The advocate., 1895-11-13
A WILD CALAMITY HOWL.

OF the Peoples party, pointed out the
fact that the agricultural lands Of this
country were rapidly passing into the
hands Of landlord class, and that the
former owners were becoming tenants.
The fact has been persistently disputed
by the press Of both Of the old parties,
and those who have insisted upon its
truth have been denounced as lunstics,
wild-eyed anarchists, disturbers Of the
peace Of society, and almost every
thing else but good citizens who were
interested in the welfare Of our coun-
try. The LeaVenWorth Times has done
its full share Of this kind of denial and
denuncistion. In an editorial on Thurs
day, November s, the Times publishes
figures which corroborste all that the
most rsbid calamity h0Wler ever
claimed upon this subject and Sorely
lsments the conditions of the evil
times under which we have fallen.
The editorial would be much more
satisfactory had the Times suggested
some remedy for this condition Of
affairs or given us some idea of what
the Republican party may be expected
to do about it whea 1t again assumes
the reins Of government. The follow.
ing Is the editorial In full:
There 10 one calamity from which America
must be delivered. II she Is to live on as the
free and sturdy nation she has been. There Is
one change which a nation not afraid Of
changes may dread--and that 10 the change Of
the farming community from being land
owners to being q tenant class. IE can no
longer be boasted that every agrlculturlst in
America tills the land that Is his own. Time
was when he could look the whole world In
the face from the standpoint Of his own broad
acres
This can NO longer be said when the follow.
ing figures are true: Between 1880 and 1890 in
the six New England States the owning farm
ers diminished 24,1l7, and the tenant farmers
increased 7248. The number Of tenant farmers
In Massachusetts was In 1890 nearly double
what it was In 1850, and the percentage Of
tenant Rarmers In Vermont aud Connecticut
st this time was over II; and Is per cent. Of the
farmers Of Rhode Island were then tenants,
not land. owners. This change, II confined to
New England, would be startling, but in the
South in 1890 there was an increase Of 1895
own ing farmers and 275785 tenant fArmerS In
Missouri, Arkansas and Texas there was a
| hok md NR nWnfnu ~
farmers and 1l4y5l0 tenant farmers. A
large proportion OF these are persons
who were formerly slaves, and now are ten.
ants. In the Middle States, during this in
terVal, the owners have decreased 2S,SOl, and
the tenants have increased 24O75. In eight
States Of che Northwest the number Of owning
farmers was l2O.S22, and the number Of tenant
farmers 1O8507. In Iowa the number OF tenant
farmers increased 1858, In Kansas SOIA6S. In
iorsy-seven States and Territories the number
Of owning farmers had In 1890 become 15S,s5l,
and the number Of tenant farmers had grown
| TO 599,9S7.
The spring Of much Of this evil is the mort
gage. A large proportion Of the farms owned
by small proprietOrs are heavily mortgsged
and often at exorbltant rates OF interest. 1t Is
only question Of time when the burden be-
comes too heavy to bear and they Of necessity
become tenant farmers. The hands into which
the farms pass by this process are often those
OF non-residsnts living in the East or for
elgn country So It is evident that landlord
Ism in It's most vicious shape Is taking pos
session here as 1t has grasped Great Britain
and Ireland. Small owners, too deeply In
debE to hold on, give way and become tenants
and dependents Of landlords, whose only In
terest Is to collect their rents. We do not
want q peasAntry in this country, but .
staunch yeomAnry aiming ct high public
spirit, an independent competency, whole
some culture and strong character.