We regret to perceive that the Trade Union Congress has
adopted, in theory at least, one of Mr. George's proposals. The delegates accepted without a division the following resolution :— " That Parliament should without delay effect such a reform in the land laws of Great Britain as shall remove all legal enactments that tie up the land in settlements, and that the Congress expresses its earnest desire that Parliament should without delay effect such reforms in the land laws of Great Britain as will eventually make the land the property of the nation, and that for the purpose of bringing this about a land-tax be imposed on all land, whether occupied or not." The first half of that resolution is sensible enough ; bat the second either means confiscation or nothing. The State, if it bought the land, would get no profit out of it, land yielding barely Consol interest ; while taxing the land not to produce revenue, but to compel cheap sales, is merely confiscation under cover of taxation. The delegates are evidently under the impression that there is wild land in the country which would be cultivated if its owners would only sell it ; but if there is, why will it bear no rent P If it is worth money to a peasant to bay, is it worth nothing to rent P We suppose the delegates would reply that landlords ask too much rent ; but are they going to force sales at a price to be fixed by buyers only P
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