The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-03-05

NAlN. w Z tninH the lactS stated IN an ar>
tic!c in tic ,lanunry (lSSG) number Of the
NorM -imcrjrdR Rccicic, entitled Iaud>
lordrsm in Aucrica, demand the grave and
careful consideration of all who have bcicv
ed in the possibilities Of better government
on this continent than any vet attained in
Europe
1t VIII be matter Of almost startling
surprise to most people, aHd to many who
arc much better informed than the average,
that out u' 25.5GO,OOO acres Of arabic
public lands, which could be cultivated
without irrigation or other artificial appl-
anccS, poSScsScdby the government in 1879,
not more than 5000, 900, acres remain.
But this rapid absorption of the land
| would not BE- so serious a mattcr-in fact,
would be subject OF congratulation had
the fertile regions 50 rapidly taken up
passed into the hands of industrious farmers
in plots Of 1G0 acres, as the government
originally intended. Unfortunately, this is
not the case.
1t seems almost that the gospel of greed
has taken iatal possession Of the people of
this county. The tricks, subtc5 fuges, and
frauds by which laws intended to be bcnc,
liccnt have been wrcstcd from their purpose
for instance, the timber culture, pre-
cmption, and desert laws-aud made to
play into the hands Of unscrupulou s<pecula-
ton the laXitv OF public adminiSt ration,
the careless and unScrupulous Legislation,
by which territory large enough for an ems
pre- has been made over to irresponsible
corporations, form chapter in American
history which will not shed halo of glory
upon our institutions in future ages and
all the more will this darken the page, since
we had the example Of Rome, England, and
Germany to warn, and that Of France to
instruct us, both as to the danger of the
absorption Of small holdings by land mon
opolists and the creation Of a class Of tenant
farmers, and the value to a nation of a rural
population OF ac:n.l owners of small farms.
The author of the article shows from the
census that five ars ago the total number
ofpcrscns engaged in a":. .tl,;urc was Z $40,
io2, or ~~I;-i. oily 2,;'Ht 900 arc registered
The rest are tenants paying rent to lands
lords, or agricultural laborcrs' 1t is well
known that tn; next census will show a
large increase in the number of tenant
farmers. Contrast this with the status of
France, which, with population Of H.
600 600 less than that of the United
States, has 5,oo0.ooO rural perpetrators
holding less than 20 acres apiece ani
working their holdings with their own
hands, and 1000 900 proprictors of hold
ings 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.Amcrican
feature of the entire business is the obtain,
ing through Indirect methods Of large
tracts Of lands by foreigners who do not
reside in the country, and some of whom do
not even pny taxes here, these lands being
ct out to tenants with all the pleasant iea-
lures Of landlord SIN in England and Tres
land.
One notable instance is citcd-that Of an
Iri>hman who has earned an UNPLEASANT
nOtorlcty As 4 landlord in his own country
This man owns over $4,000 acres Of land,
10000 acres being in one country, and de-
rivcs over 100000 cash rental from the
estate, which is sent to him to spend in
England. where he resides The tenants
are required in their leases to pay the tax>
cs on the property occupied by them.
We cannot give space to further COM
mcnts upon the important and timely pub
lication Of these facts md figures, which
show, however surprising the statement may
bc that America possesses now the largest
class Of tenant farmers Of any existing ma
tion -,ScHntifc In,,ricun.
Nor ENTIRELY ALONE IN His AFTLIC-
TIoN.-'Wcll well, Jonathan Is this rcely
you: Never would O knowcd you, Don't
think I've seed you aforc in ten years.
ilow's the world sarvcd you, anyhow,
Jonathan?'
Bad enough, bad enough replies iona,
than, shaking his head sally. 'Scncc |
sec YOU last, I've lost my wife an three
children had my leg broke, my house TUX
fire an burnt clean down. my Jarscy bull
died, the bank ! he'd my few savins in
busted, an last year | got married again
I've he'd my full sheer Of afliction, hcv,