226 THE HIGH COST OF LIVING 



Scotland or in Prussia, Russia, Austria-Hungary, 

 or Belgium. The political and social condition of 

 the people, the reaction and the class mle, the 

 ignorance and the poverty, the decadence of the 

 peasantry are inevitable consequences of attempt- 

 ing to build a state on a system of farm tenancy, 

 which is but the modern equivalent for the old 

 feudal relationship of master and serf. Many of 

 the countries of Europe have realized the results 

 of the system, notably Denmark, France, and 

 Great Britain in Ireland. Systems of state aid 

 to tenants who would be owners have been worked 

 out while security for improvements and fixity of 

 tenure have been insured by law. America almost 

 alone among the nations has left the tenant to 

 shift for himself unprotected by the state in any 

 way. 



