The state chronicle., 1892-12-21
BRITISH FARMERS IN COUNCIL.

In recent number OF the Spring.
field Republican appears an interesting
editorial on this subjrc
Our contemporary sees in the con
gress of British farmers, held in Lon.
don, many points of resemblance, With
equally striking differences, to the
original farmers convention at Gin.
cinnati.
The depression in agriculture caused
the American farmers to organize and
to plan for political action, and it was
the same cause which brought the
British farmers together in council.
Says the Republican:
"The same feeling that legislation
had been for the manufacturer and the
merchant, and the privileged classes
generally, rather than for the farmer,
has operated in both cases. In
rough way, the antagonism which
road and other corporate interests is
analogous to the feeling of the Brit
ish farmer against his landlord and
land system Of his country. His
grievances are as many and as oppres-
sive, and his struggle against adverse
conditions fully as severe, as those of
bis American competitor, and he is as
much in doubt as to The best way to
improve his lot. 1t might be truer to
say that he WAS more in doubt upon
this latter point than the American
farmer, for the latter seems to have
temporarily at least-settled down
upon political agitation as his way
out. The slower moving, more con.
servative Englishmen have not got so
far this yet, and it may be a long
time before they do. SO far they
have only decided to come together
and talk the situation over, in the
hope that some positive benefit to
them may come Of it,"
The conference appears to have
been a representative body of British
tillers of the soil. AS many as 1900
delegates attended the opening session
and, judging from the names of some
OF the delegates, there must have been
less restriction as to the qualification
OF delegate than was enforced by the
farmers alliance of this country. There
werc present "lords and members Of
Parlisnent. The government board
OF agriculturA was represented and
Lord Salisbury's president of the board.
Mr.. Chaplin, is delegate. Joseph
Arch does not seem to have been pres.
ent nor to have taken any especial in
terest in the conference. Neither has
Jesse Ceilings, he of "three acres and
cow fame, although allotments of
land to labofers is one of the topics
for discussion. So far as the confer.
ence has any political bias at all, it
leans toward toryism. Its president,
Sir James Lowther, is tory member
OF Parliament and has had seats in
one or two tory cabinets"
The political leaning of the con.
ference, it would seem, was. az we
would say in this country, much more
towards democracy than third party.
ism. And such was the political lean.
ing Of the alliance, but the exclusive
principle. in the nature of a most
rigid qualification for admission to
membership, which, h,dominated the ALI.
ance, tended to contract the sentiment
that pervaded its deliberations and to
that extent neutralze its influence for
remedial legislation. The British
farmers have avoided this rock
which came near ship.wrecking
the alliance. In this respect the
British farmers have set good ex.
ample to their American brothers
They have recognized and acted up.
on the fact, that the interest Of one
class can not be substantially promoted
without p free exchange of onin;on
with other classes, and that no subject
which pertains to the general political
good can be intelligently debated from
one stand point and by one class of
people.
lhe object, however, Of the British
farmers are to secure reforms in the
British system of land tenure. and the
relation between landlord and tenant
and these include matters RELATING n
rents, to land values, to imperial and
local taxes on farms and farmers. and
10 'he interest OF tenants in improve.
ments which they put on leasehold es.
tates. In this country the farmers
want higher prices for the products Of
their farms, and larger circulating
medium, and these they may expect be.
fore great while, since the policy of
the republican party. which has
oppressed them, will soon cease to in
huence legislation.
The Norfolk Vrginian announces
the death of Mr.. julius H. Wilcox
We share with our contemporary il,
expressions of deep regret. We have
known Mr.. Wilcox for some time and
esteemed him highly. When in this
city at the opening of the Southern
Exposition he looked bright and happv
and appeared to have a long life Of