Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-09-16

lord, they, tbsmselves ore the propristors
Of the SOIL holding il BY tenure Of
which no man can rob them, and which
the Government only can take away for
objects Of public utility, and that not
without frat making just and adequate
compensation.
The feudal system has indeed been
swept away 10 oil or almost al the coun-
tries Of Europe. But having stood for
50 many hundreds Of years ito roots had
struck deep and strong. Relics and YES
tiges Of it everywhere yet remain. In
those countries the larger volume Of the
land il still 10 the hands Of great land
lords and is cultivated by tenants.
Although the condition of these tenants
has been greatly ameIiorsted, still they
are tenants. They know and feel, what
hope the great mass Of American farm
ers NAV never ksow aud feel, and that
is, the deep snd exhaustive meaning,
the DER fraught and painful significance
of the words DISTRESS and KENT.
sounCRs or NATIONAL PROSPERITY
FKERHoLDERs-TENA DC.
In my judgment, no small proportion
Of our wonderful national growth and
prosperity is directly attributable to the
circumstance that the land is owned in
small parccls,in fee simple, and that the
great mass of those who cultivate it, do
so as owners and not as tenants. For
example, this county would be far less
prosperous il instead Of being owned and
cultivated by thousands OF farmers, it
vas owned by two or three great land
holders and was cultivated by those
thousands as tenants, instead OF by them
as prOprietors.
Upon this point beg leave to read .
short extract from the speech of Col.
Benton, delivered in the United States
Senate 10 1929, iu which he gave utter
ance to the following language, well
worthy Of repetition and remembrance.
read from his 30 years view, on page
1913 and lO4. He said:
"Tenantry is uRfavorable to freedom.
1t lays the foundation for separate orders
10 society, annihilates the love Of coun.
try, and weakens the spirit Of lndepcnd-
ence. The farming tenant has in fact,
90 country, no hear b, no domestic altar,
no household god. The freeholder, on
the contrary, is the natural supporter of
a free Government; and it should be the
policy Of Republics to multiply their
freeholders, as it is the policy Of monar-
chies to multiply tenants. We are a
Republic, and we wish to continue SO !;
then multiply the class of freeholdcrs !;
pass the public lands ehcaply and easily
into the hands Of the people sell for a
reasonable price to those who are able
to pay, and give without price to those
who are not.
81 say give without price to those
who are not able to pay; and that
which is SO given ! consider sold for the
best Of prices; for price above gold
and silver; a price which cannot be car
ried away by delinquent officers, nor
lost in failing banks, nor stolen by
thieves, nor squandered by an improvi
dent and extravaganza administration.
1t brings a price above rubies--s race
of virtuous and independent laborcrs,
the true supporters of their county,
and the stock from which It's best de-
tenders must be drawn.
"What constitutes State?
Not high raised batilement or labored mound,
Thick wall nor moated gate
Nor cities proud with 81 Tres and turrets crown'd,
Nor starred and spangled courts,
Where low born baseness watts perfume to pride,
Hut MEN high minded men,
Who their Uustes know, but know their RiyAts,
And Knowing, dare maintain them.
Up. 1903 and lO4
These views have special import
ance and significance at the time. All
the vast energies of the Nation are re.
ing devoted to the putting down by the
st, ong arm Of its power, of most un-
natural, wicked and causelcss rebellion
against the best Government not only
that ever did, but the best that it is pos.
s,ble ever can exist. A Government
which not only protects US in our life,
liberty and property, but which abne-
eating all distinctions of class, allows
without privilege, favor or affection, the
son OF shoemaker las recently happen
ed) successfully TO compete in public
school open TO all, with the son OF Pres
ident Of the United States, for academic
honors and prizes. How many Of Us,
how many thousands everywhere, born
in poverty, without the appanage Of
wealth or the advantages of friends,
have boundless cause to bless the Govern
ment ia whose schools and at whose ex-
panse We have been educated. Where
the road TO honor, wealth and just dis.
tinction is unrestrictedly kept open to all
who choose to enter it. In paren,he sis,
let me, at this time OF the
Nations travail, whilst we are in the
shadow OF its great misfortune, let me
ask: "American citizens! as the recip-
ents Of these great blessings, holding
them not only tor yourselves but in "a.
cred trust for others, are you going to
prove false to the cherished and cluster
ing memories OF the Revolution, the
precious traditions Of the Republic and
the sublime and holy duties Of the pre-
sent, and allow the mad, red head OF
Treason to destroy the grand aud beau
tiful Unity OF the Nation, to scatter it
into warning, discordant and beliigerent
fragments, to be reunited again ii eve
only by the rude strong arm of some
successful military leader?" Gracious
heaven! in the plentitude Of thy mercy,
forbid II -