The National tribune., 1906-07-05

the ticket can interpret them as they
wish or disregard them altogether. In
short. it resembles too much Jerry
Simpsons famous description of a plat
form as Something to get In upon"
THE REAL ISSUE IN RUSSIA.
We people Of the Western World. and
particularly of America. are so accus-
toned to questions involving personal
rights, liberties and justice that we fail
to comprehend what is the real question
and issue In Russia. Those people. who
are centuries behind the rest OF Europe
In all essentials OF civilization, are not
bothered at all about purely theoretical
questions regarding the rights Of men
such as are Of extreme, Importance to
US. The reaI:question before them. and
the one WHICH is not brought to the
front in ths fHssws from Russia, is that
of the tenure sof land. This has been
the absorbing squestion with humanity
for centuries,IP tut we in America settled
it in the beginning in the simplest and
most just ,way-our system OF private
ownership iof xsmall tracts sufficient for
the support ofa family. 1t will prob
ably take fhe, Russians century more
to come to 9tf,esstandard Of private land
ownership! 50 far the land has been
owned by the Government. Or by great
occupancy portioned out among them.
They have been taught this way OF do
ing things. and cannot understand any
other. Therefore, they are discussing in
the Duma various schemes for the con-
tinuance Of this system under various
notifications. They will never be able
to make 1t practical and helpful in the
development Of the country. for the
reason that a man who simply holds
piece Of land for cultivation will never
improve 1t like one who. absolutely owns
1t. and Is therefore encouraged to make
permanent improvements upon it with
the assurance that he not only can keep
1t all his life. but transmit 1t to his heirs.
The Romans, the great iawgivers and
civiiizers OF the world, tried and tested
this occupancy Of land to its utmost
and 1T was one OF the failures Of that
magnificent system of law and civiliza-
ton. 1t was what brought about the
constant agrarian wars which disturbed
the Empire and. helped much to hasten
It's downfall. In Rome and Constanti-
nople proper the people had a form of
ownership, and consequently. those cities
were built up and developed: but out
side Of the cities the land was held by
an uncertain tenure. and there were
constant struggles for its redivision
among the people. In Russia q certain
amount Of land has been. allotted to the
Mir or Community for the support Of
the people in that community. and the
Council Of the Mir has allotted 1t from
time to time to the various members.
The evils OF this system are that no
man feels secure In the holding Of his
homestead, and there IS constant strife
and contention for a redivision. The
stronger men in the Mir are perpetually
seeking to exchange the lands which
they have worn out for others that have
not been exhausted. They want to turn
their worn-out lands over to the poorer
and weaker members of the community,
and take up those which are new and
more fertile. This was the fatal weak
ness Of the. Henry George theory OF
ownership OF lands. Human experience
teaches thaC private ownership is the
only safetydGapsn?dd'stability for country,
and that where primogeniture is pro-
hibited death may be relied upon to
continually redIstribute the land to the
people in t%, Post just and satisfactory
way. Russia Ican never have any per-
manent peace or prosperity until this
system is adopted. but 1t will require a
long educsstai9BHabefore the people are
ready for IN ss