The New York herald., 1879-12-10

the privileges of landed proprietors II it going
to be for the welfare OF the community at large the
proprietors IL pleases for the purpose of dividing
property into small lots; Idon't wish to recommend
IT. for will show you the doubts there are with
gard to it, / admit that in principle objection
can be taken it. Those persons who possess large
portions space of the earth altogether
IN the same position the possessors of mere per-
sonaly which does not impose limitation the
ton and industry of man and the wellbeing of the
community. as the possession OF land does.
and therefore freely own that compulsory
appropriation is thing which is admissible.
and even sound in principle. This idea of small
properties however. is one which very large bodies
and parties in this country treat with the utmost
France and say. ..Look at France" In France you
have 5000 00Q--I not sure that it is not more;
do not wish to be beyond the mark in anything,
but think you have 1000 900 of small propretors
and they do not produce in France many bushels
of wheat per acre as you do in England. am going
to point out very remarkable fact with regard to
France. will not say that France produces, for
don't believe it does many bushels of wheat per
acre England, but should like to know whether
the bushels produced are mainly on the small proper
ties. l believe they are produced the large
properties' ana nave no doubt that the large
more capital is put into the land. than in tho large
properties Of France
PEASANT PRopRyETonsHIps
1t is fair that justice should be done to peasant
proprietary. 1t is excellent thing, capable of
doing good in many points. 1t interests a number
the effect it has the progressive value of the land.
am going to give you very few figures which I
what will you think when tell you that the agri-
cultural value of France the taxable income derived
from tho land, and therefore thS income OF the pro-
prietors has advanced during lifetime far more
rapidly than that of England? When say England,
Inse it in short believe the same thing is applica;
shall take England for my text. because the differ
between England and Scotland and Ireland
is not very great, and because 1t SO happens that
we have some means Of illustration from Eng
land from former times not equally applica-
BILE to all the three kingdoms. Now, what
Ia i
further than 1851. In 1851 I have the statement
made by French official authority what was the agri
cultural income OF France, as well the income
other real property. In 1851 tho agricultural
income Of France f76. 6.OoO.OOO 1t greater in
together had been in 1921 That is a tolerable evil
dence of progress But won't enter into the de-
the two kinds Of income from 1921. In 1884 it had
risen from f7600o 900 to fl06 900. This was in
the space of thirteen increase in France Of
less than forty per cent. three per cent per
mum. Now I 90 to England wishing to be ac-
curate, shall limit myself to the evidence of pos
tive figures In England the agricultural income in
1878 and 1914 WAS EST 100000; in 1s42. it was
f42, 10000, and that is what I will take
my starting point. ! have & given you what T. it was
years with certainty and believe have kept within
the mark; believe might have put my more
come Of England was f42. 100000; in 1876 it was
that is to say while the agricultural in
Years the asricuituraI income Of England increased
twenty per cent in thirty-four years. The increase
in France was three per cent per annum: the in.
crease IN England was about half or three-hfths
CUTTING UP THE LAND.
Now, gentlemen, 1 wish this justice to be done to
q system where peasant property prevails. 1t is Of
great importance; and will you allow me, you who
are SCOTCH OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES me that l speak
to you not only from the respect which is due from
a candidate to a constituency. but with the defer
ence which Is due from man who knows
those who know q great deal moro about it,
to say that there is one matter about this which
bears upon interests? Let try to explain it.
I believe myself that the operation Of economic
laws regulates the matter; but doubt il those
economic laws will allow the land to be cut up
into small properties like the properties of France
one Of those who attach the utmost value to
them. ray that in the Lothians and in that part
of tho country where large holdings prevail. and
where large holdings are to be found. attach the
utmost Importance to them; but We have no time
now to dwell upon this. and what wish to insist
upon is that when the vast increase Of the
agricultural valuation Of France it has not been on
the large holdings but has been mainly owing to
what has been done on the part Of the peasant
proprietors. whom some are anxious to decry
('Hear hearty The peasant proprietors cul-
cultivation Of flowers, trees. shrubs and fruit.
which rises above the ordinary character Of farm
ng a be dong. in s
country in the production OF fruits vegetables and
flowers. which. in addition to the variety Of the
products OF the coil, are sure to command . good
market in wealthy country like this. ("Hear
hearty In France the small proprietors have almost
confined themselves to garden production. You
know that in Aberdeenshire and Perthshire you
have an example OF what can be done in the cutiva
ton Of Strawberries where there are hundreds and
hundreds OF acres OF them cultivated / am ashamed
to 20 into this which Is 30 well known to you; but
do not believe the large landed properties In this
country are to be broken up into small that
the land will can be owned by those who Guilt
vate the soil but what wish to contrived Is to
ing together oniousy for each others interests
and brought into conflict. desire to see both
prosperous aud aourshing and that the soil Of my
productive in giving abundant sustensnce to those
who live upon 1t.
After discoursing at length on reciprocity and
protection. Mr.. Gladstone turned his attention to
the foreign policy of the government. He said
WOMAN AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
There y saying of great ancient Greek orator.
who very much undervalued what We call the better
portion Of the ecommunity-nsmely. women. CHEERS
and laughter.) He madc an observation which
may quote. not for the purpose Of concurring with
it, but for illustrative purposes. Pericles the great
Athenian said with regard to women that their great
merit would DO be- never heard Of" (Laughter)
What Percles said untruly of women am much
disposed TO say OF foreign anars aear aud laugh
heard Of Hear hearl" and cheers.) Unfortunatey.
instead OF that they being always heard Of, and
promise you that you will be relieved from this ever
lasting din. because the consequences Of meddinR
sarily continue to trouble you and nnd their way to
your pockets in the shape OF increased taxation.
"Hear heari) l will tell you what think the right
this-to foster the strength OF the Empire by Just
legislation and by economy at home. r'Hear.
"6ear' aud checrs); by producing two Of tho great
elements of national power-namely. wealth. which
is physical element. and union and contentment.
which are moral elements ("Hear. heari" and
cheers-and to reserve the strength OF the Empire,
the expenditure OF that strength. for great and
worthy actions. (choers.) My second principle Of
foreign policy is this that its aim should be to pre-
servo 10 the nations Of the world-snd we should do
it tor very shame when recollect that
third is-snd when you do . good thing you may
do it in bad way. so as to spoil the beneficial
effect OF tho good-that you should pay sttcn-
ton to cultivating and maintaining to the very
uttermost what is called the concert of Europs-to
keep the Powers of Europe union. and whyf be-
cause we should then bo able to neutralixc better
and bind up the selfish aims Of each. Chesrs.) He
went say that foreign policy should avoid need
less and entangling engagements; should acknowl
edge the equal rights OF all nations and. subject to
these limitations, should b inspired by love Of
freedom. In violation OF other Of thcso prin-
pies he charged the governments with having COM
petcly estrange the feelings Of tho eighty millions
who peopled Russia. and whilo doing this they had
aggrandzed the power Of Russia by additions OF tor
ritory on the Danube and in Asia Minor. This ag-
grandizement OF power had by the same agency been