408 STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL chap. 



greatest confidence that it is so — the only thorough remed}' 

 will be to bring the land back into the possession of the 

 people, to be administered, locally, for the benefit of the men 

 who actually use it, never for those who want it only for 

 speculation; and by means of a carefully-adjusted system 

 of rents or land-taxes, to equalize the benefits to be derived 

 from the land (as regards quality and situation), so that 

 none will be able to undersell others to their ruin. Prices 

 will then be adjusted by fair competition, and will fall to 

 the lowest level compatible with the usual standard of 

 living of the time and place, and will be such as to leave a 

 clear margin of profit for the support of a family and for 

 provision for old age. 



It will of course be understood that under such a 

 system the farmers would be really as much the owners of 

 their land as if they possessed the fee simple and were 

 free of mortgage. So long as the very moderate differential 

 rent or land-tax was paid, the farmer would have perpetual, 

 undisturbed possession, with the right to bequeath or sell, 

 just as he has now. Rents would never be raised on the 

 farmer's improvements, but only on any increase of value 

 of the land itself due to the action of the community, as 

 when increase of population or new railroads so raised 

 prices or cheapened production as to increase the inherent 

 value of land in that locality in proportion to its value in 

 other localities. But it should be always recognized that 

 the creation of " happy-homes," so far as material well- 

 being affects them, should be the first object of land 

 legislation ; and thus rents should in every case be assessed 

 low enough to secure that end, always supposing reasonable 

 care and industry in the farmer, which would be sufficiently 

 indicated by the average result. 



Under such a system of land-tenure as is here suggested, 

 the farmer's life would become a peaceable and happy one, 

 more like that of the early days, when he supplied most 

 of his own wants, and only needed to sell a portion of his 

 surplus products. Every benefit which the community at 

 large may derive by the abolition of import duties, and the 

 operation of the railroads by the State for the good of all, 

 would be fully enjoyed by the farmer also, and his standard 



