We must do much else, by way of vigilance. We must insist that American land be held only by Americans. A great many rich men on the other side of the Atlantic are willing and anxious to reproduce here a state of affairs that has made endless trouble in Europe. Said President Harrison, while yet in the Senate: “Vast tracts of our domain, not simply the public domain on the frontier, but in some of our newer States, are passing into the hands of wealthy foreigners. It seems that the land reforms in Ireland, and the movement in England in favor of the reduction of large estates and the distribution of the lands among persons who will cultivate them for their own use, are disturbing the investments of some Englishmen, and that some of them are looking to this country for the acquisition of vast tracts of land which may be held by them and let out to tenants, out of the rents of which they may live abroad. This evil requires early attention, and that Congress should, by law, restrain the acquisition of such tracts of land by aliens. Our policy should be small farms, worked by the men who own them.” So says every thoughtful American.
We must give closer attention to the army of the unemployed if we wish to avoid the bad influence which discontent, of any class, has upon the prosperity of the community. The neglect of workers who have no work to do is a blot upon the fair fame of our people. Financially, we do not seem to be affected, one way or other, when a lot of men are thrown out of work. Says Mr. T. V. Powderly, long the most eloquent spokesman of the working class: “It matters not that the carpet-mills suspend three hundred hands, the price of carpeting remains unchanged. The gingham-mills and the cotton and woollen-mills may reduce the wages of employés five and ten per cent., but the price of gingham and calico continues as before.” But the men who suffer—they and their families—by partial or total loss of income, feel keenly the apathy of the general body of consumers, and their indignation and suspicion will be sure to make themselves known unpleasantly when least expected. We are all working men; we owe practical sympathy to the least of our brethren.
We must make more of the individual, and unload fewer of our responsibilities upon the government, whether local, State or national. As editor Grady, of Georgia, said recently to the graduating class of the University of Virginia: “The man who kindles the fire on the hearthstone of an honest and righteous home burns the best incense to liberty. He does not love mankind less who loves his neighbor most. Exalt the citizen. As the State is the unit of government, he is the unit of the State. Teach him that his home is his castle, and his sovereignty rests beneath his hat. Make him self-respecting, self-reliant and responsible. Let him lean on the State for nothing that his own arm can do, and on the government for nothing that his State can do. Let him cultivate independence to the point of sacrifice, and learn that humble things with unbartered liberty are better than splendors bought with its price. Let him neither surrender his individuality to government nor merge it with the mob. Let him stand upright and fearless—a freeman born of freemen—sturdy in his own strength—dowering his family in the sweat of his brow—loving to his State—loyal to his Republic—earnest in his allegiance wherever it rests, but building his altar in the midst of his household gods and shrining in his own heart the uttermost temple of its liberty.”
On all this, and the general subject of this book, the editor begs to quote, in conclusion, from a well-known and highly respected authority.
“Men and brethren, think on these things.”
Por Castilla y por León
Nuevo Mundo halló Colón,
(Note etext transcriber.)
| Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: |
|---|
| So hot discussious on this point=> So hot discussions on this point {pg 106} |
| succeeded in occuping New Mexico=> succeeded in occupying New Mexico {pg 121} |
| Champs Elysèes=> Champs Élysées {pg 165} |
| much to be regrettted=> much to be regretted {pg 169} |
| a sculpure equal to that of Greece=> a sculpture equal to that of Greece {pg 177} |
| it had magnifient grounds=> it had magnificent grounds {pg 205} |
| Danish West Indies, Ecuador=> Danish West Indies, Equador {pg 206} |
| explained in the words of of=> explained in the words of {pg 212} |
| His work is never done, any more than womans=> His work is never done, any more than woman’s {pg 273} |
| farmers hould receive=> farmers should receive {pg 283} |
| He wont be able=> He won’t be able {pg 336} |
| it is atonishing that=> it is astonishing that {pg 406} |
| exercise sover the national banking system=> exercises over the national banking system {pg 446} |
| let us sees after the uses=> let us see after the uses {pg 165} |
| the bitter enemity=> the bitter enmity {pg 471} |
| his own and only wife=> his one and only wife {pg 486} |
| Mr. Bancroft probable expended more money=> Mr. Bancroft probably expended more money {pg 536} |
| and has point to it=> and has a point to it {pg 560} |