The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-17 00:00:00

Otteninix

LONDON, MONDAY. DECEMBER 17, 1849.

There is one portion of the prolix and verbose
document recently issued from No. 17, Old Bond-
street, deserving of especial notiee. It contains an
admission that the proprietors of the soil have not as
yet suffered from the adoption of Free trade principles,
that there is still a competition for the occupation of
land, which has, in some instances, prevented the
reduction of rent. Although we may not adopt the
general reasoning contained in the report we are
fully entitled to act on the confession of those who, in
that particular at least, must be regarded as unex-
ceptionable witnesses. Rents, then, have not been
reduced. The farms are still retained by their occu-
pants, and whenever any tenements fall out of lease are
offered for letting. There is a fair demand, nay a
strong competition for a preference. It is true, that
there is an attempt to qualify this important admis-
sion. It is said that the " retention of farms by the
occupiers is attributable rather to the fear of having
to wind up:their affairs, and to submit the sale of their
stock at the present low prices, and to the transfer-
ence of their interest in improvements, than to any
hope of profitably carrying on their business under
the present policy. If, however, the prospect were
so gloomy and hopeless as the Protectionist orators
endeavour to impress upon the public, would
farmers be contented to carry on their business
not only without a hope of gain, but with the certainty
of great and increasing losses, by which their entire
capital must be speedily sacrificed, without some
determined and combined effort to induce the lords
of the soil to reduce their rents in proportion to the
general depression of the times. We do not believe
that English yeomen are so obtuse and thick. skulled
as such a statement would imply; were it really well
founded they would endeavour to realise their assets
at any price, and carry the remnant of their capital,
their skill, and industry to some more favoured land,
But it is not merely those who were engaged
in agricultural pursuits 'previous to the abolition of
the " sliding scale" that uphold the present rentals;;
there are plenty of persons ready to enter on such
occupations whenever a favourable opportunity
offers. We are told, however, " that it arises from the
abandonment of other trades, under the discourage-
ment of native industry, which is universally felt,
and (they told) it will, in too many instances, befound
that the present competitors for farms have neither
the experience nor the capital requisite for the pro-
fitable and continuous occupation of land." All
other trades and callings, then, are at least
as badly circumstanced as that of the
farmer. Persons are ready to enter into operations in
which they have but little experience and inadequate
capitals, simply because no other branch of industry
opens more favourable prospects. The relief then,
which is unanimously acknowledged to he essential
for all classes, must be extended to traders and
manufacturers as well as to agriculturists. A partial
assistance to the latter, which could only be afforded
at the expense of all the others, would only
increase the competition for land, and drive
a larger number even of unskilled persons
to the cultivation of the soil. Is this
what is required or desired by the tenant-farmers ?
Is this the relief for which they are so urgent ? We
believe not. It might possibly increase the rent. rolls
of the territorial aristocracy, but it would not improve
the position of those who earn their daily bread by
the sweat of their brow in any description of indus-
try. The remedy to be effectual must be general,
and must apply to all without exception. It must be
such as to lighten the general burden of taxation, and
to give abundant and remunerative employnient to all
who are able and willing to work. Let the
agriculturists learn this great truth. Let them no
longer endeavour to benefit themselves exclusively at
the expense of the rest of the community. Let them
learn the advantages of union, of a zealous and cor-
dial co-operation of alt who are dependent on their
industry for their subsistence. The real source of all
their sufferingv, the foes et origo of the universal
calamity, is the want of a sufficient representative
and measure of value, a circulating medium adequate
to the wants and exigencies of the nation. The very
life-hlvotl of industry is wanting. :The extraordinary
" appreciation" in the value of money, which has
taken place, by which the purchasing power" of the
pound is at least double what it formerly was, has
acted as a check to production. The pressure of
taxation and of every fixed payment is increased in
the same ratio. The farmer must give one hundred
quarters of corn to liquidate a demand which fifty
would formerly have satisfied—the manufacturer
two pieces of calico in place of one—the labourer a
double quantity of work. Grievous injustice has
been rendered to " the many," and the only

persons who have prospered are the money-
brokers and usurers, and those who are
living upon fixed incomes. What would a reduction