Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-13
THE FARMERS THINKING.
They Begin to See Their Turn Will
Come After Ireland's. -
RADICAL REFORMS ARE REQUIRED.
Loyalists Think the Times Better Than
They Used to Be.
QUEEN ylCTORIGs COMING JOURNEY
rRI CABLE TO THE prsPATcH.l

y
reference on rural reforms held in Londor
Thursday and yesterday, was one of tn
most remarkable political demonstration
ever witnessed in this country. It was COZ
vened and organized by the Liberal part
managers, and its success has greatl
angered and alarmed the Government an
the Tories generally. The gathering wa
thoroughly representative of rural England
and everyone of the 800 delegates who at
tended has returned to his village strength
ened in his principles an dencouraged in hi
zeal by the stirring exhortations of MI
Gladstone.
The speech which Mr.. Gladstone delivered
yesterday morning was one of the best b,
ever made, and it was of exceptional i'm
portance as marking turning point in tn,
Liberal policy. The average agriculture
laborer has not heretofore displayed burning
interest in home rule. He has had an idea
more or less vague, that it means ''iustice
to Ireland, and as a good Liberal he has
voted in favor of it when the chance has
been given to him. Now, however, he has
been made clearly to understand that when
home rule shall have been disposed of it
will be his turn to be legislated for, and the
knowledge will undoubtedly have telling
effect in rural constituencies at the general
election.
Many Grievances in the Country.
Agricultural laborers have many strong
grievances, and since Mr. Gladstone gave
them the Parliamentary franchise six years
ago they have been demanding redress with
ever-strengthening insistence. The Liberal
party has wisely decided to help them, and
this decision will serve to win Q good many
Tory seats in districts where honor alone
would not suffice to allure voters to the
polls The Tories have shown characters
tic stupidity on this question, and have ir-
retrievably committed themselves to the
landlord side. The laborers demand q
proper share in local government, and the
Liberals propose to establish parish coun-
ellis elected by popular vote.
Lord Salisbury ridiculed the idea In
speech the other day, In the course of which
he sneeringly asked whether they were to
provide circus for every village, in order
that people might amuse themselves even.
ings. That sneer, 1t is estimated, will cost.
the Government thousands Of votes The
laborers' demands for sanitary dwellings
and protection from landlord and parson
tyranny have been treated by the tories
with an equal lack of sympathy, so that the
field Of rural reform has been left entirely
to the liberals.
Some of the Reforms Required.
Probably the most immediate require
ment is change of the law relating to cal
lotments." Throughout agricultural Eng
land the laborers are craving for land.
They are modest enough in their demands.
All they want is that any man having time
and ability to cultivate bit of land shall
be able to get it at q moderate rent and to
enjoy the benefits of any improvements he
may make. The law at present is virtually
permissive, and it is administered by the
landlord class. In few instances where
allotments have been granted the rent en-
forced is much higher than that paid by
ordinary farmers, and the humble culti-
vator is harassed by harsh rules and uncer-
tain tenure.
In the days when Joseph Chamberlain
and his friends professed Radical principles
they proclaimed as the agricultural idea
the possession by every thrifty laborer of
'three acres and a cow" The phrase
caught on, and has since become Liberal
rallying cry in the countiea The Tories
declared no man could make living out of
three acres and q COW, buE the laborers
know their own business best. "Why,"
said a delegate at Thursdays conference,
I've done very well out of two acres and
little donkey"
Determination Of the Liberals.
To sum up this allotment question the
Liberals believe that by their means of Just
reforms OF the land laws, the great yeoman
class of small freehold and leasehold cultI-
vators, which for hundreds of years formed
the backbone OF England, can be restored.
The Liberals have determined to try, at any
rate, and the determination is not only lust
in itself, but advantageous to them.
Mr.. Gladstone has slightly changed his
plan, political exigencies requiring his pres
ence in London for a few days He will |
start on Tuesday for Biarritz, where he will |
remain until the reassembliEg of Parlia- |
ment
In his speech at nottingham Mr. Glad |
stone spoke of Goschen's scheme for issu- |
ing 81 notes as quack measure, and the |
Tory newspapers forthwith wa1ed very |
wroth at this insult to their financial demi- |
god. Mr.. Gladstone is accustomed care |
fully to weigh his words when dealing, even |
indirectly, with financial affairs, and it NAV |
be assumed, therefore, that it has been de- |
cided to oppose the Chancellor of the Ex- |
chequer's proposals. This will, of course,
delay the Irish local government bill, and |
1t may give the Government the desired |
opportunity of appealing to the country on |
the cry of parliamentary obstruction. But |
the probabilities still point rather to dis |
solution on the direct charge or obstruction |
to the Irish bill, which it is now generally |
admitted will be so drafted as to provoke |
and compel strenuous opposition by the
Liberals.
Leaving London for the Holidays.
Most of the Ministers left town to-day for |
the Christmas holidays, and if the ordinary |
course be followed they will not meet again |
until the middle of January, when a series |
of Cabinet councils will be held for the pur-
pose of putting into shape the legislative
programme of the session.
London has had q narrow escape
Of losing its only morning radical |
newspaper. The Daily Nei0s' own
ers, among whom are John Morley and
Henry Labouchere, recently decided that
the working expenses could be reduced by
the use of typesetting machines. Several
were purchased and women were engaged to
FORK them. The compositors did not object
10 the machines, but they protested
promptly and emphatically against the
manner in which the work was to be done
and the miserable wages proposed to be paid
THE women. They ascertained that in Man
chester, Liverpool and other large towns