XVI HOW TO NATIONALIZE THE LAND 289 



out injustice and without danger. I think I may claim 

 to have shown that the last question may be answered in 

 the affirmative, On the plan here sketched out, the change 

 might be effected, either without injury to any individual 

 other than a possible, but by no means certain, deprecia- 

 tion of his property — and if such a depreciation did occur, 

 and could be valued, there would be ample available funds 

 to award compensation.^ Moreover, there is no finality 

 advocated for the actual proposals here made, but only 

 for the general principle. If it should be estimated that 

 the termination of absolute property in land after three 

 generations would be really injurious to existing land- 

 owners to any appreciable extent, then a higher number 

 might be fixed upon. But, on the other, hand a smaller 

 number would give the existing generation a greater interest 

 in passing such a law. 



To many it will no doubt be almost impossible to realize 

 a state of society in which there were no great landowners, 

 no country gentlemen living wholly or mainly on the 

 rent of land. They will picture to themselves the country 

 relapsing into a state of semi-barbarism, the parks turned 



1 In taking such extreme precautions against any interference 

 even with the "sentimental interests" of existing landowners, I have 

 been actuated by a desire to deal fairly with every class, and to give 

 the least possible offence to a powerful vested interest. That I have 

 gone even further in this direction than is required by simple justice, in 

 a case where the sentimental interests of individuals conflict with those of 

 the community, is shown by the following remarkable statement on this 

 very point, by the late Nassau W. Senior, a writer who will certainly 

 not be accused of being an extreme Radical. In his Essays on 

 Ireland (vol. i. p. 3) he says: — "Nor can any interest, however 

 lawful, be considered property as against the public, unless it be 

 capable of valuation. And for this reason : if incapable of valuation it 

 must be incapable of compensation, and therefore, if inviolable, would 

 be an insurmountable barrier to any improvement inconsistent with its 

 existence. If a house is to be pulled down, and its site employed for 

 public purposes, the owner receives full compensation for any advantage 

 connected with it which can be estimated. But he obtains no pretium 

 affectionis. He is not paid a larger indemnity because it was the seat of 

 his ancestors, or endeared to him by any peculiar associations. His 

 claim on any such grounds for compensation is rejected, because, as the 

 subject-matter is incapable of valuation, to allow it would open a door 

 to an indefinite amount of fraud and extortion ; nor is he allowed 

 to refuse the bargain offered to him by the public, because such a refusal 

 would be inconsistent with the general interest of the community." 



VOL. II. U 



