THE PROBLEM OF PAUPERISM jgj 



olize the land. This evil is only beginning to 

 show itself in the United States ; but in Europe 

 it exists on a vast scale. The State can so pro- 

 tect citizens in their right to the land that no 

 one shall be denied a home who desires one of 

 his own and is able to pay for it ; and none who 

 are willing to devote themselves to agriculture 

 shall be kept from it while land is lying idle. 



The State should not allow the erection for 

 residence of buildings unfit to be abodes for 

 human beings. It may be a question whether 

 the State should assume the functions of a land- 

 lord, though I can see no more reason why it 

 should carry our mail than why it should build 

 our houses. It will hardly be questioned, how- 

 ever, that building laws can be passed and en- 

 forced, compelling landlords to erect only such 

 dwellings as shall make homes possible, and 

 subjecting all that are erected to periodic and 

 rigid inspection. Overcrowding should be made 

 as criminal as stealing. Laws forbid overcrowd- 

 ing on the sea ; why not on the land .-• This evil 

 is persistent and vital, but it can be eradicated. 

 If any doubt, let them read the account of the 

 changed condition of Whitechapel since the Eng- 

 lish Building Acts were enforced. ^ 



^ See New Review, October, 1889. 



