St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-26
ABSENTEE LANDLORDISM.
It's tn rpdtpned .4dyent in A9IteriC

It's Threatened .4dcent in A1nericd.
From the n. Y, Irish World.
The bill limiting the amount of land aliens
can hold in the territories, which has been
reported favorably on in the senate, is caus-
ing good deal of comment in England,
where it is regarded as an effort to put stop
to the wholesale land-grabbing by English
men that has been going on for several years.
The London Standard, however, does not
abandon the hope of seeing the British aristo-
cracy continue their work of laying the foun
dations Of gigantic system OF landlordism
on this side of the Atlantic, even though the
bill does become law. It says "The con-
cealed intention of the bill is TO limit i'm
migration, and act as a protection to the
class whose clamor has led to its introduction
into congress. The first effect of its passage
would be to stop the flow OF capital to
America, and to seriously influence the pros
perty Of the regions to which this money
went There are such devices as holding
property under power of attorney aud trustee
ships, and, though it may DE illegal for one
company to own more than 5000 acres, the
bill does not touch six who parcel out tract
of 30. 600 acres among them, with an under
standing regarding the yearly division Of
profits"
Here we are cody told by this English
newspaper thai, no matter what source con-
gress may take to prevent 1t, the natural in
heritance OF the American people Is bound to
come into the possession that English land
thieves. This intimation Of English land
grabbing companies are determined to cir
cumvent any Legislation that may be enacted
to prevent their getting hold Of the public
domain ought to act as stimulus on con-
gress to frame such a law that it will be ut
terIy im possible for the English land-theves
to carry out their conspiracy against the peo-
ple's land. The measure introduced into the
senate making It illegal for foreign corpora
ton 10 hold more than 5000 acres is clearly
10 adequate as a remedy against the wholesale
and-grabbing that has been going on for
som wears. The Standard points out an easy
method by which foreign corporations can
mblne to make such Law dead letter.
1t is impossible 10 exaggerate the gravity Of
the danger that threatens the republic il the
seeds Of absentee lsndlordisrn, so plentifuIiy
planted BY the British aristocracy, be allowed
to grow and bring forth their legitimate fruits
of poverty and degradation. The example OF
Ireland is a warning that we cannot afford TO
ignore The ancestors Of the men who are
now stealing the fairest portions OF the pub
| lie domain stole the lauds Of Ireland 200
years ago. What was the result Of that crime
| against.the Irish people history tells W in an
un mistakableSway. LaDdiordishl converted
| Ireland, which by nature is one OF the richest
( countries in Europe, to fsmine'scourged
! land. The same causes will produce the same
! effects on this side of the Atlantic II the
| American people be so foolish az u allow
| lspd-thieves to steal the public domain Al
| ready millions Of acres have been seized upon
| by these foreigners, 80 that the danger OF
| having absentee landlordism established On
4 American soil is not d remote one. by cult
/ vating a vigorous public opinion on the land
| question now we can avert that danger. No
| one, however, can predict what VIII oe the
/ result If through our negligence the system
of wholesale stealing Of the public lands lately
| inaugurated by members of the British ans
| iocrscy, be allowed TO go unchecked. Inc
senate 10 trying to place some restraint ou II
| saovs that It Is alive 70 the importance Of 90
ing something to protect the peoples inhef-