Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1871-03-18
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DALLAS, sATUR DAY, MAR. IS.
Land MonOpolies.

A short time ago we published PEI
tition, which has been circulated quite
extensively throughout different por>
tions Of the country, praying Congress
TO cease granting land subsidies for the
construction of railroads, or other inter.
nal imuroyemeuts. The circulation of
this petition has elected considerable
comment from the press, as well as from
private individuals. Many of our citi,
zens seem to regard this as a petition
against subsidies in general, instead of
land subsidies only.
The granting of subsidies for the
construction of railroads and other i'm
portant improvements is almost imper>
atiEe in certain locations, but these
should be given in money or bonds.
1t has been suggested, and with con-
siderable show of probability, that the
cause of the present degeneracy of the
French people, and the collapse Of the
French Government, may be traced to
the effects of the present system of land
proprietorship known as petite culture.
The question of land proprietorship had
attracted considerable attention, and
when the Constituent Assembly met in
1889, one of its greatest tasks was to
deal with the land question, The pub
lie domain had settled down into the
hands of a few individuals and Corpor-
ations-the Church and King, and the
noblesse. The poor man struggling for
support and subsistence, had to pay
heavy taxes to support the Govern
ment, and to run sthe State machinery,
while, in excess of selfshness, the rest
of the property was untaxed. The
Legislators of the great revolution made
short work of this system; but it is
doubtful if the other extreme which
they have adopted is much better than
the former. Under the present system,
every man having his own land to live
upon has been tried, and shown its eff
fects; and if they are not as horrible,
they have been little less disastrous.
This system has been favored by Mr..
Mill for Ireland, but the opponents of
the system say That the small propri>
etor, in his continuous struggle for
bread, strikes into the condition of la.
borer, and ceases to be an independent
man. All his thoughts are turned on
self. He has no time for books edu-
cation in his thankless eyes appears OF
little use to him, and he sinks into the
stolid indifference which we now see
exhibited by the French nation"
However much we may endeavor to
blind ourselves to these matters, we
cannot but see that this system of petite
culture is far more degenerating to the
people at large than landed corpora
tions, yet we contend that this should
be avoided, and allow the lands to be
taken up and used by actual settlers as
they see ft.
Even though in pursuing this course
lands may eventually work into the
hands Of large property holders, yet it
is not so liable to do SO as by the policy
OfgraDting subsidies. And in country
like ours, where property is continually
changing hands, and where political
changes are continually taking place,
there is but little fear that any great
and growing evil can run for any con-
siderable length Of time without being
checked. This is why the present move
is being made-the people have seen
this evil of landed monopolies growing
upon them, and have concluded, if pos.
sible, to abate it, The Republicans
ever on the alert to adopt any measures
for the public veal, when they have
the power, will see to it, that pro-
per steps be taken in the matter.
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