El Imparcial. (San Juan, P.R.) 1918-197?, 1919-05-27
( OUR MAIN
(. PROBLEM
VIII

thing? Why this simply would mean going back in civil
zaton these and many other similar remarks we nave
heard, in connection with this subject
real fact is that private ownership OF the soil IS one
Of those gross unstices forced by greed Ignorant
mankind and went back to the beginning OF History
n every country would perceive how absurd the ms
tution s considering that in this right was based
.onmght. The conqueror appropriated the land OF the
conquered country, and sold its inhabitants as slaves
Il TO claim ownership to the land that supports us, IS
exactly like claiming ownership of the air water that
make life possible this planet We have legltl-
anate title to anything produced through our etor or
through the effort of else who cedes his little
tos but the right the SOIL in its natural condition. as
made by God Nature is something that in the future
y be regarded exactly the institution OF slavery IS
regarded nowadays in civilized countries The mprov
eents yes the products of the so Of COURSE there IS
noqueston that they must belong individually to their
legitimate owner and that is why possession OF the soil
should be recognized to Individuals under State owner
ship, and for the agreed consideration or rent:
But we repeat that must recognize all andttes,
and pay every landowner its price, exactly did with
tylave-oWners when slavery abolished II anybody
would come to tell to-day, that he had rghtful title
to some other person. would laugh at the pretenlon
and would think the claimant more fit for the unat1c
asylum than for the any other place. yet hfty years ago.
It was considered any other reasonable proposllon
since slavery was legal institution Freedom was given
to the negroes and although holding them against their
will must have been then regarded the immoral thing
it u.s. all saveowners duly paid the value OF his
goods" Exactly the same thing propose with the
land each landowner should be paid in full the price, and
the economic liberty OF the Porto Rlcan people OOJaneu
without boodshed.
far as the second objection is concerned that abo
shng private ownership Of the soil would mean gong
backward it is just the opposite Read the history Of
Rome for instance and see what happened when the once
6n time free Roman republic, made up principally OF
sturdy tlers of the SOIL in turned into the impe
rial power that filled the land with imported slaves from
all the conquered provinces who worked the land Tor
it's few owners Indeed if reflected we should about
this agrarian question: should all come to understand
that the of wars MISERY and destltutlon visiting
on mankind must be, in the last analysis fully attributed
to the institution of private ownership of the SOIL In the
beginning it appropriated by the strongest and their
successors and such injustice sanctioned only by the law
of might has perpetuated ITSELF with the calamltous re-
suits known to every one
Today the government of Porto Rico finds itself in pc
cuar situation There is plenty of wealth in the island
but can't be taxed in the proper and equitable manner
lit should and as result of that the public services part
culay education cannot be attended to- in the proper
way Be kind enough to figure out how much money
df government would have at its disposal for public i'm
provements of all Sorts if instead of the complicated and
unjust system of taxation in vogue with army of
appraisers collectors etc. enforcing it. the land tllers
simply had to be told by the government 1.-The rate h OF
much"