There was no impediment to the entry of these vast estates byeapitalists. there is but little now. The idea tit this public domain was inexhaustible has always prevented proper action by Congress for its protection. The idea hat we should ever have a large landless population. desiring bit unable to obtain homes to shelter their families and lands to cultivatoa pursuit the most. of all grateful to freemenand to raise their children in virtues industry. has never arrested the attention of sie public men of this country. at least until very recently when the tide of emigration so onig and steadily and with everincreasing tide moving westward met a teeming multitude recoiling from the Pacific and seeking for homes eastward of the inhospitable soil that skirts the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. Then it Vas seen how soon the public lands--this source of succor and hope for labor and glory and strength of the nationwould be exhausted. No impediment has been thrown in the way of speculation in the public lands. and even now the subject is an abstraction. and this bill perpetuates as to lands which are said not to be adapted to agriculture the evil of the old system. and gives cupidity an easy access to the public wealth.
Keywords matched
emigration