The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-07-29

/ ~VVu WuTu kFTWS Wtlu on the lmnu, ne
shares with those Of bis Deighbors who have
rights of common and neither tenants nor
cottagers, save in quite exceptional cases,
Obtain any compensation, unless that name
10 given to the miserable reservation Of o
tew acres for recreation ground or cottage
allotmenta The society regard this dispo
sal Of the common lands rs an iniquity and
demand that it should entirely cease. The
demand is no infringement Of private proper
ty. Neither the lord Of the manor nor the
neighboring landowners are entitled to a
farthing more than the value of what the
land yields to them in its wild state. The
society are willing to respect existing pos
session. but they protest against making .
fresh gift from the nation to its wealthiest
members. If free gifts are to be made at
all, they should at least be reserved fer
those who need them.
When the State thinks fit to exercise its
right to these waste laods, the lord Of the
manor should be compensated for his man
orlal rights. and the commoners for their
rights Of common, at the existing value,
and the land elmer kept open for the enjoy
ment Of the people or cultivated for their
use. Tbe society attach great Importance
to keeping open extensive tracts in a state
OF wild natural beauty and freedom and
a large portion of the waste lands Of the
c"-ntry are of too poor a qualay to be
worth much for any other purpose. When
the land is worth cultivation, and the wants
OF society require that it should be cu.tiva-
ted, the mode Of bringing it into cultivation
should be principally determined by the
interest Of the laboring classes. Were il
desirable to give any further extension to
private property in lan1, those classes would
have paramount claim to be admitted to a
share in IT, by the grant Of the land in
small parcels to respectable agricultural
laborers at fixed rent But if, as is, per.
haps, more 10 be expected, the opinion pre-
walls that any further permanent alienation
OF the land is undesirable, these lands will
remain with the State, or with local au-
thoritles, as a means of trying, with the
greatest advantage and under every variet y
of circumstances, the modes in which land
can be most successfully managed on the
public account-whether BY capitalist farm
ers, with stipulations for the benefit Of lhe
laborers, or by long leases on proper con-
ditions to small cultivators, or finally, by
cooperative farming
A still more valuable resource than the
common lands consists Of the land owned by
public bodies and endowed institutions.
These possessions are not, in any sense
whatever, private property. No one of
those who profit by them has more than a
life interest, most have not no much, and
their interests can be bought up, or suffered
to expire. All enlightened reformers ac-
knowledge the moral distinction between
private property and public endo wments
and it is now an admitted doctrine anon Q
liberals, that endowments, after a certain
length OF duration, are at the disposal OF
the State, which from that time should fix
their destination. Many endowments are
positively mischievous, and ought to be ex-
t'uguished- Others. especially eduoas;:Uuaii
endowments, are highly useful, and under
better management will, it may be hoped,
become more 50 and many, now worthless
from abuse, only require to be properly
looked after. A portion Of tile lands Of
the country, much larger and more valua-
bic than the public in general are aware OF,
is thus at the disposal Of tie State. 1t
can keep those lands together, and admin
lister them either for be objects to which
they are appropriat d. or for such other OBJ
jects as may be considered preferable, ard
permit them to be leased or occuDied on
such terms as it thirks fit by individuals or
associations. Ii may, without injustice Of
detriment to any one, make use of them for
any well-considerrd social or philantL ropc
experiments. Among the lands thus dispo-
sable is the soil Of large portions Of our
great towns, and p rticularly Of London
1t Is obvious what facilities their possession
would i've for promoting every impro, e.
ment that tends to raise the condition of the
mass Of the people sanitary works, in.
proved dwellings, public gardens, cooper.
alive buildings, cooperative agriculture.
useful public institutions Of every kind.#
These important reforms are the object Of
the 7th, 9Th, and 9Th articles OF the bro
gramme. But inssmuch as the waste
lands, and the lands belonging to pubic
bodies, are irregularly and unequal,y dis
trlbuted through the country; and the
means which they afford, a. well for exc.
cutting recognized Improvements, as for
bringing TO an experimental test such as
are yet untried, ought not to be confined
to some negnborhoods, but should exist in
all parts Of the country it is therefore
provided, BY the 9th and 9th articles, that
the State should purchase from private own
ers estates which are in tile market, when
such purchase Is necessary tor giving fair
trial in any neighborhood to co operative
agriculture. Or to properly regula ed sys
TEN Of small farming.
The 10th article Of the programme re-
quires no explanation. 1t is contrary to all
principle that private proprietors, who may
be, and often are, liberal and enlightened
but who may, on the contrary, be the most
ignorant and capricious Of mankind, should
have the power Of destroying, or Of closing
from public view, natural curiosities, or
monuments and historical relies, Of The
greatest value to science, to history, and to
the instruction and enjoyment of every per-
son in the country who has sufficient knowl-
edge and intelligence to appreciate their
value.
! There are some who think IL a useful provis-
ion Tor the public interest that individuas
should have the power to buy land az an in-
vestment, with an express view 70 obtainitg z
through its rise in value, future provision for
Their family at a mparatively moderate pres
ent expense. IL is thought that this power, IN
ths hands Of individuals, causes an eailier use
TO be made, throu- private foresight, Of stu
ations advantageous for building or Tor indus
trial purposes, than would otheFs ise be the
case; and thar Of This foresight il is just that
the individuals should reap the benefit But
10 answer TO this it should be cousid, red, that
it would be the duty OF the Land Dep ,rtme ut
Of tie State TO exercise for iIs ben, Ct the fore
sight now exercised BY Individuals for theirs
Neither would the benefits Of individual sagaci.
~ be lost TO The community since the person
who nrst perceived the advantageous use 70
which piece Of land might be put, would, IL
be could not acquire the absolute property,
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