The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-03-27

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1t is stated that the government owns now
but limited number of acres of desirable
lands. and that every consideration of pru-
dence demands that this thing of giving
away the public domain shall cease, and that
all the lands forfeited by noncompliance
with the contract by corporations shall be
restored to the government, and be placed in
the market for entry and cultivation. But
our purpose at this writing is not so much to
introduce arguments showing the propriety
of Mr. Eden's bill, as to call attention to the
remarks Of the Chicago Times upon the sub
ject of the future influence of land owners
upon tine destiny of the country. 1t says:
Land here villas it has in the elder civiliza-
tons of the world-gradually slip from the
hands of the many into the hands of the few.
And land owners, landlords, sO-called, will, at
last here, as in the governments OF the oIoWOrld
control and rule, make and execute the laws.
The time is not distant when taxpayers in
stead of tax eaters wilt direct the affairs of
Municipalities counties, states and the repub-
lie. Landless men will be held To have no
mora right to vote for officers who are to be
paid out of taxes raised from lands than stock
less men are now held to have to vote for di.
rectors in railroads or banks wherein they
have not penny invested. Just as owners
alone vote in private corporations so owners
alone will, sooner or later, in all good gov
ernments-wIich are mere public corpora
tiOns for the protection of life liberty and
prOperty-be permitted to exercise the right
of franchise.
Land ownership is an essential clement of
good citizenship. And now, after the era OF
savings banks which have burst, of railway
bonds which have collapsed, of life insurance
frauds and myriads OF other business fallacles
which were spawned of imitation and an ire
deemaDle circulating medium, il is a sensible
and gainful thing for american citizens to buy
and till good lands. Three generations hence
and the transfers of improved lands will be as
rare as honest congressman are to-day. Real
estate real estate will at least be found to be
in the United States, as it is in Great Britain,
the most satisfactory, safe and government
controlling thing which a citizen may possess
1t should be understood that the Chicago
Times is Shylock organ, and has no SYM
pathy at all with citizens who do not own
money or real estate, and that it predicts
in due time mechanics, artisans and
laborers in America will be reduced by land
owners to the condition of seris; have no
voice In the affairs of state; that they viii be
deprived of the ballot, and in all regards
occupy mud sill level more odious than
that to which the negroes were subjected
before their enfranchisement. 1t is such
wild utterances as the Times INDUCES,
more than anything else, that is
die1ttlAIS buC ldDOl vi Au1tIiCd. IL
is this political ddmphooIism, this wild rant
ing in favor Of capital, this continuous effort
TO degrade labor and exalt money capital, thai
is now banding workIngmen together tC
guard their rights. 1t is not possible thai
all men shall be land owners. 1t is tbs
climax of nonsense to pirate about the neces
sity that everybody become farmers. There
/ nil ho divarSitxr cF l.,
America, and the time is remote when
landed aristocracy or any other aristocracl
will deprive laboring men OF the ballot il
this country The right to vote like thu
| right to breathe will be defended by Ameri
cans. and when an effort is made to reduc
American freemen to the condition OF serfs
as suggested by the Times, scenes will trans
pire in America compared with which tn
French revolution will be regarded a
childs play. 1t is altogether too early u
|. suggest the degradation OF the workip
! men of America. 1t so happens that the,
know their rights aud dare maintain them
|, They have intelligence and power. The.
: have the ballot and know how to use il
I They have liberty and will not surrender
4 now nor hereafter without such a struggle
5 as will make such men as the Chicago Time
5 represents prefer hell to the ordeal through
D | which they will be compelled to pass. TIL
s democratic partyi is party of the people; thi
!. \ government is government of the people
d rich and poor, black and white. Every da
n educates them to higher appreciation {
= their privileges. and though every acre {