Page:Notes on the Anti-Corn Law Struggle.djvu/209

 whom the ground-rent is paid should step in and take away the house from the children of the builder. One direct result of such a system is the erection of houses not intended to last longer than the lease. But there are other results more serious. Among these is the deep hatred which injustice and oppression, backed by power such as that of the British House of Lords, are sure to produce sooner or later. The great peer sets the example of oppression to the small tradesman who deals in house property, and the small tradesman, in his dealing with men or women poorer than himself, fortifies his conscience with the reflection that Providence ordained that the large fish should eat the small.

It will help to explain the London ninety-nine years' lease system to compare it with the system of Manchester, where the houses are built upon land for which a yearly ground-rent is paid. This ground-rent is not limited to ninety-nine years, but so long as it is paid the payer of it is absolute owner of the land. An interesting illustration of this is afforded by the case of Mr. Cobden. It is