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LAND TENURE IN EUROPE. 



LAND TENURE IN EUROPE. The land 

 question is one of the most important of those 

 which have occupied the attention of civilized 

 nations during the present century. It grows 

 in interest, and must continue so to do until 

 there be a more general agreement as to the 

 principles on which land ought to be held, and 

 a more hearty recognition of the natural rights 

 of all members of a nation or country freely to 

 acquire possession and dispose of the land, 

 which furnishes mankind with means of sup- 

 porting life. In these United States the tenure 

 of land is settled upon the broadest basis. 

 There is nothing to prevent any man from 

 purchasing land to any extent, or anywhere. 

 He can sell as freely as he can buy, and there 

 are no burdensome restrictions upon his course, 

 such as exist in the older settled countries of 

 Europe. He can also direct by will, subject, 

 of course, to the laws of the country, the dis- 

 position of his real estate among his children 

 (if he have any), or among any parties he may 

 choose. In case he neglect to do this, the law 

 steps in and divides his property among his 

 natural heirs, i. e., hr children or nearest rela- 

 tives. But it is not so in Europe. The long 

 prevalence of feudal rights and privileges, and 

 the heavy burdens upon the common people 

 in consequence, rendered the land question for 



centuries a very grave and perplexing one. In 

 the course of time it was certain to produce 

 trouble which could not easily be removed, 

 and to cause outbreaks of popular discontent 

 and sense of ill usage. This was seen in 

 France, where agrarian discontent led to the 

 fierce excesses which marked the French Rev- 

 olution. Feudal dues and privileges were abol- 

 ished by the law of August 11, 1789, and two 

 years later all landed property was declared 

 free from burdens, excepting those recognized 

 by law, and the proprietors were at full liberty 

 to do as they liked with the land, and to sell 

 its products wheresoever they thought fit. 

 Royal edicts (1774-'76) had previously sanc- 

 tioned the leading principles of this legislation, 

 when Turgot was comptroller-general, and it 

 seems probable that if they had been carried 

 out, economic and social transformation in 

 France would have been effected without the 

 horrible strife and confusion which ensued. 

 In Prussia, under the leading of that able min- 

 ister, F. von Stein, the great change from the 

 feudal organization to the modern state was 

 accomplished in peace and quiet. No class in 

 the country lost its self-respect, and there is 

 no dismal record of blood and crime. Accord- 

 ing to the old law, land in Prussia might pass 

 from hand to hand, but it must always remain 



