Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-08-11
MYRIAD HOMES.
AMERICAN PEOPLE MUST HAST.
EN- 70 RESCUE THEIR HERTZ.
AGE IN THE ARID WEST.
enhancing Picture Of What May
Take the Place Of the Vast 2
Drcary Desert.

preary Desert.
Two very big things have already
happened Id the brief history OF the
twentieth century. Each OF these
things makes for The greater economic
freedom of the race; Each represents
a lofty 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 tho En-.
rlish 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 ma.
tlonal irrigation act. which aims TO
make homes for millions OF people IN
the arid region OF the west.
Between these two great measures
there II n singular analogy. Both
OF them deal with the foundation prln-
ciples OF civilization. They aim to
give man a secure foothold upon tho
soil, They aim 10 put him In posses
sion OF the primal means of existence.
They recognize his right 10 participate
In the ownership OF natural wealth.
Fcudailsm and Individual Prosperity.
The event In ireland marks the
last grasp Of dying fendalism. The
event IN America marks the entrance
upon a new and momentous stage Of
that policy Of material conquest over
new areas which is the real secret OF
the prosperity and greatness OF the
republic. Both events do infinite cred.
II to the governments which brought
them about and both are hopeful signs
OF the tendency Of the times.
But those who arc familiar with
what is going on in the west, strange
as Il may seem. look with a certain
envy upon Ireland. She is dealing
with a problem almost Identical with
our " The only difference Is the
difference between rebuilding an old
house and building a new one. But
she has learned a lesson which we
must learn In order TO realize the full
benefit 81 the policy OF which vi have
entered. This lesson Is that there il
no peril 20 the peace OF d country like
the peril Of land monopoly.
Evils Of Land Monopoly.
Land monopoly robs men Or d large
portion OF the products OF their labor
II nullifes the spirit 81 constitutional
guarantees which sock 10 glye assur.
ance Of political freedom. No man ii
free In the true sense Of the term who !
IL beholden to another for the means I
OF his existence. And land monopoly
makes rebels instead or patriots. In !
the case Of Ireland, Il drove more than
half the population away from rs ma. 3
tive soil. II filled their hearts with d
bitterness and even sent some of her Z
children into the ranks Of EngIand.s I
enemies 10 the hour when her lie was d
stake. w - &
On the other hand. II IL 4 wellrecog. .
nized truth that no nation can have q Z
better bulwark than millions Of men i
who own their homes. II has been a
well said that NO nan ever went 10
war In defense Of his boarding house" Q
All these things are familiar enough o
% thoughtful people Why say them
sgning For this reason: The crush n
ng burden which Ireland Il now prc- II
'aring 10 slip from her shoulder the
people are proceeding. by
means OF a subtle and silent process.
o take upon their own. There il j.
Iangcr-very grave dangcr-thas "
y The moa' b%onefcent acts ~ n"aiionalIp
yer framed and missed =,
nay miscarry that instead 81 making III
for millions OF small p%roprIe sl
ors' We shall make vast stock ranches q,
nj lordly private estates Tor 4 com. al
'araiisely few great pr%oprietors. n,
An Enhancing Vision. NJ
Tho scheme for the reclamation IN an
arid public domain undoubtedly 10
ehehts he IMAGINATION of the Amerf lis
an people the making Of something da
y n nothing he creation OF a multi. IL
iae n homes where the desert now mi
Grstifsing evidence on the fact IN,
'2''rf ~ every hand nut there Ialle;
eide io ihe matter. How ma
any actually appreciate the value &C