, 1879-07-27


Total rents.... :. ......... .....Sf73 GOO, 0oo
This enormous amount Of nearly 500 mill
ions Of dollars was taken from the land, and
most of it squandered; it was expended by
class that with but few exceptions are
wholly non productive. The British farmer
is by contract compelled to put on the land
certain quantity of manure annually, which
adds heavily to his rent. If he make any
improvements it is at his own cost, and he
cannot remove such improvements, nor can
be obtain anything for them. Those who
engage in catte-raising have to purchase the
food for the stock, and this food costs more
than the raiser can get for the meat. Under
these circnmstances-the result Of the sale IN
Great Britain of our productions-the British
farmers and the British landowners have
been brought face to face, and are compelled
to consider what remedy is possible for this
extraordinary condition Of affairs.
The British policy has been to employ the
great bulk Of its labor at manufactures, and,
selling these manufactures all over the world,
it was considered cheaper to buy food with
calico than, by protection to home agricult-
ure, diminish the foreign trade. Last year,
however, the supply Of food imported into
the Kingdom was equal to one-third Of the
whole consumption. That experience told
heavily on the farmers, md the prices Of
1879 and the increased bulk Of American
supplies have so completed the depression Of
ths agricultural productions that the remedy
can no longer be delayed. This condition Of
affairs is further aggravated by the ruinous
policy Of silver decentralization, originally
inspired by England, but the cost of which
has fallen SO seriously upon that nation. Its
principal customers for manufactures were
the silger-using nations, who were also its
debtors. The decentralization of silver, BY
reducing the value ,of that metal, de-
stroyed very largely the trade Of those
nations, aud, by making their debts payable
in gold, has bankrupteh not only thousands
of Oriental merchants but also large British
establishments which had large ventures on
Indian and other securities The silver
using nations have no money but silver;
Great Britain demands gold; SO the silver
using nations buy but the minimum Of Brit
ish goods, and British manufactures are
even more depressed than British agricult-
u1e. Labor:is only partially employed end
at scant wages; and, while heavy duty on
American breadstuffs and meats might lift
up the farming interest and enable it to pay
BIZ gL rents, it would reduce the general popu-
lntion to starvation. Hence protection is
impossible, and cheap food necessity.
In Ireland the rent-e1actions now amount
to what is known as "rack-rents," which
means that the rent includes everything the
land produces, leaving the tenant nothing
for food. So enormous and general is this
exaction that the eviction Of the tenants
for .non-paymcnt promises even popular
violence. In Scotland and England partial
concessions of rates do not meet the case,
because it is conceded that, even if the rent
we're reduced to nominal sums, the product
would hardly support the producers at the
prices. British land supports three classes !:
the landowners, who derive the rents and
pay no taxes; the tenant-farmers, who hire
labor and land and do not work themselves; !;
and the 1aborers, who do all the labor and
obtain but smau wages, and are the most de-
graded c!ass in Europe.
In the first week OF this month the sub
ject was brought before tbs House Of Com
mons by motion for Royal Commission
to report On the subject of agricultural de-
preston. The discussion was remarkable
one, because of the advanced opinions ex-
pressed. JOIN Bn1GHT, rs might have been
expected, made most earnest speech, de-
nonncing the British land system in un-
measured terms, and, in urging its over
throw, predicted that the day was coming
when there would be million owners Of
the soil in Great Britain. The effect Of the
debate was to show that the 1ong-accepted
faith in the land system and in the system
Of tenure had failed. These speeches were
in the House Of landowners. Lord HART
1SGToS, Of one of the greatest Wing land
owning families in England, and leader Of
the Liberal party, was ontspoken IN favor
of change Of system. The Wing party in
England has been historically the defender
Of the land system, and the Wing element
of the Liberal party has been supposed to
be opposed to change. The Liberals gen.
orally have been in favor Of making land as
salahle as any other property, and Of giving
the cultiyators various rights against the
owners. Lard HAR1NGToS, however, who
is the heir of great landowner, declared
that the land system had broken down. In
his speech he said E:
II the case OF my honorable friend be true, OF II
he can prove 1t before Royal Commission then
the remedy must be looked for elsewhere than IN
the quarter he has Indicated; ard II he can p1oSo
his case, 1t fs nothing more or less than
the land system Of this country, under existing
conditions. has broken down. My honorable
friend has not proved that the land will 60 ont OF
cu'ivation or that the cultivation OF the soilis In
possible. All that be has proved, or attempted to
prove, is that under exceptional circumstances 1t
is not profitable; and that the land will not no"
support. ns it has hitherto supported, the three
classes OF farmer, landlord and agricultural labor
er- Lord HARRINGTON then described the sacFo-
ssne1 land system OF England, the system winch
Whlss were. supposed ato worship AZ a. system
under which the land ia divided into large esrates'
and where the proprtetors, though wealthy men,
are often not complete masters Of their own prop
erty, and not able 10 deal with 1t as they may de-
etrc. It Ia q aSstem under which tie CULTIVATION OF