The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-12-25
LAND TENURE.
The American system Compared to I'm
glands ny American Farmers Are Bet
ter OF Than Those Of Other Nations.

DR.. George b. Loring, member
Congress- from Massachusetts,, delivered
an exceedingly interesting and valuable
address before the Great Dairy Fair re-
Gently held in New York city. Hissub-
iect was The American Problem of
Iandholding." He said the question of
land tenure was of fundamental impor-
tance, one upon whose solution, in salts
factory manner, depended the very ex-
istence of agriculture as on industry to
be cherished and developed by free, en-
hghtened. ambitious people. The ten
ant farmers Of Great Britain, the peasan-
try Of Russia, the farmers of Germany,
the small landhOlders Of France, and
the agricultural citizens of the United
States, he said, all represented one in
iustry. Yet how widely they differed in
everything that goes to make up mans
condition as an intelligent being and a
member in some form of the state and
of society. The great question now
occupying the minds of those interested
in the welfare OF civilized men was, how
the comfort, prosperity, and intelligence
of the agricultural population could be
best subserved. The American people
went further than other nations, and in
quired how could the American farmer
with farm of small dimensions dis
charge mis- duty to the State as a voter
and taxpayer, and crafty his desires
with regard to the education of his
family and the comfort and culture Of
his home from the income he could de-
rive from cultivating the land. That
was the American problem to-day. The
prosperity Of agriculture had manifestlY
Kept pace with the prosperity OF every
other industry here, and he believed
personal effort was well rewarded, and
that the small farmer would find even
from the slow and reduced local mar
kets q compensation nearly as great as
when his expenses were greater and
labor higher than now. He was aware
that great Encouragement had fallen
upon that class of farmers, IN whose
hands rested the system of agriculture
which must prevail as our country in
creases in population. Yet the condi-
ton of farmers here was looked upon
as so satisfactory in every point of view
asstO attract the attention OF foreign
statesmen. The American system Of
landholding they recognized as the
foundation of great popular content.
Accompanied as it is by social and civil
opportunities surrounded by free IN
situations, attended by the school
and the Westinghouse, it consti-
tuted the foundation on which rested
great mental activity, dignity, enter
prise and ambition. SO great was the
agricultural prosperity here that, with
taxable landed possessions, higher
wages and increased social require
ments, the American farmer could COM
pete in the worlds grain markets even
with those who were furnished free
land and whose necessities were small
The skill of the American farmer. sup
piled with the most effective machinery
was the object of admiration and imita-
tion, and his well.Organized home was
looked upon as a model. The place
filed by the American farmer was so
important and honorable that other ma
tiOns inquired how it had been OBJ
tanned. He compared the social condi-
ton Of American farmers with farmers
sion and subdivision Of the land, as
we'll as to their devotion to the institu-
lions of learning and religion, and their
determination to secure social and civil
rights, that our farmers owed their sue
cess in establishing free Government.
Oar system of landholding had attract
ed the attention Of the English states
men Bright and Gladstone, and had
been discussed in the famous contro-
versy between Lords Beaconsfeld and
Harrington.
The English Parliament Commission,
now here, would do well to study our
system of landholding, and report on it
accurately. The agricultural interests
of England would find more relief in
this system than any yet proposed
The question Of the capacity of this
system to support q great rural popula-
ton on. American soil was the American
problem to-day. Tenant farming in
England had failed peasant farming in
France offered no temptations. Would
our own system of cltizen-proprieto1
ship continue to prosper? He saw no
reason to doubt that the ingenious APP
pGcation of labor to a small homestead
would meet with ample reward. Meth
DDS, advantageous localities, markets
might have changed, but not the OPP
portunities for success. Agricultural
education and societies were to be en-
couraged by every means, In closing,
DR.. Loring urged constant spirit of
inquiry and respect for every form of
agricultural education, accurate knowl-
edge being the best legacy they could
transmit to their successors as the citi-
zen proprietors of the American soil.
The Aurora BOreaIiS.