The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-29
The Land Question to be Agitated In
England.

gong on.
The Land Question to he Agitated In
England.
Although the Land act OF 1881 is far from
satisfying the Irish reformers, the average
reduction Of twenty per cent in rents repre-
sents substantial gain, and the adoption Of
the principle OF interference with the right
Of private property and the obligations OF
contract has opened the door to the most
trenchant and revolutionary changes. AS
matter OF fact, the position Of the Irish peas
antry, viewed as q whole, is now somewhat
better than that OF many tenant farmers in
Great Britain, and even were 1t not So the
latter might plausibly demand that the prin-
oiple embodied In the Land act should be
carried further for their benefit. There have
lately been unmistakable signs that some OF
the most far.sightcd and influential leaders
VI the English Radicals believe that the time
has come for thorough readjustment OF all
the social and economical relations deter
mined by the English system Of land tenure,
and that a vigorous agitation to that end
should be forthwith begun.
Convincing proof that land reform is
likely to become in England at any moment
living and urgent question was furnished
by Mr.. CHAMBERLA1N's speech at the great
Radical meeting recently held in Birmingham.
The meeting was a counter demonstration to
the welcome given by Conservatives to Lord
SALISBURY during his tour through the mid
land counties, and one Of the speakers at
Birmingham, Lord RosEBERY confined
himself mainly to refuting the charges and
assailing tho principles set forth by the Tory
chief. But Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN, when his
turn came. carried the war into Africa, and
denounced with the utmost bitterness not
only the political privileges, but the in
herited property rights Of the landed aris-
tocracy, to which not only the Conservative
peer, but his fellow Liberal who sat beside
him on tho platform, belonged. Indeed, the
Radical orator may DO said to have served
notice In the bluntest and sterncst way on
Lord RosEBERY and the whole body OF
Wing magnates, who have condescended to
support Mr.. GLADSTONE on condition OF re-
ceiving the lions share Of the spoils Of Office,
that English voters will no longer be deluded
by their mock liberalism; that Wing peers
must abjure the so-called interests OF their
order as utterly as MIRABEAU abiured them.
II they would continue to figure in the great
popular party which, since the Reform act
Of 1861 is inevitably destined to control
Great Britain.
1t was In Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN's remarks on
tho exorbitant proportion OF the national soil
withheld from the English people by the ter
ritorial lords, and ON the unearned increment
drawn from these huge estates that tho
London newspapers detected a decidedly
communistic tinge. He pointed out that the
great landowners, most OF whom have never
proved their title to existence by work OF any
kind, physical or mental, and are at best
only drones in England's toiling hive, have
seen their property trebled and Occupied
In Value by the pressure Of swarm
Ing population. On all tho monstrous
forms OF social injustice resulting from
tho English customs OF land tenure
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN dwelt in scathing terms
that may we'll have seemed astonishing In
tho mouth OF Cabinet Minister. and which
we may be sure so shrcwd a man would not
have hazarded had he not believed the hour
was ripe for their uttcrance. We are told
that the bold and pregnant words OF their
trusted representative in Parliament and In
tho Cabinet met with quite another response
than the good tolerance with which
thoy listened to the mild and commonplace
professions OF academical liberalism with
which Lord RosEBERY RECALLED them.
To appreciate the significance OF this
demonstration, We should bear In mind that
Birmingham is the intellectual metropolis OF
tho north, that it reflects far more faithfully
than London the feelings and resolves Of the
great industrial element OF the population,
which, as the last general election concl,l.
sively established, will henceforth, notwith.
standing the possible occurrence OF transient
reverscs and reactions be the dominant force
In British politics. We should remember, also
that Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN not only speaks FOL
tho most influential constituency in Great
Britain, but represents the huge politica
mach!1e which, under the name OF the Biz
mingham caucus. holds large part OF Eng
land in It's grasp, and to which, quite al
much as to Mr.. GLADsToNE's speeches II
Midlothian, the overwhelming triumph Of
tho Liberals in 1880 should In justice bt
ascribed. In view OF the new movement
started by such man in such place, WI
are not surprised at tho dismay evinced b,
tho leading London journals, not one o
Whlch, with tho exception Oh the fut
Mall Gazette, Is In thorough sympathy
with Radical aspirations 1t is clear, In fact
that the Duke Of ARGYLL gave evidence 0
Scotch second sight when he resigned from
the Ministry rather than approve Of tn,
"Three Fs," and when he told his fellow
landowners that it was far wiser in their In
forest to use the national funds for the crca
ton Of . peasant proprietary in Ireland thai
to saastion . rude interference with tn