The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-10-23

land i said - own 1855, 900 acres, and
few other dukes and earls own great
proportion OF the land of the [ II ted
Kingdom. What has brought about
this wide differ IN the ownership
of land Certaiulv the lew who own
the millions OF acres. f ON which they
derive revenue in some Instances q:
more than $3.50 anEuall III rentals.
haze lot earned these vast estates by
their own industry. bus on the con-
trary it is by force OF statutory enact
ments that these vast estates have
been accumulate and perpetu 1ted in
a few hands.
N-st Wealth Of Few Families
In this country we have alb l:shed
the laws of primogeniture. by which
the cid st sC II inherited the landed e.
tate OF hi, an, estOr. but here vast cS-
tates eiuy rapidly accumulated in
few hands and :hls IS esrec al true
during and since the war o. the rebel
Lon. In l>t0 there were few million
aires and few la fortunes in this
country. bu: since thea a rich ella - has
sprung up so that in Is o. according t !.
reliable statistics l per cent of the
people own a, much wealtu as the 9th
e. - per cent. In l - there were / -
| 80 Is. families In the United States
and, according 10 George X. Holmes.
ii the Political. Science Quarterly,
!.ol. OF these posse scd scyen-tenths of
the wealth. lust tn.nS Of t. ne
family Posses ing the wealth Of 20 ~
families in this country In the city
. OF lew York alone there are aid t, be
five men whose aygre gated wealth en-
coed, > .uu, 'nN.tA. low many hundred
mil ions are I'd by va ious veal hv
corporations. coal and oil Syuuicates
and uihe trusts am unable t, state.
| In each Of the cities OF New \ ok and
Chicago more than ll0.'DO men and
women willing to work were cut of en-
plovment last winter, many of wAom
must have persisted in want but for
charity's aid. These conditions anoth-
e. winter premise to be no better
The richest corporations and persons
on earth are probably in the United
| States. H w have hey accumulated
their va fortunes: Surely not by
their own in iustry and thrift. bit by
the al of statutes regulating the
rights Of property. generally statutes
providing for the transmission OF
property by descent or by will, or the
creation of mo1opOlies.
1t is onl. %, Writ re of statutory law
that man is permitted to make DISPOSE
ton OF his property by will, and it i j,
only by virtue of statutory law that
one person is permitted TO inherit
property from an"thcr. and it is by
virtue of statute law that great cor
pOrate III cnopoies have been built up.
i.'.n.v Gorern> Legislation.
The money power has governed leg
islation in ali civilized co ,ntrics for
generations. 1t matters not what part,
in IN, lN. vH.,fI nj
governments OF our own country. the
money power has exercised Il control
ling influence in many instances in the
shaoing and administration OF our
laws.
If tn accumulation OF vast fortunes
goes Il another generation with the
Same accelerated raridltv as during
the pre- ,cnt tn wealth of this country
will soon &c consolidated in the hands
OF q few corporations and Individuals
to as great an extent AS the landed in
tersstS OF Great Britain now are.
What is the remedy for this state of
things, watch. ii Permitted to cOn,in-
Ue, viii MAKE the MASSES OF the people
dependent uNon the generosity of the
few fOr the means to live. so far As
concerns corpor cations of 4 public or
q,:si-public character, and none 9th
Z.
| They are completely under the control
of the legislatures, wLence they de-
rive all their powers.
E-."rm s.n>. s"m. Trough the Ballot.
If M voice could reach the people
of he whole Land ] would say to the
millionaire, in the language OF script
tu g "A good name is rather to be
chO.cn than great riches. Riches
kept or the owners thereof are Il sure
hurt and Il sore evil. Love @, money
is the OF of all evil" and in the lam
guage of the say or of mankind to
young man Of great possessions. 1t is
easier 70: camel to go through the
eye Ct Il needle than for a rich man to
| enter the Kingdom OF God" | would
call upon the mil;ionai es for heavens
, sake to pause in their greed for more
millions and unite in the passing of
laws which. By securing equal Oppor-
tunitics to all shall contribute to the
happiness o. all
lie TIE millionaire should not listen
| would sa, to the men Of the m ddle
classes of moderate means. farmers
AMI others, who. though they may not
now. soon Will feel the oppression Of
the money power. arouse to the danger
at threatens to place you as fully at
the mercy OF corporate and individ aal
weaitA as tle telling laborcrs are 10
day.
! would say to The laborcrs, now
rob ,ed Of the just reward Of their Ia
b NJ. ana even compelled in this land of
plenty and abundance t. suffer hunger
and old. lay aside all manner of b ok
cri, Us or disputes about minor affairs
AID assert your indepen lence by going
10 be rolls. uniniiuenced by money or
these in authority, and cast free
nan vote for representatives in Con-
gress and the general assembly who
will sc true to your Interests and Sc
cure the enactment of such laws as
will Kermit You to share IL the wealth
created by YOUR toll. and to eat of the
bead your hands have earned. send
forth t. the country aud to the school
houses OF the land aposl] IS O. freedom
who will agltate Cor the rights 0 man,
now fe;tered bV the avs of property.