Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-09-03

VI Tic Sdftu. 1CdO. "a uoc w 1880 -
the times of uninclosed wilds, and sub
sist on roots, berries and game? Or are
we to be left to the management OF
Messrs Fourier, Owen, Louis Blanc q
Co %
Neither Such a doctrine is consist
ent with the highest state OF clvlliza-
ton. may be carried out without involv-
ing community of goods, and need
cause no very serious revolution IN ex-
listing arrangements The change re-
quired would simply be change OF
landlords. Separate ownershlps would
merge into the joint stock ownership OF
the public. Instead of being in the
possession of individuals, the country
would be held by the great corporate
body-Society. Instead of leasing his
acres from an isolated proprietor, the
farmer would lease them from the ma
ton. Instead of paying his rent to the
agent of Sir ohm or his grace, he would
pay it to an agent or deputy agent OF
the community. Stewards would be
public officials instead of private ones,
and tenancy the only land tenure.
A state of things so ordered would be
in perfect harmony with the moral law
Under it all men would be equally
landlords; all men would be alike free
to become tenants. A, 3, c and the
rest might compete for a vacant farm,
as now, and one of them might take
that farm, without in any way violat-
ing the principles of pure equity All
would be equally free to bid; all would
be equally free to refrain. And when
the farm had been let to A, B or c, all
| parties would have done that which
| they willed-the one in choosing to pay
a given sum to his fellow men for the
use of certain landslide others in re-
fusing to pay that sum- Clearly, there
fore, on such system, the earth may
be inclosed, occupied and cultivated in
entire subordination to the law OF
equal freedom.
9. No doubt great difficulty must at
tend the resumption, by mankind at
large, OF their rights to the soil The
question of compensation to existing
proprietors is Il complicated one-one
that perhaps can not be settled in
strictly equitable manner. Had we to
deal with the parties who originally
robbed the human race of it's heritage,
we might make short work of the mat
ter But unfortunately, most OF our
present landowners are men who have
either mediately or immediately
either by their own acts, or by the acts
of their ancestors-given for their es'
tates equivalents of honestly earned
wealth, believing that they were in
vesting their savings in a legitimate
manner. To justly estimate and liqul-
date the claims of such is one of the
most intricate problems society Will
one day have to solve. But with this
perplexity and our extraction from 1t,
abstract morality has no concern. Men
having got themselves into the dilemma
by disobedience to the law, must get
out of it as we'll as they can; and with
as little injury to the landed class as
may be.
| Meanwhile, we shall do well to recol-
lect that there are others beside the
landed class to be considered In our
tender regard for the vested interests
of the few, let US not forget that the
rights of the many are in allegiance, anc
must remain so as long as the earth is
nonopolized by individuals. Let us re
mem Der, too, that the injustice thus in
'fiicted on the mass of mankind IS an IN
Justice of tho gravest nature. The lac
that it is not go regarded proves nothing
In early phases of civilization ever
homicide is thought lightly of. The
suttees of India, together with the prac
tice elsewhere followed of sacrificing {
hecatomb of human victims at the
burial of a chief show this, and prob
, ably cannibals consider the slaughter
OF those whom 'the fortunes of war
i. has made their prisoners perfectly
, Unsuitable. 1t was once also unlvers
: ally supposed that slavery was natur
t al and quite legitimate institution-s
, condition into which some were born
: and to which they ought to submit a.
to divine ordination, nay, indeed, ;
great proportion of mankind hold thi
, opinion still. A higher social develop
= ment, however, has generated in us ;
better faith, and we now TO a consider
: able extent recognize the claims OF hu
, 1aanitv. But our civilization is onl,
A partial. 1t may by and by be perceived
s that equity utters dictates to which W.
s have not yet listened; and men ma,
| then learn that to deprive others o
: their rights to the use of the earth, is t.
q commit a crime inferior only in wicked
D ness to the crime of taking away thel
q lives or personal liberties.