THE LANDOWNING INSTINCT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2670, 11 October 1881, Page 2

THE LANDOWNING INSTINCT.

(American Paper.) Far back in the history of the Caucasian race ownership of extensive tracts of land was considered as equivalent to the possession of a patent of nobility. The feudal lords with their vassals held sway over such regions as they were able to keep by force or cunning regardless of the rights or welfare of less powerful members of the human race. But in later years these lords, apprehending invasion from neighboring tribes or nations, found it necessary to join their forces to repel their enemies ; and while this step naturally resulted in concentrating and consolidating their interests in what has since become a central government, there has been a disposition on the part of certain families to retain all the land of their ancestors, adding to it whenever it was possible. The favors granted the “ Lords of the Manor,” and the power wielded by them over those who through poverty were compelled to till the soil, made those owning no land or small tracts envious of those more favorably situated. But as a higher civilization was developed in the East and manufactures and commerce became important industries, the old idea that landed property was the only safe and legitimate source permanent wealth began to decline. An idea, however, which had been prevalent so long was too firmly fixed to be readily discarded. This was especially true in Great Britain, where it may be said to remain almost in full force at the present day, although commerce and manufactures have received more attention there than in any other nation on the globe. But there are circumstances which make the people of Great Britain look upon their landed estates in a more favorable, and we might add, almost reverential light than the inhabitants of other countries. In the first place there is but a limited area of cultivable land for anybody ; and in the second, the law of entail has kept certain estates in the same family for so many generations that the owners take a peculiar , pride in keeping the land undivided as a patrimony handed down by,their ancestors.