The New York herald., 1879-07-07
ENGIlAND'S AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.
THE sUFFERINGs OF THE ENGLISH TENANT
FARMERs-NEcEssITY OF LEGISLATION TO
ABOLISH ABUSES.


cheaper than it is now is daily growing more GER
tain. Although many English farmers ara sban-
donins their calling because it has grown unproft-
able, the price of butcher meat still places it beyond
the reach of vast masses of the population. Earl
Derby thinks that while the supply Of grain may
be surrendered to foreigner. the British farmer
will always be able hold his in the meat
market. The foreign meat trade however 10 still
in its infancy. and great efforts being made for
its development. Scarcely week passes without
tidings Of improvement In the transit Of cattle
reaching our shores few days ago it was resolved
to fit up whole feet of steamers trading between
New York and Glasgow on the most approved scien.
tifc principles for the traffic in butcher meat. 1t is
indeed. pity that the farmer should be compelled
to view with apprehension the opening OF the mar
kets Of the world. But the conditions under which
he is necessated to his profession render
apprehension almost inevitable.
II PROTECTION POSSIBLE?
Happily there IL deman nd made by agriculturista
for renewal OF protection. That craze is exploded
and even were 1t not, the people OF England would
never tolerate another bread tax The Carefully
more exhaustless they appear and in proportion as
facilities for transit improve. the agricultural
A letter which has just appeared in a metropolitan
contemporary presents some remarkable facts re-
Wsh Se near prospec Of hs surn OF no rs
of this vast region being sent direct
to Liverpool from Chicago there is little
hope that the position OF the British farmer will
substantially improve SO long he submits to the
absurd restrictions under which he now labors. We
have repeatedly drawn attention these restrictions
and the varied grievances by which farmers are
being ruined. When the climatic contingencies
with which they are called to contend taken
account it becomes all the more important that
they should not be burdened by Legislative difficult
ties. Agricultural life has, indeed, its bright sde
and poets have pictured the peasant "in glory and in
JOY following his plough upon the mountain side.'
But i'll these days farming is robbed Of its poetry,
the struggle for existence being intensely prossic
No industry can be healthy that does not rest on
basis of veracty. Tho system in which the British
farmer finds place is essentially artificial sys-
tenn There is consequently no correspondence be.
tween the seeming and the real and. unfortunately,
the farmer is MADE the victim Of this discrepancy.
ANTIoUATED RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
The agreements under which the greater portion
Of the farms in England held have. through the
changes introduced into cultivation, become thor
ments remain unmodiied. 1t might be supposed
that nobiemen. with rent rolls reaching f26O,0OO.
would have ample assistance in bringing their agri
cultural compacts into harmony with the age But
nothing is done in that way The lawyers VINO origi.
na!ly drew these agreements kept only object in
view-immunity for the landlord being the primary
conception which they proceeded. corre-
spondent complains OF the damage which the
farmer suffers from game. and when this subject is
publicly discussed variety of ingenious apologies
is invariably offered for the landlord. Here, how
ever. is sample OF the agricultural into
even the best OF our aristocracv. The tenant must
"allow the landlord. and all persons having his
authority and permission. to enter upon the prem
ses for the purpose OF exercising all the rights Of
shooting, sporting, fishing, and preserving game.
birds and rabbits. and for all other purposes for
which liberty is reserved" This may seem to the
uninitiaed very harmless. but when the purport OF
these stipulations is considered 1t involves
all the difference between comfort and dependence.
FARMING.
What is o farm? A farm is essentially food pro-
ducing factory Whatever, therefore, the object
to which 1t is dedicated Is nroad upon the farmers
An engineer would think his landlord III.
II, in agreement as to the rent OF premises.
clause were inserted empowering the landlord and all
persons having his to enter the
establishment when they pleased and destroy. II 30
minded. portions of the machinery. This however.
is substantially what done to the farmer by such
have reproduced from form OF
agreement which to-day binds many tenant farmers
III Northumberland. As we are anxious to treat this
subject nally, repress and dates, but
it is necessary to state that the document quoted re-
pudiates the Agricultural Holdings act. With this
our correspondents demand for freedom of cul-
ture." The restrictions enforced by absurd pacts.
impoverish the land and when the land is impover.
shed the people cannot be enriched 1t calculated
that about "a sterling per acre is the average sum
usually spent upon farming. the figures ranging
from 81 $40. IT, therefore. highly experienced
agricultursts argue. f2o per acre might be profit.
ably employed. it Is obvious that the restricted
system , ,.rn is at war & with II the ss t,as
policy should give landlords every facility tor
securing that their property is not to be deprecated
terests the nation should be equally ready to
protect the farmer against landlords caprice or
Cuplulty. Ihe rabbit Is the FARMERS sCOurgc, q
plague Of rabbits being only second to plague Of
locusts. Three rabbits eat as much q sheep, but,
notwithstanding their powers OF deglutition. when
shot or shared they sell for very moderate sum-
While q sheep may command pounds in the market
the rabbit must be disposed OF for little than
shilling.
THE LAWS OF PRIMoGENIrURH.
Very little has recently been heard Of the custom
of primogeniture. 1t to the pernicious in
when he described ''the services as q gigantic
system of outdoor relief for the younger branches OF
the arstocracy. What the strict settlement system
soil is too notorious to be dwelt upon. When we
remember that the population of England is multi
plying at the rate Of $4,000 "a year. or nearly one
thousand day, the importance of getting quit Of
the de vice of the Restoration lawyers be-
comes obvious ut glance. A system which always
sacrificing the interests OF the present to the inter-
ests of future generation should not be longer toll
Grated. We could understand sacrifice now for the
advantage OF posterty but, under the strict settle
ment system, the present s perpetually sacrificed
for future that never arrives. 1t In only too OBJ.
very flower of the agricultural population Is at this
moment suffering intensely. Nor should II be for
gotten that such is its condition at the close
cial prosperity. II we go back to the Pc
riod when Sir Robert Peel began those fiscal
reforms that issued IN free trade; wii % found
try has. az nearly as possible. doubled. Never
tleess the farmer is to-day In desperate plight
that all over the country we hear OF landlords "gen-
erously" rcmitting rents But. while tho tenant is
ruined what In the position Of the landlord? During
the period III which the arner has tOiled herd ana
taken nothing the landlords wealth has been
steadily accumulatng. In his peculiarly able
work on the LANDED Interest,"" to which
we have already frequently referred. Mr.:
Card calculates that within the short period OF
twenty years the capital wealth Of the owners OF
landed property has been increased by f3sl 00.0oo
at cost which has not exceeded f60,OOO.O0
The discrepancy between the fortune OF landlord and
tenant thus revealed is too palpabe 70 DO dwelt upon
Whence has IL arisen? The answer IL obvious. 1t
has mainly sprung from forgetfulness OF the fact
that property has its duties well as its rights In
dealing with the tenant the landlord or his agent has
always at command = copious supply OF plausible
commonplaces but "hne words butter no
parsnips." II may be hoped therefore. that
the necessities of their position will compel
farmers to act in spirit worthy of the
great traditions that gather round the English yeo.
man. A general election IL at hand, and II they
only true TO their order they may change the COM
plexion OF the coming Parliament aud inaugurate .
new era In Englauds industrial progress. To place
agriculture on basis of justice is worthy OF the
highest order of statesmanship. In the darkest
night OF her fortunes England has never wanted
statesmen capable OF educing light out Of the dark.
ness nor will they fail her now. But our tenant
farmers must put their shoulders to the wheel. for