Milford chronicle., 1888-12-07

,,-aesad that under such a nrh anu FAsii@ |
execution Of these laws, and the adyance ol
idaas opposed to the forbidden pracelces'
nolvoany within the United States Is Vlftu'
ally at an end ,. ,,-,,,sr
the provisions of the act OF Marcn >, loo', lol
the termination Of the corporations kno"i'l1
the Perpetual Emigrating Fund company
~ tba Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter LAY
,a;,,t- % yasuIted in decree favorable to
the government. declaring the charters OF
tbess corpcrations forfeited and escheatlng
tbeir property. Such property, amounting
IN value TO more than SSOOOOO, Is IN the
hands OF a receiver pending further proceed
inVs. an appeal having been taken to the su-
preme court Of the United States
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
In the report Of the secretary Of the IN
terror which viii be laid before you. the
condition OF the various branches OF our 90
meztic affairs connected with that depart
ment and its operations during the past year,
are fnIIv exhibited. But brief reference TO
some If the subjects discussed in this able
and interesting report can here he made
but 1 commend the entire report to the at
tentioo Of the congress, and trust that tne
sensible and valuable recommendations IL
contains will secure careful consideration.
cannot too strenGously insist upon tne
importance Of proper measures TO insure a
right disposition of our public lands, not only
as a matter Of present justice, but IN Iorecsss'
of the consequences to future generations;
The broad, rich acres Of our agricultnrai
plains have been long preserved by nature g
become her untrammeled gift to a peopls
civilized and free, upon which should res1' III
well distributed ownership, the numerous
e nd frafnTuaI
citizens. They came to national possession
with the warning example in our eyes
Of the entail of iniquities in landed
proprietorship which other countries have
permitted and still Suffer. We have no ex-
cuse for the violation Of principles, cogentiy
taught by reason and example, nor Tor the
allowance OF pretexts which have sometimes
exposed our lands to colossal greed. Laws
which open door to fraudulent acquisition
or administration which permits favU- K
rapacious seizure by favored few OF e1'
panded areas that many should enjoy, are
accessory to offenses against our national
welfare and humanity, not to be too severely
condemned or punished.
THE NATIONAL DOMAIN.
Il is gratifying to know that something
has been done at last to redress the injuries
to our people and check theperilous tendency
of the reckless waste Of the national domain.
That over eighty million acres have been ar
rested from illegal usurpation, improvident
/ grants and fraudulent entries and claims, to
be taken for the homesteads Of honest indus
try-although less than the greater areas
thus uniustly lost-must afford a profound
qualification to right feeling citizens, as 1t Is
a recompenss for the labors and struggles OF
the recovery. Our dear experience ought
sufficiently to urge the speedy enactment ol
measures of legislation which will esniine the
/ future disposition of our remaining agricuL
| tural lands to the uses Of actual husbandry
and genuine homes.
Nor should our vast tracts of so called des-
ert lands be yielded up to the monopoly OF
corporations or grasping individuals, as ap
pears to bemuch the tendency under the ex-
istng statute These lands require but the
supply of water to become fertile and pro
ductive. 1t is a problem of great moment
how most wisely for the public good that
factor shall be furnished. l cannot but think
/ it perilOus to suffer either these lands or the
sources of their irrigation total into the hands
Of monOpolies, which by such means may exer-
else lordship over the areas dependent on
their treatment for productiveness. Al
ready steps have been taken To
secure accurate aud scientific infor-
nation Of the conditions, which is the prime
basis of intelligent action Until this shall
be gained, the course of wisdom appears
clearly to lie in a suspension Of further dis
posal, which only promises to create rights
antagonistic to the common interest. No
harm can follow this cautionary conduct.
The land viii remain, and the public good
presents no demand for hasty dispossession
of national ownership and control
1 commend also the recommendations that
appropriate measures De taken to complete
the adjustment of the various grants made ts
the states for internal improvements and Of
swamp and Overhowed lands, as well as to
adjudicate and finally determine the validity
and extent of the numerous private land
claims. All these are elements of great in.
justice and peril to the settlers upon the 10
calities affected; and now that their existence
cannot be avoided, no duty is more pressing
than to fix as soon as possible their bound.
and terminate the threats of trouble which
arise from uncertainty.