The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-03-31

IN their search Tor Jne DeJJeT llle-
for freedom and security.
Since this obstruction, this assault
on the peoples onward march con
tinues to be a major social i'll, we
need this understanding of the
causes.
This understanding Of what start.
ed the assault can serve as a diagno-
sis which we need before any attempt
is made to prescribe a remedy
This much is fairly clear and I'M
disputed: SO long as the tribes re-
NAMED nomadic, the land, the only
form of real property" was of neces-
sity held in common. The groups
moved about with their herds and
flocks; there were no cities as we
know Them there was little or no
trade; there was no established site
of government; no owning class and
as a consequence, there existed a
condition of comparative equality
among all.
When hunting and fishing were
the chief ways of making a living,
we can safely assume that there was
even less of specialization, more of
equality, and more of equal partlcl-
patton according to ability to con-
tribute.
1t was when the tribes gave up
their wandering lives, settled in cit
les, and began trade and agriculture
that the trouble began.
This shift meant the end of COM
munal ownership of land, the begin
ming of specialization, and Of an
owning class.
"a The difficult social problems that
resulted from the change from no.
madic life to an agricultural life are
most easily illustrated by few ref
erences to the Hebrew history avail
able to most people.
Jeremiah, the profit was from the
hill-country, from the oppressed
class. Like the other prophets, he
was a rebel, crying out against the
social injustices that prevailed. In
his writings-Jer. 35: CLIO we find
an interesting injunction w h
throws light on what took place as
a result Of the drift towards private
ownership, a ruling class, and the de-
velopment of a propertyless, depend
ent, working majority.
Said Jonadab, the son of Rechob:
Eye shall not drink wine, neither
We and your sons; neither shall we
build house nor sow seed, nor plant
vineyards, nor shall we possess any;
but all your days shall we live IN
tents; that we may live many days
in the land where we sojourn.
This injunction against drinking
wine and planting vineyards was, IN
the writer's opinion, not the temp
erance speech some would make 1t.
Jonadob, it is evident, regarded
the drinking of wine, the planting or
vineyards, the owning of land, ana
the building of houses as recog-
milton of the right of private prop
erty and it's encouragement which IN
turn would mean a people without
land and home.
The Hebrews were originally no.
madic tribes, roaming from place TO
place. They settled down to agrlcul-
ture and city life. Jonadob saw dangers
in this shift, attributed the peoples
misery to it, and hence the injunc-
ton and preference for the nomadlc
life.
The government became military
despotism maintained by a standing
army and operated for the benefit
of the owning ruling class.
The land was given to the kings
favorites, the people were reduced
to poverty, hired servants and some
times to the state of actual slavery.
They were kept in AFFECT subJectlon
by sheer force.
1t was this state of affairs which
gave rise to a series of great proph-
cts, representatives of the poor, cry
ing out against oppression, cruelty,
and injustice inflicted by the ruling