The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-02
ALIEN LANDOWNERS.

THE CALL observes that some of the
papers published in the rural counties
take strong ground against the ratification
of Assembly amendment No. II, which
forbidS alien land owning. In these coun-
ties many owners OF large estates desire 10
cut them up into small holdings, while
other citizens are anxious to dispose of
their property in order to locate elsewhere.
To these persons it seems unreasonable
that they should be limited by law which
insists that they shall only sell to citizens.
They see DO good reason for the abrdg-
ment Of their natural right to sell to any
one vino has the money to buy. They
view the amendment adopted by the Legis
Iature as a measure passed by ignorant
Lawmakers who had crazy visions Of dOmi-
nation by an alien land-owning class.
The notion that alien ownership is neces-
sarily an evil is one of the relics of me-
tieval stupidity. 1t was based upon the
idea that foreigners might appear in such
numbers and with such vast amounts OF
money that they might bny all the habita-
bic land and exclude the natives, thus
ctfecting conquest without resort to war.
The hypothesis was. of course. an alb
surdity.' No such wholesale transfer of
real property ever occurred slice the
world was created, nor is there any chance
that such transfer win ever take place.
Still the narrow and jealous dread-Of fot
eign domination was SO prevalent in past
times that in most Of tie nations OF Europe
alien land ownership was either prohibited
by law or hampered by vexatious con-
ditions, and this foolish provision was in-
ported into this country and adopted in
several States. Until very lately an alien
could not hold real property in New York.
He was compelled when he bought
house to dodge the law by taking mort
gage Oh it for sum liz excess of its
value-a proceeding which opened the
door for many Inconvenience.
We in this State want TO have our arabic
land taken up and cultivated. We
would rather, of course, have it taken up
by people of our own race and way OF
thinking; but if the supply of these is in
ADEQUATE 30 occupy all the land that is in
search Of owners we would rather sell to
foreigners than have it lie fallOw. If WE
found that these foreigners came in such
numbers aud adhered to their cid nation
ality with such persistency that they be-
came an alien element in our midst. it
the evil and restore homogeneily. Blu;
thus far experience has shown that for
egners do not settle here in excessive
numbers, while those who do settle here
and occupy land take on the col of their
surroundings and their children become
as good citizens as those who can trace
their descent 10 the Pilgrim Fathers.
a stir was once made IN Illinois about
extensive purchases of land by British
subject named Scully, who had taken up
several sections of land in at State aud
leased them out TO tenants. The Legis-
lature at Springfield launched some stat
utes at Mr.. Scully's head, which were de-
signed 10 bring him 10 sense of the error
o f his ways and 10 drive him out of the
country. But at lates: dates Sculy was go
ing on with his tenant system in peace and
cOntentment, and the Illinois Legis lature is
working round for a decent excuse to re-
real its statutes. So in Nebraska, Colo
RADIO and other States where The Duke OF
Sutherland and other rich EnglisEmen
have acquired vast estates, and have
peoped them with emigrants from Eng
land. There was at one time quite an
cutlery against the transfer of American
soil to British aristocrats, who would be
sure to establish King, Lords and Com
mons in the very shadow of the stars and
stripes. But the cry died out when it was
found that the Duke and his friends were
obstinate in their refusal to pay money
for peace and quiet
The progress of California is blocked by
the enormous size of the ranches which
are owned by individuals and families,
and are uneultiyated by the very reason OF
their extent. Some idea of the degree to
which the evil has spread can be found by
perusing the papers in the partition suit of
Miller VS.. Lux. IL is the duty of every
citizen to promote The division of these
estates and their distribution among small
holders. aud every measure which stands
in the way is criminal to toe public inter-
est. Therefore, the demagogical amend
ment known as Assembly amendm ent
No. L should be voted down.