Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-17
Alien Land Law.

It is and should be the policy Of every re-
public to identify her citizenship with the
titles to the soil. Experience has taught
that the pioneers who open the way in all
new countries are known for their liberal
ity and poverty, and that few new states
have have been settled by the wealthy
classes. The lands are occupied homes are
erected and the wilderness reclaimed gen.
orally by those who have utlittle wealth.
After the hardships of frontier life are
passed and the resources of the country are
known, then it is that aliens, without any
intention of citizenship, are eager to lay
their hands upon the richest soil at the
lowest price possible, to be held for specu-
lative purposes. When it is possible for
theselan to be collected and owned in
large bodies by aliens, swarm of foreign
tenantry at once follows, and large estate
dominated by alien landlords, spring up to
menace the peace and happiness of the clti-
zens and to perpetuate a system of bondage
on the tenants themselves.
The last regular session of your honora-
Bile bodies passed law for the purpose of
correcting this threatened abuse in Texas.
1t has been held unconstitutional by the su-
preme court upon the ground mainly that,
as it was declared to be an amendment to a
law, it never specified what statute or law
1t intended to amend.
A careful, close analysis Of the bill would
indicate some obnoxious and unnecessary
features that should be removed. The law
should be so drawn that within a reasonable
specified time after an alien "a person not
citizen of the United States) acquires by
purchase, inheritance or otherwise a deed
or title to lands within this state he shall
either become a citizen to enjoy said land,
or shall sell it to some citizen of the United
States. The future prosperity, comfort
and happiness of our people, and public
policy as well, demands just but infeXible
alien land law. Many other states have
HON md T1 n 1uFg- nf no Init
States that it shall be unlawful for any
person or persons not citizens of the United
States, or who have not legally declared
their intention to become such citizen or
for any corporation not created by or under
the laws of the United States or of some
territory or state of the United States, to
acquire, hold or own real estate or any in
terest therein In any territory or the
District of Columbia. 1t also provides that
corporations having more than 20 per cent
of the stock owned by aliens shall not own
any real estate in said territories. The low
applies to all classes of corporations and in
dividuals who attempt to acquire titles to
lands, except by inheritance or in the ordi-
nary course of justice in the collection of
debts created before the passage of the law;
md it makes it the duty Of the attorney
general of the United States, when the pro-
visions of that law have been violated, to
institute proceedings to forfeit the titles to
land so held TO the United States govern
ment. The law is referred TO as significant of
the public policy supported by the people of
the United States. When we consider that
the Federal government has reserved to the
Indians within the territories over GOO acres
of land per capita, and that there is not to-
day in the whole area of Texas, including
mountains valleys and streams and good
and poor land alike, over
sEvENTY-FIvE ACRES
per capita of her population, then it is well
n HyeiCh and consider tho iTilry that will
certainly result TO the present generation
and to posterity unless reasonable safe
guards are now thrown around the soil in
tended for the homes of the people.
II is right to cultivate in all respects
friendly relations with aliens and induce the
better element of them to move among US.
We can do this by no method more certain
of ultimate success than by letting them
know that if they expect to own lands in
Texas for longer period than specified in
the law they must come among US and be-
come citizens. This cannot work injustice
to them, and it would protect our posterity
from becoming tenants and peons OF foreign
landlords, who neither understand nor care
for the principles of our government. In
reforming the law there can be no necessity
for preventing the loan of money by aliens
or corporations to our citizens upon land Sc
curities. If the people desire to mortgage
their lands and secure money in this way
they should not be restricted in their |
privilege. 1t has never been and can never |
be good policy to have our lands encum- |
sbered with mortgages, and any system |
which would encourage tits pernicious.
Let it be well settled that while the alien |
may have the right TO his mortgage and |
foreclosure of it in our courts for the collec- |
ton OF his debt, and that while he may be- |
come the purchaser and acquire title to the |
land, he shall, after having so acquired the |
title, sell the property within reasonable |
time specifa4 by law, to some citizen of the /
United States. The interest of an alien in /
land should never make the title void. If |
he fails to ALLEVIATE that interest or his title |
within given time prescribed by law, then |
all the title or interest of such alien should |
be sold under proceedings instituted by the /
state, and the proceeds arising therefrom,
after paying expenses incident thereto |
held for reasonable time subject TO the |
order of the alien, after which, If not called |
for or claimed, it shall escheat to the state. |
This will protect the alien against confsca-
ton, secure to him every right that he |
would EXPECT from this government and |
people, and ct the same time subserve a
sound public policy in the interest Of actual |