The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-06

VOLTS necessary IOr COlleCtlnK anu STORM
the same, shall be held to be a publ
use"
Andrew jackson declared as long az,
MS 1888 that it was the real interest o
all OF the states in the union that til,
price of the public lands should be re-
duced and graduated and that after they
had been offered for a certain number
OF years, the refuse remaining should
be abandoned to the states and the ma
chinery of our land system entirely
withdrawn.
He said:
at cannot be supposed the compacts
intended that the United States should
retain forever a title to lands within the
state which are Of no value, and no
doubt is entertained that the general
interest would be best promoted by sur
rendering such lands to the states"
Continuing, he adds: "This plan for
disposing Of the public lands impairs no
principle, violates no compact and de-
ranges nj system. 1t would be- just to
the old states and the new, conclliate
every interest, disarm the subject of all
it's dangers and add another guarantee to
the perpetuity of u happy union"
| believe that il these lands are aban-
doned absolutely to tho states, not in
trust or upon conditions, that the states
IN which they are situate will inaugu-
rate such measures for their reclamation
nrl Iior0SifiN,, ne ,,y,lJ ,>nlr>.t ,,>,,,1Jo
to multiply homes for the homeless, thus
vindicating what has come to be the de-
liberate judgment of mankind; that the
safety, conservatism and perpstuity of
u institutions are largely dependent
upon that patriotism which springs
from attachment to the soil, however
small the holding may be.
These lands are ~valueless to the gen
eral government. They contribute
nothing to it's support. The Desert act
has been SO amended as to make it
equivalent to it's repeal.
The homestead law only remains and
no man who is not a disciple Of DR..
Tanner, or his theory, could be induced
10 avail himself of the disadvantages
which such an entry would entail. This
general question of making homes for
the people is pressing itself upon the
country and the Judgment of this con-
ventlon may be wide spread and far
reaching in it's effects. Every consid-
crate man must see that with the
increasing population of our
with immigration from other lands,
that there is danger in the pathway of
republic, unless the great body of
the people are invested with an actual in
in the soil of their country. 1t
has been often remarked that 1t is upon
conservative power of these free
that our free institutions must
.est.
"These freeholds if they were but a
lalf or a quarter section Of land were
better than Notifications and armed
oullwarks for the support of free gov
eminent and any measure that will
end to increase such holdings ought to
commend itself to congress. 1 will not
attempt to foreshadow now what policy
he state would inaugurate to bring
bout the settlement and occupancy of
hese lands, if they were abandoned to
but concerning it's ability to deal
end wei! With the problem l have
. doubt. l. hope the SUBJECT will be
and discussed exclusively.
NE time 10 opportune and the prom
sed personnel Of this convention justi-
es the prediction that its labor will
cunt for something. When it has de-
berated and formulated it's Judgment /,
ito resolutions, they will go to congress :
18th the assurance upon our part that j
the state is entrusted with the dlspo- c
.tion of the arid lands within our limits I
0 temptation will allure us from that Z
bject of abiding interest, the settle. y
tent of our waste lands and the increase
a hardy race of free citizens, who will
AXE of these valleys and foot hills that
|eal of cheerful and happy homes of ;.
le poet, who, although in a different n
ime. wrote these truthful lines: :;
1ere is a land. of every land the pride, .
slowed by Heaven DER all the world beside; II
mere brighter suns dispense serener Light, t.
nd mllGer moons emuaradise the night; :.
land or teantg, virtue, valOr. truth. y
.lia-tutor d age, ard love exalted youth; s
10 wandering mariner. whose eye explores :,
10 wealthist isles, the most enchanting shores, +
eWs not a realm so %Eountitul and fair, o
Dr. breathes the splrit of II purer air: a
IT in this land of Heay ems peculiar grace, "
le heritage OF natures noblest race, G.
lere is a spot of Garth supremacy bleat,
dearer, sweeter spot than all the rsst,
ere woman relgns; the no her, aughter, wife
re VS. with Trash flowers tha narrow way II life; y
the clear heaven of her delightful eye, !,
angel guard of loves and graces lie: D
ound her knees domestic dutios meet, h
~ bre3ide pleasures gambol at her feet. h
Where shall tnat land, that spot of earth be -
found?' a.
t thou Il MANIA patriot look around;
thou shalt ind, howe7er thy footsteua roam.
lat land thy country, and that spot thy home,
Jos. X. TooIE. j