The New York herald., 1879-12-10
GLADSTONE IN SCOTLAND.
Discussing the Land Question
Of Great Britain.
AMERICAN COMPETITION.
Can England Prosper with Small
Peasant Proprietors

likely to produce far moro effect than either OF it's
two predecessors. This speech was delivered at
West Calder, where his reception was OF more en-
thusiastic kind than anywhere else i'll Midlothian.
Tho whole town was decorated. and on enter
ing the place in the afternoon Mr. Gladstone passed
under half dozen triumphal arches covered with
evergreens and draped with flags. Venetian poles.
draped with partcolored cloth. were erected in the
street, and all these were linked sarlands
from which depended Chinese lanterns. The pa
vilon in which the meeting was held was specially
constructed for the occasion to contain 3OO0 people,
Light was bountifully supplied from paraiiine
lamps. and the baroness of the boards on the
walls and roof was agreeably varied by gar
lands of evergreens and display OF
flags of many nations. Mr.. Gladstone drove over
from Dalmeny. and was met ut the entrance of the
town by cavalcade Of horsemen. who escorted him
through applauding multitude to the pavilion.
On his arrival there followed the now familiar
tion the audience rising to their feet and cheering
Mrs. and Miss Gladstone carried large bouquets Of
fowors. with which they had been presented on en-
tering the town. Recognizing the fact that he
speaking in agricultural district Mr.. Gladstone
devoted the first hour Of his speech to considering
the questions particularly connected with the
land. he spoke as follows:-
AMERICAN FARMING COMPETITION
Gentlemen-I speak Of the agricultural distress as
matter undoubtedly serious. Let none of us with
hold our sympathy from the farmer, the cultivator
of the SOIL in the struggle that he has to undergo.
His struggle Is struggle Of competition with the
United States; but don't fully explain the
when say the United States; it is with the
tire United States it is with the western portion of
those Sates-the portion remote from the seaboard.
And wish, in the first place, to state also tact of
very great interest and Importance as it seems to
ne. relating to and defining the point at which the
competition Of the Western States of America is most
or ali evident. have in my hand a letter received
recently from one we'll known aud honorably known
in Scotland-Mr. Lyon Payfair, who has recently
been travelling in the United States of America.
and who. as you all know. is well qualified any
tion. (Applause.) The point where the compe-
tition of the Western States of America is most Sc
verely felt is in the Eastern States OF America What
be the agricultural distress in Scotland, and
whatever 1t be- where undoubtedly it is most felt, in
England, it is greater by much the Eastern States
OF America. In the States of New England the soil
has been to some extent exhausted by careless agri
culture and that is of the greatest enemies with
which farmers have to contend. ("Hear!) can tell
you something on the authority Of your friend Mr..
Payfair. that has happened in one of the Now Eng
land Statesmen, recollect. in desert or remote
country-and near one OF the towns of those States
that bears the honorable name Of Wellesley. He
tells me his:-Three weeks ago friend of DR..
f6 l2s. That is the present position of agri-
cultural property i'll the old States Of New England.
You have not come in England nor in Scotland to the
point at which land. not wild and uncultivated. but
good land. is to be had for the price of f6 12s
acre He mentions that this is by no means strange
isolated that it fairly represents the
age transactions that have been going on. ana he
says that i'll that region the ordinary price of agri
cultural land at the present time is from $40 to $50
acre. from "a to f1O. In New York the soil is
better and the population is larger; but even in the
State New York land ranges for agricultural pur-
poses from $50 l00that is to say from f1O to f2O
acre. Think that you gentlemen. who farmers.
will derive some comfort from perceiving that II
the pressure here is heavy the pressure elsewhere.
and to the seat OF supply, Is greater still
FARMING IN AMERICA.
1t is most interesting, however, to consider what
this pressure is. There has been developed in the
astonishing progressive power OF the United States
facility for producing for the subsistence OF
man with rapidity and to an extent unknown in
the experience OF mankind There Is nothing like it
fact. shall not stand the worse with any of you
who farmers in this country il at once
that this great aud immense comparative abundance
of the principal article of the food OF man is great
blessing vouchsafed by Providence. ("Hear. hearty
In part believe that that cheapness has been in
creased by special causes. The land whence comes
American corn Is at present thinly populated: but
population will iucrease and with It there will be
larger demand for corn for human consumption,
and therefore less corn will come to YOU and at a
higher price, Again. II our people are in great
measu' maintained by American wheat. this
of recent times in America and especially
in the districts Of that country where
extent, which we know very little Of in this
country. With the revival of trade in America the
eral trade becomes more abundant the railways will
not carry corn generally Mt the, nominal rates. In
some respects you will have mitigation OF this.
but in other respects 1t is likely to continue. Now,
the Prime Minister not long ago-and he ought to
have the best information upon this subject
(''Hear, hear!")-and am not going in the main to
impeach what he stated--gave It to be understood
that there was about TO be a development of agri-
culture in Canada which would throw into the shade
the corn production of the United States. Well.
that cold comfort rs far as the British aRricul
turist is concerned-("Hear hear!' and cheers)-
because he did not say the consumption of the
United states was to fall away There was to be
added quantity from Manitoba which is one Of the
States OF Canada. There s no doubt believe that
is n correct antcipston-that In the Of time
large quantities will proceed from that Province.
ana. tnereiorc. we may look forward TO state OF
forthcoming from America. That believe to be no
unfair description of tho state of the case.
HOW Is THIS MKT?
How are you to meet that state Of things. and
what are your fair claims? They are in tho main
two. One is. that you allowed to purchase every
article you require In tho cheapest market
(cheers)-that no needless burden be laid upon any
thing you require assist you the cultivation of
ceeded. do not know whether there IL an object.
III instrument. or any kind OF accessory you want
which you do not Mt this moment buy in tho cheap
sst market. (Cheers But. beyond that, you want
DO relieved of every unjust and unnecessary
Legislative restraint. (Hear, heari and cheers.)
say every Legislative restraint, because taxation is
unfortunately restraint upon us; but We cannot
say II Is always unnecessary or unjust; Ye.ter.
connected with the state OF legislation in
which it appears to me to be Of vital i'm:
portance both to the agricultural interests and
the entire community that tho occupicrs-thc
sultivators of the land OF this country-should
be relieved from restraints under the operation OF
which they now suffer considerably. Beyond those
Two great heads what You have to look to beiiovo
your own energy Of thought and action your care
not to undertake to pay rents greater than OH
reasonable calculation you think you can pay.
lCheers) Within the last fifteen or twenty years
am by no means assured that something of q specu-
lativc character has entered into the land. I
remember hearing OF the augmcntations which
taking place in Scotland and l verified. in
fact, that about twelve fourteen years ago hill
farms were increasing In value from year to year.
leading the otherwise wary and shrewd Scotch cul-
tivator a little beyond the mark in the rent no
undertook 10 pay. V'Hear. hcar!'') 1t is serious
and manifold struggle In which you are engaged
and IN which you WIN have to exert yourselves, III
which you have the right to claim everything
which the Legislature do. and l hope Il may DO
my privilege and honor to assist in procuring some.
thing OF those provisions-(chcersl-ncc TO
iberate you from restraint. But beyond that 1t IL
your own energies and thought and action to whch
you mus. trust.
QUACK REMEDIES.
My next duty Is to warn you against quack rene
observation-disclosures delusve remedies against
tho quack remedies that thcre plenty Of people
found to propose, not so much in Scotland ns IN
England. But from Midlothian we are at present
speaking to England well as to Scotland. Let ma