The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-06-18
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT..
a LIBERAL. TEXAN.
Acknowledgement Hogs on Railroads al"
the Abuse of Land Monopoly.

who is running as Democratic cahoio"''
for Governor, outlined his views OIL
various public questions in recent al,
dress lie declared himself in favor Oh
State regulation Of railways, and snow"
cd the analogy of railways to toll roads,
where a private corporation MAINTAINS
the roadbed and charges sum liked Dy
law to all persons travelling over the
same.
BEGINNING with common earth roads,
graded and leveled, public highways
changed not in principle, but in condl-
ton and methods of use and enjoyment
Passing through many transmutatons,
f;om the plain dirt road to the graVel
way. from the latter to tho horse-car
line. and from that to the steam rail-
way, the public highway developed, as
it is now, into the greatest clvlllzer
| known to civilization, indispensable 10
commerce and to the wants OF the pup
lie. has never escaped the control OF the
mower that gave it life. So long as they
were Simply earth or turnpike ROADS
but little or no question was raised as
to the right of the Government to con-
troll or regulate them, but since theY
have become laid with post-oak sleeperS
and steel rails, ballasted with sea shells,
eouipped with fine coaches propelled by
steam engines and controlled by ma
Mates pools and combines they are de-
FAINT of law and revolt at control In all
respect. They are now called private
enterprises"
Quite as,striking was what Attorney
General Hogg said on the land question.
He spoke thus
Our constitution further provides that,
"perpetuities and monopolies are con-
trary to the genius Of free government
and shall never be allowed" This pro-
vision was almost at corporate power IN
all respects, but especially at their own
ership of lands. Under our present laws
land corporations are not prohibited
nor are they expressly admitted; though
they are operating in our State by
kind of license and the law OF comfy tt
an alarming extent They control ano
own about one-fourth of all the lands
within the State. When title vests II
them, as they live on forever, 1T be
comes a perpetuity. In this way thu
. evils of the English laws of primogeni
| ture and entailment so distastetul u
; Americans will be surpassed by corpo
, rate estates. The control of the prop
J erty in large tracts is equivalent to
monopoly. Many of them each own ant
now have exclusive possession and en-
9 ioyment of over million acres OF Ian
: in one body. Go into the far Yves
g through some of the richest counties
q our State and you will find great pas
+ lures and corporate estates wired IN an
2 controlled exclusively from settlement
; their management committed to agents
: their titles in aliens, English lords sy1
n dicates and corporations. The like ma
: never been known to any country tn;
l. guarded we'll it's institutions with r.
s spect to the rights, liberties and priv
leges of the free people that compose /
# These large estates, controlled now II
s pastoral purposes, will soon be IN q
j. mand for settlement. AS time goes O.
s within u few years, as the demand Il
n homes becomes stronger. these prince
q estates will be cut up into small farm
j. and rented or leased and operated
foreign peasantry, uncongenial to o
people and under the absolute contr
of men who do not understand or respe
the principles of our government.
- time they will become voters, and ca
their ballots as free men according
n the will of their landlords and ruler
re In this way the time is not far dlsta
to in Texas, if this condition Of affai
OF should be permitted to continue, VIII
IS our people will be met in their counc
ar byrepresentatives of English aristocra
IT. elected by their serfs and poems.
mt While we have the powerin the legi
MT mate exercise of our rights as either
it is we'll not to overlook matters OF su
a serious Importance and threaten
he danger to the welfare of ourselves a
On our posterity. This is a country, not
Oh landed monopolies and estates in P
he petuity created and run for serfs
he slaves, but is one of freemen that sho
CHI be controlled in all things by and
ed them. As tho title of land is conc
ng trated into the ownership of the Jew,
er, that proportion patriotism is destroy
is The greater the number of homes,
larger the number Of patriots. Depr
'at our people Of lands and they becc
lie, tenants subject to the will of those
I'm own their homes In time they e
lie, poor, diseased, degenerate and serv
eel When that period is reached the unt
by living principles of our Government '
its be only known by the blotched leare
to history; and the thoughtless, indi1
he ent people OF to-day will be condem
to by the mourning millions who bear tt
I'm, names. Cautiously observing We:
oat rights and principles of justice, II
elected your Governor, l shall favor
ion insist upon the passage OF laws that
ard prohibit the further operation OF
civ corporations and to limit the tenul
The title in those now owning lands wi
is this State. Within limited peric
,tly years they can sell their lands, rec
the their money for them and go elsew
,eo- if they choose to hold estates in
the petuity Such laws will not inter
the with the subdivision and sale OF !
of by the corporations now in existe
line nor with the ownership of such
,ing estate as is necessary for the purpo
ions other private corporations whose oh
Yays are not the ownership of land.
ing PERMANENT VALUE
b an H., ,,,p,,.rson p,zz,ed the Sc