The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-12-14
Tar .4nthro1ite Mo,,,tor says :
OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
I.Iere.IIAs letter TrSm tGe hsA. Gee. "
Julian

We clip the following from the NeA
York T,,tans If Dec > The name Of the
Hon. Geo " Julian has been 81 Intimately
connected with d reform ln the manner ia
which our public lands have been squan-
dered that his views will command the
attention Of the general reader He says
SIN The meeting Vi another SESSION 81
Congress suggests thous ht OF two On
the Land Question, which | hope you will
ALLOW me 10 express through your columns
Recent events have INV ested this question
with suIne~ hat novel ami peculiar IN
terest. There As nov, apparently al least,
very remark able uLanlIhIty Of op'--s0n
respecting II throughout the "--'.i''is -
National Labor Rel,,r-.s COW tHIl"l' winch
a..,.,.,bl.J nj Ouiumhus iu February last,
tu,l strong y-,und IA opposition to the
fnrth... slSht Of the pubic Lands To- rail-
~, corporations, and ia favor Of reserV
ug them Tor actual settlers. 1t 1 am not
mistaken, the National Temperance Con
yention, which met about the same time,
ayowed the same policy 50 did the Ma
tional Convention Of the Liberal kepub-
lican party at Cincinnati, and the \ atom
and the National Republican CUnN rntion
at Philadelphia followed suit. The politi-
al parties Of the country are thus IA
perfect accord on this lssle, while il may
fairly be assumed that the people them
selves are unit.
In the light Of these facts it seems to
that the time for action has come
The hour Is fully ripe, and the present is
the chosen moment for testing political
professions by facts. Ii is true that lip
service is sometimes the only homage
which parties offer to platforms ON which
they have mounted into power but |
think the political situation to-day does
not warrant any uncharitable Judgment
respecting any Of our parties. Assuming
that they mean what they say, and are
ready to practice what they preach, the
people will naturally expect the following
timely proof of it
First: Ii bills are introduced during
the present session Of Congress, providing
further grants Of land to railroads, or for
other special objects, they will be prompt |
ly tabled IN both Houses. This will lie |
the most emphatic, and therefor the most
mt response Ot Congress to the united |
wish of the people. There is no need Of
nincing matters when the popular will is
50 unmistakab but, at all events. no |
sucn propositions should be seriously en-
tertamed.
&cOad.-The principle should at once |
he embodied Ia le ,Isatiom that 10 more Of |
the public lands which are fit for agricul- |
ture shall be disposed Of except to actual
settlers, according to the substantial provi- /
sions Of the Presumption and Homestead
laws. This would prevent the further mo
nopoly Of the public domain by the sale
for speculative purposes Of large tracts Of |
choice to non-residents, and carry out the
benehoent ends of the Homestead law, in
stead Of leaving it, as it nov is, hating,
halfway measure, through the lack OF this
most essential amendment.
THIRD The further provision should be
enacted that when settler selects and oc-
cupies lands under the Homestead or Pre-
emption laws, such selection and settle
ment shall be deemed to create a contract
between the Government and the settler
and vested right Of property in him, only
to be divest ID by his failure to comfy with
the conditions ON which these laws promise
him title. This enactment is made neces
sary by recent decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States, which makes
the settler mere tenant at will, who may
lawfully be dispOssessed at any time prior
to his hnal payment, while his improve
ments, made in good faith, may be confis-
Gated. The well-founded popular discon-
tent with this decision, and its wanton in
Justice to our grand army Of pioneers.
plead for such q measure on the score Of
policy as well as justice
Finally, the broad principle should be
made Law that hereafter, when any tribe Of
Indians shall desire to part with their
lands, they shall be conveyed directly to
the United States and fall under the opera
tons OF our land laws, instead Of being
sold 70 some monopolist, OF some Indian
or railway company The frightful
|Sk1Asf OF the pressst policy, as nov Wit
ang the POO settlers on the
,,~w rwx kee neutral lands in Kan
Congress no pause till the
0.. 81 il secured Il il great
Is"ssv ID and Indian policy that
.sch an enactment should
10 ,isAied IN every insanIA
I'd By Or J. ,. wAlksE, 49, IN our Land policy
.spss alay shoud tbs caas ii ia mood fnith Of iii
recovered rApiay IRON an dRiSw aus fvr,.p IN. II
eye, thAs shs oshar nlshs b @So - ~
NJ. ~. waahss, wsuaam saa asFlS
A D., lssl. 200 wea xaa--s - A