Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-04
RECENT OPINIONS ON THE AGRIOUL-
TURAL QUESTION.
From the Londonderry Journal

The recess has up to the present been
marked by considerable activity In po-
litlcal circles. This activity is evidently
the iorerunner of dissolution of parlia-
ment, and portends one OF the live!iest
campaigns which the
country has Witnessed Jor many year.
Mr.. Gladstone has already delivered
three or four pronouncenents, Lord
George Hamilton, MIR. Raikes. the Hon.
MIR. Stanhope, and one or two other
government syhnpathizers, have also
given the world their opinions, and on
Friday the Marquis of harrington ad-
dressed Radnor assembly. Lord Bea-
consfield himself. Lord Cranbrook, and
Mr. Cross are to appear IN public at no
distant date, and the leader and eN-lead-
er OF the opposition are booked tor sew.
eral meetings during the present and
ensuing months. We need scarcely say
that in ireland signs of the coming strug-
gle are not wanting. AS a rule, election
addresses and canvassing utterances are
taken with respectable grain OF the
proverbial gram OF salt, although in
many cases they are the chief, if not the
sole guides to direct the electors Alright
in selecting their candidates. There is
this important slngularity. however, in
the current campaign, that as several
momentous questions are hanging i'll
the baiance awaiting adjustment. and as
the date of the general election is not
yet known, public speakers are really
unable to signify their views distinctly
On the situation. The Zulu business has
been discussed and condemned, but un-
til it be finally settled, hostile criticism
regarding it is but little better than
CROPPING in the dark. And for the same
reason, the financial policy OF the gov
ernment is an embarrassing text for de-
bate. The third great question OF the
hour, paralysis OF industry. is no doubt
fruitful theme, but the most vital and
most complicated element in that ques.
ton, the depression among farmers. may
be conveniently shelved, or only super
ticially touched. on the ground that
nothing can be done till the royal agri
cultural commission have concluded
Investigations and furnished their re-
port. AS we have said. therefore, the
position of the political campaigners il
comparatively delicate and harrassing,
especially on the supposition that they
may not wish exactly to commit them.
selves at present, and they consequently
rather deal in vague generalities thar
pledge themselves to clearly defined
principles. Lord Harrington seems tt
have been in this mood on Friday. His
speech was strikingly dry and timid and
to our mind, little calculated either tt
strengthen the liberal party or his OWL
position as its recognized leader. He
treated of the agricultural depression
but he did not venture to propose rem
edy. His words had anything but a sat
isfactory ring about them. Indeed, WI
venture to believe they will be general
ly considered highly unsatisfactory
Lord Harrington. hesitatlngly as h.
spoke on other points, distinctly an
nounced his antagonism to tixity of ten
ure and peasant proprietorship, thos
two chief desiderata OF the Irish tenan
farmers. He had never, he said, at
tempted "to lay down doctrine tina
the existing tenure of the laud of thi
country ought to be altered. and tina
anything ought to be done tor torcibll
encouraging another tenure" Lore
J Harrington, therefore. cannot have sup
, ported Mr.. Lefevre's land committee
when they reported iavorably on the es
: tablishment of peasant proprietary
and suggested national grants towar'
that end. 1t is well that the countr
| should know exactly what to eXpec
from the leader of the opposition, who's
halt-heartedness on the land question &c
cords but gratingly with the undoubte
: distress. HIS lordship has surely mad,
l il clear that as the son and heir of tn,
} duke of Devonshlre, his predilection
| n l1H, in ha n pt
: uating and consolidating landlord dom
ination, Notwithstanding the bitter fac
that the tenants are being compelled t
emigrate in hundreds. after having ha
to throw up their holdings in despair
not being able to exc out LIVELIHOOD
, under 'the existing tenure Of the land.
which Lord harrington would yet no
have altered. Moreover, his lordship
rather unsympathetcally and with oh
t vious illogicalness, asserts that 9TH,
agricultural interest stands in the sam
, relation to the country as any other in
> terest," though lit is the largest an
] most important interest in the country
5 for to it we look for the supply of tn
most necessary of all the necessaries @
life" Why, student on the yer
: Threshold OF economies would perceiv
r that the industry which supplies solel
: and entirely the "most necessary of al
the necessaries of lite" should hold lore
l most place among the industries of tn
, kingdom, and should command toremos
I, consideration from politicians and states
t men of every class. His grace the duk
+ of Marlborough terms the farming class
: es ''the bone and sinew'' of the land. .ye
}, their occupation, Ia the marquis G
+ Harrington, is not to be viewed or treat
f ed save on a level with any of the com
n monest interests of the country. Such
i doctrine is neither palatab!e or equits
S BILE, but it possibly suits dis,ingulshe
: member of the landocracy to depreciat
the Importance and influence of the ae
y ricultural interest. Mr.. John Ferguson
i Glasgow, approaches The subject in
e very different snirit in q letter which "