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Thoughts (Random) on Land and Labour.

Landed properties are unequal in size in every country, and have been so in all ages.

What things should be considered in giving the sizes of properties, chiefly as to how to get the largest return from the labour and capital put on them?

All the world must be considered as open to all in discussing the size of properties.

It is the duty of every man to save as much as will take him to that field of labour which is the most productive.

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The command is that man labour six days and rest the seventh. This is given to rich and poor. It requires, however, that man labour aright, in the most effective manner, and in fact freely and for the highest price. Every man, then, who owns land should see that labour is directed to it, and capital also, and that both are put there solely because they are there more productive than anywhere else.

Is it moral for an Icelander to inhabit his country which is so unproductive for labour and capital?

Is it moral for an Irishman to work for is a day, when by going to Canada or elsewhere he can get 10s. a day? and is it moral for an employer to employ a man at that low wage?

When a man owns land which would repay the labour of agriculture or mining, and merely depastures cattle on it, he seems to break in on morality; for though he may find work for himself and a shepherd, he prevents men from labouring, and thus leads on to a breach of the fourth commandment.

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The fact that it is immoral not to labour, and not to seek the best fields of labour all over the world would tend to equalise population and produce vast consequences to our race. Religion might thus aid colonisation. Marriage seems immoral in a country of low wages.

Heavy populations on one small spot are caused and kept there by kings and governments very often. These would rather have a numerous poor population than a smaller rich one. The reason being, perhaps, hostile neighbours.

Paul's advice to Timothy and the Ephesians, that having food and raiment they should be therewith content, only applied to the time and place. A small christian community in a large and degenerate heathen one, and possessing few or no means of transport to a better field, and perhaps no better field to be found, might find it best to be thus content. Discontent might have caused the loss of food and raiment and of life also under such circumstances.

Cursed is he who adds field to field. Bread should be raised. A certain density of population is necessary. Solitude stunts man, if excessive, both in body and in mind.