The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-24

vast estates by their own industry; but, on
tho contrary, it is by force of statutory en-
actrlcnts that these vast estates have been
accumulated and pcrpetuated in few
hands,.
Vest Wealth Of a Few Families.
In this country we have abolished the
laws of primogeniture, by which the eld-
est son inherited the landed estate of his
ancestor, but here vast estates are being
rapidly accumulated in few hands, and
this is especially true during and since the
war of tho rebellion. In 1860 there were
few millionaires and few largo fortunes in
this country, but since then rich class
has sprung up, SO that in 1890, according
to reliable statistics, l per cent OF the peo-
pie own as much wealth as the other 80
per cent. In 1890 there were IL, 800, 1879
families in the United States and, accord
ing to George X. Holmes, in The Polit-
ical Science Quarterly, 4,047 Of these pos
sesscd seven tenths of the wealth. just
think of it-one family possessing the
wealth of 1000 families in tho country
over! In the city of New York alone there
are said to be five men whose aggregated
wealth exceeds $500, 600, 600. How many
hundred millions are held by various
wealthy corporations-coal and oil syndi-
Gates and other trusts-I am unable to
state. In each of the cities of New York
and Chicago more than 100, 900 mon and
women willing to work were out of en-
ployment last winter, many OF whom
must have persisted from want but for char
ity's aid. These conditions another win
ter promise to be no better.
The richest corporations and persons on
Garth ara probably in tho United States.
How have they accumulated their vast
fortunes? Surely not by their own indus
try and thrift, but by the aid Of statutes
regulating the rights of property, general
ly statutes providing for tho transmission
of property by descent or by will, or the
creation of monopolies.
1t is only by virtue Of statutory law
that man is permitted to make disposition
of his property by will, and 1t is only by
virtue of statutory law that one person is
permitted to inherit property from an
other, and it is by virtue of statute law
that great corporate monopolies have been
built up.
No man has natural right to dispose
of property after death, nor has one person
a natural right to inherit property from
another. AS Blackstone says, There is
no foundation in nature or in natural law
why the son should have the right to ex-
clude his fellow creatures from determi-
nato spot of land because his father had
done SO before him, or why the occupier Of
a particular field or of jewel, when lying
on his deathbed and no longer able to
maintain possession should be able to tell
the rest of the world which of them should
enjoy it after him."
Under Illinois laws the owner of real
estate is permitted to lease it for an indef-
mite period and compel future generations
who occupy tho premises to pay rent to I'M
born generations. Leases for 90 years are
quite common in Chicago. 1t is by no
divine law that the occupant of land today
is allowed to compel its occupant 100 years
hence to pay tribute for it's use. The
statutes Of Illinois have given to the own
er of property the right to dispose Of it by
will, not wholly, but to certain extent.
If married. neither the husband nor wife
can give away the homestead or dover
rights of the other, nor can creditors, heirs
or devisees take from the widow her al
lowance.