The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-04-27
Ownership Tower of Strength.

| Tory, years ago S3lU. IN OfJH Am er-
lea will be comparable with Europe
only after the immeasurable space
which that country presents to its
inhabitants shall have been occu-
pied, and the members of the 2olit-
ical body shall have begun to be
pressed back on each other. North
America is still in the condition of
having land to cultivate. Only when
as in Europe, the direct increase of
agriculturists is checked will the in
habitants, instead of passing out
/ ward to occupy the fields, press in
ward upon each other, pursuing
town occupations" He then goes
on to show that social antaoonism
is impossible where there is land
open 70 cultivation, assuming that a
natural expansion of population will
take lace.
Unfortunately, in this country,
where there is an abundance of land
to cultivate, the agricultural class is
positively declining in numbers,
while the tendency of the people is
to the cities, towns and villages.
thus bringing about the very con-
ditions which Hegel points out to
be those favorable TO revolution and
social disorder and antagonism.
The process has generated both
pauperism and crime in the United
States. 1t is a revolt against divine
laws. The army of tramps extends
from town TO town and from city to
city. Trey are enemies of God and
of society, upon which they prey
like vultures. They are working
out the process which brought about
the French revelation Possessing
no property, the inclination to indi-
Vldual eXertion vaniShes, for indl-
vidual property lies at the bottom
of all civilization and progress. The
increase of the non-property-h holding
class Is, therefore, menacing to the
State, for it is a foreshadowing Of
ultimate savagcry.
Unfortunately, our American pro
letariat is increasing, and is danger
ous because it chooses to increase
and be dangerous There is land
enough and to spare. Laborers
are needed on farms, but the Amer
lean tramp turns his back on the
way to abundance, which industry
offers, and becomes a burden to the
State = an enemy of the State
When we can bring about a return
of the tide which has been flowing
from the fields to the cities, there
will be brighter hope for the coun-
try.
There certainl v can be no genuine
patriotism where there is noindiyid-
ual ownership of land or other prop
erty. Those countries where every
man has an interest in the soil are
unconquerabe. A nation of free
holders will become more powerful
than nation composed oflords and
serfs. "Whencver," says John S.
Mill, ''in any country, the lpropre-
tor, generally speaking, ceases to
be an improver, political economy
has nothing to say in defense of
landed property as there establish
ed. In no sound theory Of private
property was it ever contemplated
that the proprietor of land. should
be merely sinecurist quartered on
It," All bodies of land. held by
spectators and unimproved, are a
to the prosperity of a
country. The same land, cut up
into small farms and carefully |
is used for the purpose the
intended. He neyermeant |
men to perpetuate wildernesses. So,
just SO far as we succeed in induc-
ing men to seek property in soil and
abandon an idle, vicious and pred
atory life in cities, just so far do we
put blood and bone and muscle in
the life of the nation. Just so far
we make the nation unconquerable.
.LouisuiUe Courier Journal.
A BRILLIANT NUMBER OF AN EXCELLENT I
MAGAZINE.-Month by month it is our pleas /
lre to give our readers brief notices of the 4
successive numbers of Frank Leslie's Month /
", Magazine full worthy of the continued /
praise accorded it by Press and she general /
public.