The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-01-29
Properly Setting Forth the Encl OaOh.
monis OF European Noblemen
UPON OUR SETTLERS RIGHTS.
OkiahomS's Boomers Have tho "Iiiot
act" Read 10 Them from the War
Department 90 Coke ON Iu-
ter State Commerce,
GENERAL WASHINGTON REPORTS
The Alton Land Owner.

WAsHINaToN, Jan. 2l.-Ropresenta-
1.-Two Oates, of tho committee on public
lands, has prepared report on the bill
TO prohibit aliens and foreigners from
acquiring or owning lands within the
United States, which the committee has
reported 10 the house with the recon-,
monduliln that 10 pass. Mr.. Oates says;
"AOur committee has asCortninud with
a reasonable certainty that certain
nublemon of Europe, principally
Eng ,ismen, have acquired and now own
in the aggregate about 2l,0O0,0l0 acres
within the United States. We have no.
sufficient information TO state the
would IL be so important
II il was generally held in smaller
bodies. This alien Nonresident owner
ship Will, in the course of timo, lead TO n
system Of landlOrdism, incompatible
with the best interests and free iuslitu-
tons of tho United States. The founda-
lion for such a system Is being laid
broadly in the westerH states and terri
tories. a considerable number of emf
grants are annually arriving in
this country who arc to become
tenants and herdsmon on the
vast possessions of these foreign
lords, under contracts made and ent red
into before they sail tiOrOur land. Thus
the avarice ana enterprise OF European
capitalists have caused them 10 invest
many millions in American railroads
and land bonds, covering perhaps lOO,-
100000 acres, the greater part OF which,
under the foreclosure clause, will most
likely, before many years, become
the property of these foreign
bnndholdtrs, in addition TO
their present princely possessions.
II is thus manifest That il the present
largo alien ownership Is an evil of
which we have no doubt, the probability
ia that the near future will still more
im.orativgly demand legislation for its
prevention.
This aggressive foreign capital is not
confined to land which it has purchased,
but, overlapping its boundaries, has
caused hundreds Of miles Of public do
main 10 be penned up Tor grazing vast
he Dis Of cattle, and in defiance of the
rights of honest but humble settlers.
The policy Of the government hereto
fore toward aliens has been character
lied by great liberalty, and tho differ
ent states, each acting for ITSELF have
gone still further upon the idea of the
desirabiiity of a rapid increase in popu-
lation and wealth, and by Legislation
have conferred upon aliens rights far
DeyOlu Lhos3 tney engaged by treaty
stipulatiOns, the common law, or the
law Of nations. The bill herewith re-
ported proposes as part of the policy
of this country to operate only pros
pectively, and therefore not harshly, to
prevent absolutely the citizens or sub
lects of other nations, so long rs they
adhere to and retain their allegiance to
other powers, from acquiring owner
ship of American soil within e.iuris-
diciion of the United States. We main
tain that American soil should be
owned exclusively by American citi-
zens. Perhaps objection may be made
to the bill on the ground that its ten
dency will be to drive foreign capital
from this country. If it were we
are not quite sure permanent
harm would result therefrom to any
one on this continent. The mortgages
and land bonds held by aliens would
not be materially impaired by the law
proposed. They are deeds of trust and
can be foreclosed and the lands sold in
default of payment by the alien holders
as well as by a citizen. Neither can he,
according to law, buy at his own sale,
because Of conflict of interest with
duty, unless it is so stipulated in the
contract, and this being known,
can mayo no other effect
upon future foreign inyesters in this
class of securities, than to make them q
little more careful and not to rely upon
the prospect OF ultimate ownership of
the land mOrtCaged.