“But we would like to know,” said Viola, “in what manner this change was brought about, so that we can make our intelligence here on earth, too, count in that direction.” “Of course, primitive man with his rude and unpolished intellect sees nothing of this evil. The antagonistic propensities which man has inherited during the fierce struggle for existence from his lower ancestors, caused him to monopolize natural opportunity wherever he could, because his intelligence was so low and narrow that to him the material subsistence seemed to count for all, and the higher social and industrial qualities counted for little or nothing. Such an intellect can not see that one can not be happy as long as he is surrounded by many who are ignorant and miserable. But with the unfolding of higher and nobler sentiments, man, at last, clearly realized that no person can really be wealthy in any world as long as a portion of his fellowmen are pinched with poverty, oppressed by slavery, burdened by ignorance and affected with filth and rudeness. He learned that in order to have universal prosperity, high mental attainments and cleanliness and purity, man must be free to apply his labor to land wherever he finds some vacant.” “But do you think,” asked Mrs. Uwins, “that the evil effects of owning land by deed are as great when the population of a country or world is sparse than if it be dense?” “It may not be fully as great in the former as in the latter case, but it is always one of the greatest evils and the most effectual hindrance to universal progress. We have seen that in order to make industry most productive, we must have a complete division of labor; and a complete division of labor is possible only under an extensive and thorough voluntary co-operation. But notice that the ownership of land by _deed_ creates or tends to create extensive landlords. Hence all individuals must either be extensive landowners, or some are compelled to work either directly or indirectly for the landlord. But if every individual is an extensive landowner, population must necessarily be sparse; and with a sparse population, extensive and thorough co-operation is impossible, while, on the other hand, the laboring of some landless individuals for the landlords, as you now have it and as we formerly had it, causes land monopoly, which is the cause either directly or indirectly of nearly all your social and industrial evils.” “Yes, I clearly see the advantages of owning land by occupancy and use.”