The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-04
TINE LAND QUESTION 10 ENcLANp

ruff1ed the temper of many an editor,
score Of the spokesman Of the down-trodden
millions in this town were actually engaged
to solve the problem practically. Some Of
the London leader. writers femd consolation
in the belief (the Times reports told diff
ferent tale), that, owing to their superior
common sense, the English delegates bad
not voted for the resolutions. Poor simple
tons if, instead of keeping messengers con-
stantly on foot to inquire about the health
of royal proHigates, and snatch up their wit
ty sayings, they had sent out reporters to
the countless workingmen's meetings that
have been held in this town during the last
three years, they would have known better.
They would have known that the great bulk
of the work-people look upon the so called
rights Of property, with contempt and dis
gust, and that they are resolved to abrogate
those rights, and that they we're going to
make beginning with the rights of the land
lords and the fundbolders.
A few weeks ago a score Of representa-
tive workingmen agreed to a set Of resolu-
tons, and resolved upon calling a conference
to carry them out. The conference was
summoned to meet at the Bell Inn, Old
Bailey, on the 18th October. Between 300
nd 400 men from all parts Of the metropolis
met The following series of resolution we're
distributed among them
THAT the existence and rapid increase Of
pauperism, side by side with the equally rapid
increase aud development Of the scientific ap
plances Of production 10 an anomaly that de
m sRstrates the existence of fundamental defects
in the arrangements of society, which i Is thr
duty Of reformers to discover and remove and
this Conference recommends that vigorous
exposition Of the causes, with view 10 their
eradication, be forthwith set on foot bv an AS
ISOLATION to be now formed under the title OF
the political and Social Reform League" on
the basis OF tie following resolutions;
al. That the good of the community requires
that the government Of the country should be
conducted in strict accordance Nth the priuci-
pies Of Justice That justice Of all is the inter
est of each, and injustice to anv injury TO all
That the present monopoly in land is At the g.
tom Of all the evils, social aud moral that afaict
society.
-. That the mitigation of these evils can
to its rightful inheritors-the people-and abol
ishing the accused system of usurv.
%. That the present system OF land holding
and letting having caused such manifold evils, "A
new arrangement, whers bV the land shall be
held bv the State as trustee for Tie people, 70
be used for their sole benefit, has become an i'm
perative necessity.
a. That while it would be entirely in accor-
dance with the principles Of justice aud equity
L. -
surrender the land, aud not only the land but
like wise a little Of the hundreds Of millions Of
money they have levied on the people for its
nse yet, as such q course might in 9 me few
instances, where the Ownership had recently
changed hands, be attended with some degree
Of hardship, the present holders should be en-
titled 70 receive such compensation, in the form
Of terminabIe aLnuities, otherwise payable out
of the national revenue, as Parliament elected
BY universal or manhood suffrage may deter
mine.
"3. That having recovered possession Of the
land, the government should lay down such
terms and conditions for it's occupaDcy and
cultivation as might be deemed necessary and
expedient to protect and advance the interests
I Of tie community
Sc That, along with the abolition Of the
landlords, L is also imperstively necessary to
cancel and abolish their eighG hundred million
power, patent for plumber, misnamrd the Ma
tionaI debt, with its twin inquiry and monu-
uent of folly aud wickedness, the standing ar
nv, consuming between them wealth to the en-
uI nous amount OF a million a Neek, every pen
nyworth of which is ground out of the bone 81 d
muscle Of dOwn-Lroddrn and furnishing industry
That the so-called national debt nonev borrO~
ed of themselves for themselves) having been
contracted BY the ari>r ocraey aud none yOcrAcy
| 10 further th ir own selfish and Nieked designs
thew, and they alone, are sppnsbe for It's Il
ouida ton and etrlement and ought to be spe
cislly taxed for that purpose.
~ That the object aud duty Of the POliIi-
cal and Social Reform League shall be to dis
semInate and enforce the views and d~cl ratIOns
set forth ia the proceeding resolutions, and 70
show that no admi i.tratiOn or party in the
State, Who are not prepared gradually 70 carry
out the reforms they propose, with manv others
not stated but equally necessary 10 bring the
government into unison and harmony With the
principles laid down in the FIRST resolution, are
| worthy of the confidence and support # the in
dustrial classes and that all th-ir professions of
sympathy tor the poor or Of desire to inaugu
rate career of Justice to Ireland, or any
wh. re else are mere shams aud pretenses,
Ahlch il is their bUunden duty to trea: with IN
mitigated derision aud contempt"
/ Mr. Lucraft one of the London delegates
at Basic, having been unanimously appoint
ed to take the chair, opened the proceedings
with few remarks, and then called upon
Mr.. Hennessey to move the preamble to the
resolution.
Mr. Hennessy, an Irishman, said
There Is no politician, either here or in Ire
land, but makes political capital out of Irish
misery. There is no evil that cannot be traced
to landlordism. Abolition Is the only cure
Some NAV say it is TOO bold a measurement
ing is too bold to save q people. We have
looked to the British parliament for help many
years but in vain We have given it up. Our
members have but served 10 keep the liberals
in power. Mr.. O'ConuelI assisted thu LIBERAL,
and the Irish popul ton was elected from their
homes and expatriated. For seven hundred
wears we have been strangers in our native aud
The English have the same interest against
their landords-let us make common cause
| [Cheers What use is The aristocrAcvi They
amuse themselves they lay the country waste
10 hunt the fox, the hare, and the tImiG deer
If they must have sport, let them go to hunt the
man eating tiger in the east, or the e isy bear
in the Rocky Mountains Let US buy them out
We have to support the oilers above and those
Who are deprived Of employment below
move the preamble to the resolution.
: The motion was seconded, and it was
agreed that the title Of the new league
should be settled after the resolutions were
carried.
Mr.. George Potter, Of the Beehive,
said
think the resolution Is ambiguous. We
ought TO confne ourselves to one thing at a
time The existence O. the evils mentioned
cannot be denied, but il is not necessary 10 es-
tAblish new society to remedy them. There
are many societies estabi' shed for that puroose