The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-16
DON'T MORTGAGE YOUR LAND.
The Foreign Lenders of Money are
Getting Possession OF Enst Tracts
Of 0ur HaNl.
Ld'trenS advertiser.

ITufenS H0UcrftScr.
In Hall County (Ga.) newspaper we find
this simple statement under The column of
"Shcrllf Sales" which has n word O meaning:
The following property was sold at the
Court House by Sheriff Mundy, Tuesday
morning.
aS the BIackStocl> place, sold to the American
Freehold Land Mortgage Company, OF Lon
don, for $3.50.
spencer Martins farm of l34 acres, pur.
chased by the same company for $500.
William II. Turks farm Of l25 acres was bid
in by the London company for St50.25.
hal. LitLle's of9G acres was also purchased
by the company above named for SS7O.
Here we have four farms sold to foreign
corporation, at Il price scarcely more than
$50 per acre. Ifthis should happen to be an
Isolated instance, 1t would chiefly concern
the four unfortunate farmers who had bor-
rowcd money which failed to prove remuner-
ative, or who had met misfortunes. But these
cases In Georgia do not stand alone, they un-
fortunately represent just what has happened
TO a great extent all over this country, and
what, Us we have reason TO fear will continue
to transpre to a more alarming extent in the
future There is a disposition to view this
subject indiherently, as one Of those matters
which must be governed by the natural laws
of supply and demand. We have In in this
country far more land than money, aud our
people seem never backward when an oppor-
tunity offers TO convert acrs into dollars.
When q settler moves into acommunity
and buys n tract of land with the intention of
of becoming q citizen, whether he be native
or alien born, he is welcomed. But there Is a
vast difference between the two cases. This
land which the sheriff sold was bought by
men who have no interest In our govern
ment, no care for our social, intellectual or
moral advancement They buy our lands
which they let to such tenants upon such
terms as will insure the greatest returns
Now, we contend that 1t is bhe duty Of Con-
gress TO protect this country from alien land
lords. We are forging letters which Will one
day bind us hand and foot.
But there is another view-another lesson
drawn from the four farms of Hall county un-
der the auctioneer's hammer.
In the balmy sunshine OF spring the farm
ers begin TO prepare for bountiful yield at
the harvest. He needs q little money to buy
supplies and stock. This Is likely to be n
good yerr, he thinks, and hence he doubles
his force and acreage. So sanguine, he hesi-
tates not to sign mortgage. When the Seat
have wonderfully increased, and the full
amount is already exhausted. a drought
comes, the seasons are not right, Insects and
q thousand other causes operate 10 Dllgnt Inc
magnificent prospects. Payday finds the
poor man unprpared and the farm-the home
must go. He looks upon the wife and the
children, and rs he sees them leave the old
home which represents long years OF patient
toll, he remembers how the family strugg ed,
how they denied themselves luXuries, how
they saved and shifted and turned to pay for
that home He remembers the sweet satisfac-
pride which filled the hearts Of all when the
last dollar was paid and he became undispu-
ted owner Of that farm. 1t Is no wonder that
his heart is now broken. and his spirit gone.
BY one step amiss he fell from an eminence
gained only by years OF industry and late In
life the poor fellow goes out to fight life's bat
ties anew. The conflict is an uneven one, he
iallS again. Debts are dangerous.