the contrary, the Land Reform system
would be benefit to every human being,
and no damage to any human interest.
It would secure homes to all, good
schools for all, and moderate labor
would bring a full supply of all the
physical and mental needs of man.
The right to the soil being natural
light, it is the duty Of our government
% guaranty the privilege Of its enjoy
nent to every one of its citizens. Has
lot government designed to protect the
people in their rights? Should not this
De its principal object? But our present
and system protects the selfish in man
lfacturing the bounties of Heaven to the
hildren of men, and thus plumbers one
lalf of it's citizens of this fundamental
light The system was forced upon the
world by war, murder and usurpation,
nd has been transmitted to US from the |
'ast.
But how can change be effected?
l. Call public attention to it-expose
he stupendous robbery fraught with
'overty, ignorance, vice, crime and
lavery.
2. Let Congress stop giving public
ands to corporations, or selling them to
on-residents, and hold them for the free
ccupation of landless settlers.
3. Let the Ohio Legislature fix limit
say one hundred acres) beyond which
o one shall have protection in acquiring
and in this State. This would stop all
urther land monopoly in Ohio, and af-
er the death Of the monopolists, there
7ould be an end to this curse, and while
very family would occupy its own home,
he population would soon be so dense
hat every child would be within walk
ng distance of college. Then would
e inaugurated the era of universal work,