Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-03-12
American Landlords.

grave aud careful consideration OF
Nil who have believed in the posi-
hlhtes Of n better government on
this continent then any yet attained
IA Europe.
II will be matter vi almost start
hing surprise to most people, and to
many who are much better informed
than the average, that out Of - .5G0,
900 acres of arabic public lands,
which could DO cultivated without
urlgatiun or other artificial applian-
ce-. possessed by the government
IA 1874. not more than 5000, 900
ncres REMAIN
Bat 'hi- rnpid absorption of the
land would no, br So serious mat.
tern fact, would be the subject of
coner,tula,lon had the the fertile
regions So rapidly taken up passed
INTO the hands OF industrious farm
ers, IN lots Of 100 acres, as the Gov
eminent originally intended. In
fortunately, this is not the case.
II seems almost that the gospel of
greed has taken fatal possession OF
the people Of this country. The
tricks, subierfuges and frauds by
which laws intended to be benefcent
have been wiested from their pur-
pose-for instance the timber cuI-
ture, pre- emption and desert laws
aud made to play into the hands of
unscruplous speculation; the laxity
OF public administration, the careless
and unscruplous legislation, by
which territory large enough for an
empire has been made over to ire
sponslble corporations, form chap
ter in American history which will
not shed halo Of glory upon our
institutions in future ages; and all
the more will this da,ken the page,
since we had the example of Rome,
England and Germany to warn, and
tina, OF France to instruct US, both
as to the danger OF the absorption of
small holdings by land monopolists
aud the creation of class uf tenant
farmers, and the value to nation
OF rural population of actual owners
OF small farms.
Tho author of the article shows
from the census that FIVE years ago
"the total number Of persons en-
gagged in agriculture was 7.G7O,493,
of which only 1884 .30G are regist cred
as the nominal owners of their hold
ings.' The rest are tenants paying
rent to their landlords, or agricul-
tural laborers. 1t is we'll known
that the next census will show q
largo increase in the number of ten
ant farmers. Contrast this with the
status OF France, which, with a pop
ulation Of 10000, 900 less than that
OF the United States, has 5000, 200
rural proprietors holding less than
20 acres apiece, and working thei,
holdings with their own hands, and
1000, 900 proprietors OF holdings Of
more than 20 acres apiece. An array
) Of most important facts besides those
TO which We have directed especial
attention, are presented; but the
most un-American feature of the en-
tire business is the obtaining through
indirect methods of large tracts ol
land by foreigners, who do not re
side in the country, and some Of
whom do not even pay taxes here
these lands being let out to tenants
with all the pleasant features of land
lordism in England and Ireland.
One notable instance is cited-tha
OF an Irishman who has earned al
unpleasant notoriety as landlord il
his own country. This man own
over $4,000 acres of land, 40, 0Ol
: acres being in one county, and de
rives over 800, 900 cash rental from
the estate, which is sent to him t.
spend in England, where be resides
The tenants are required in theil
leases to pay taxes on the property
occupied by them.
We cannot give space to further
comments upon the important and
timely publication of these facts and
figures, which show, however sur.
prising the statement may be, that
America now possesses the largest
class Of tenant farmers of any exist.
ing nation.
An UNwIsE PoLICY.-One of oul