The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-07

manshlp. 1t covers the whole field OF
the rural and social economy of Ireland
In comprehensivenes and minute adap-
tation of means to ends, it displays quail
ties seldom combined in one intelligence.
1t is stupendous parliamentary effort
to cure the woes of Ireland Obstruc-
tions and difficulties have resisted it's
passage, so that even the Premier, s
opponents acknowledge its passage to
be the greatest feat of long and IL
lustrious career. Months of uninterrupt-
ed sittings have been occupied. The
campaign through Scotland, closing with
the Lord Rector's address to Glasgow
University, was deemed physical and
intellectual exhibition beyond parallel
But the endurance of Gladstone during
this parliament, his address and patience,
his fexibility and frmness, his unsleep-
ing vigilance, and his unfailing resources
of logic and rhetoric are an example of
powers not declining but ripening to their
completeness and perfect use. "Grow
old along with me" says one of Mr.
Browning's heroes, the best is yet to be,
the last of life for which the first was
made" Fit expression of the life-disci-
pline which has fitted the noblest states
man of English history for the great
achievement which the Parliamentary
session of 1881 has witnessed.
But we fear that no Parliamentary
tinkering will ever satisfy Ireland
The Land Troubles are not Confined to
Ireland nor to Laborers and Renters.
They embrace the whole kingdom, and
might add the Eastern States of America
as we'll The causes of the trouble are
deep-seated and manifold But first what
is the trouble? 1t is simply this that the
bottom has fallen out of agriculture as
conducted in Great Britain from time
lmmemorial. The farmers are said to
have lost third of their capital
many put it one-half during the last few
years. The number who have failed has
increased six times in the last ten years.
Thousands more have paid their debts
and been ruined; most of them are in
debt all round, to their landlords to their
bankers, their manure merchants, their
seed merchants, and to their friends. All
they can scrape together goes to pay in
terest on borrowed money. In all direc-
tlons farms are being thrown up, in many
places land is going out of cultivation.
or million acres. The corn returns for
1879 were the lowest since agricultural
returns were first published. Crops have
fallen off; there are million less sheep
half million less lambs; fewer pigs,
fewer horses than there were last year.
What is the State of the Landlords?
who receive little but merit a great deal
of sympathy. Their plight is as sad as
that of tenants. The rents of their lands
have fallen 25 per cent in the last three
years, and the capital value 80 per cent
In the last five years. Like the tenants
they are plunged in debt, and the Times
has published that the whole land of the
united kingdom is charged and mortgaged
to the extent of So per cent. Thousands
of landowners on succeeding to noble es-
tates have found to their dismay that they
could scarcely pay their way that their
inheritance was, to use an Italian proverb,
merely "ao,a ered1lta dl olveti autich5"-
financial olive trees past bearing.
What causes can be assigned for this
state Of things? Well, some blame
Bad Seasons,
and no doubt the united kingdom has
had succession of unfavorable seasons
but did England ever have succession
Eof good ones? Bad seasons are normal,
and it is no use growing about moist
weather in England as long as the gulf
stream flows where it does 1t is con-
stant quantity accounted for in past and
prosperous times as it must be now. Bad
seasons alone do not now account for ag-
ricultural distress-it is poor seasons com
bined. with something else. That some
thing else is deemed by many to be
Free Trade and American Competition ;
but free trade is necessity in the polit-
ical economy of England, however it may
revolutionize agricultural conditions
Nevertheless we maintain that while free
trade may change the agriculture of Eng
land it cannot ruin it, if the agriculturists
are but capable Of adopting the changes
which necessity suggests. 1t is absurd to
talk Of ruin and land going out of culti-
walton with butter at 80 cents pound
and beef and mutton at 16 cents pound.
If the English farmer cannot hold his
home markets against the grain of the
great West intelligence would indicate
that he had better turn to the cultivation
of specialties where he will be safe from
competition. And herein we perceive
the great cause of the land troubles of
England and Ireland 1t is the conserv-
atism or lack Of adaptation Of the British