Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-08-10
HOMES FOR
MILLIONS
But the American People Must
Save Their Heritage Before
1t Is Too Late.
AN ENHANCING VISION
A Multitude Of Prosperous Homes Can
Be Created Where the Desert
Now Exists.

WI NCIy VIE thAi6S AiANS eAAh hSoNS
happened in the brief history of the
twentieth century. Each of these
things makes for the greater economic
freedom of the race. Each represents
a Iofty conception Of craftsmanship:
Both were undertaken by English
speaking peoples-the one by Great
Britain, the other by the United
States-the one the presentation to the
English parliament of the Wyndham
bill for the restoration of the land to
millions Of people in Ireland, the other
the passage, a year ago. of the nation
al irrigation act, which aims to make
homes for millions of people in the arid
region Of the west.
Between these two great measures
there is a singular analogy. Both OF
them deal with the foundation princi-
pies Of civilization. They aim to give
man a secure foothold upon the soil.
They" aim to put him in possession Of
the primal means of existence. They
recognize his right to participate in the
ownership Of natural wealth.
FEUDALIsM AND INDIVIDUAL
PROSPERITY.
The event in Ireland marks the last
grasp of dying feudalism. The event in
America marks the entrance upon a
new and momentous stage of that poll
Cy Of material conquest over new areas
which is the real secret of the prosperi-
ty and greatness of the republic. Both
events do infinite credit to the govern
ments which brought them about and
both are hopeful signs of the tendency
of the times.
But those who are familiar with what
is going on in the west, strange as it
may seem, look with certain envy
upon Ireland. She is dealing with a
problem almost Identical with our own.
The only difference is the difference be-
tween rebuilding an old house and
building new one. But she has learned
a lesson which we must learn in order
to realize the full benefit of the policy
ON which we have entered. This les-
son is that there is no peril to the peace
OF a country like the peril of land
EVILS OF LAND MONOPOLY. =
Land monopoly robs men of large
portion of the products of their labor.
1t nullifies the spirit Of constitutional
guarantees which seek to give assur-
ance Of political freedom. No man Is
free in the true sense Of 1.-The term who
Is beholden to another for the means Of
his existence And land monopoly
makes rebels instead Of patriots. In the
case Of Ireland, 1t drove more than
half the population away from its ma.
tive SOIL 1t filled their hearts With
and even sent some Of her
Children into the ranks Of sEngland's
enemies in the hour when her life was
at stake.
ON the other hand, it is well-recog-
nized truth that no nation can have q
better bulwark than millions Of men
who own their homes. It has been we'll
said that mo man ever went to war
in defense of his clearinghouse
All these things are familiar enough
to thoughtful people. Why say them
{ pain? For this reason: The crushing
burden which Ireland is now preparing
to slip from her shoulder the Ameri-
can people are proceeding, by means
Of q subtle and silent process. to take
upon their own. There is danger
very grave danger-that one of the
most beneficent acts of national legis-
.ation ever framed and passed may mis-,
.arry-that insteadsof making homes
fer millions of small proprietors, we
shall make vast stock ranches and
.ordly private estates for compara-
lively few great proprietors.
AN ENTRANCING VISION:
The scheme for the reclamation Of
tce arid public domain undoubtedly
delights the Imagination Of the Ameri- |
can people-the making Of something
put OF nothing, the creation Of multi |
tide Of bones where the desert now
exists. Gratifying evidence Of the fact
is found on every hand. But there is
another side to the matter. How
many actually appreciate the value of
The imperial domain of the west which |
is still the property Of the United
States? Probably not more than one in
ten thousand. And Of those who do. a |
proportion belong to the
class of SPECTATORS and adventures
who know too well how to acquire val-
liable parts Of this property for them-
selves and who are proceeding to do 80
with startling rapidity.
Some day the full story OF the loot
ing of the peoples heritage will be told |
When 1t Is, the average American citi-