The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23

It's noers through every part and organ OF
the oody polite until IL is in truth 40 ex-
erescence or addition, but an integral part
vi our national life. In the end IL may kill
as cancer kills. or it may triumphantly
the wisdom Of those who inwove
IL with our policy. That is an issue which
can De decided by time alone, but at pres
eht' as l believe. an attempt to drag ii
forth would result in something very like
civil war. 1t is one of the few things for
which the people would fight, or go near to
fighting
i speak, of course, of protection on food
stufs Various industries may demand and
obtain defensive duties, and by so doing
affect certain classes of the community for
good, but this matter of the price of food
appeals to every Individual in the British
isles who is old enough to reason. 1t ap-
peals to his pocket and through his pocket
10 the welfare and comfort of his body.
Protection must mean dearer food, and
dearer food. to the vast majority, means
less food and more work. 1t may be said
that this is not so in other countries, but
the answer is that other countries have not
yet had the experience of two generations
OF free trade. What the eye does not see
the heart does not covet. The mass of our
population lives by trade and through trade
II knows nothing of the land, and is not
concerned with the great questions that
are wrapped up in it's prosperity or ruin"
Mr.. Haggard's observations in the En-
glish farming districts have also estab-
lished the fast that all the young men and
young women leave the country and go to
the city. The result of this migration is
a scarcity of agricultural labor, which is a
most serious handicap to the farmer, not
only during the harvest season but at all
times of the year. The farm laborers of
England are all very old or very young ex-
cept for small number of dull, vicious or
idle youths who lack ambition or initiative
to seek buster paths of life.
ANOTHER SUGGESTION.
In addition to his proposed agricultural
parcel post To meet transportation deficien-
cies, Mr.. Haggard suggests the lending of
money by the government to the owners of
land who wish to rent their property in
small holdings, this money to be used for
the building of houses for tenants and
laborers. The returns from land are so
small and the cost of building is so great
that many land owners deferred from
making small holdings available by reason
provements. 1t costs fully $3.50 to prepare
fifty acres of land for a tenant
Mr.. Haggard believes that the English
government pays far too little attention to
the agricultural interests. Labor has re-
ceived distinct recognition, and the most
advanced laws are applied to cities. He
sees no reason why the government should
not start agricultural credit banks. en-
courage cooperative societies, and, in fact,
expend a proportion of the revenue for the
benefit of the tillers of the soil proportion
ate with their Importance in the economies
of the empire.
Mr.. Haggard is not theorist On his
farm in Norfolk he practices what he
breaches. he meets with all the difficulties
of which he writes, he works hard to make
his farm pay, and at the end of the year he
finds himself fortunate if not faced with a
deficit. In his Investigations of agricul-
tural conditions, as represented in his new
book, Rural England" he has done the
work Of a government commission 1t has
been a tremendous work, and he says him
self that had he known the time and labor
involved he never would have dared under
taking it. Longsman, Green & Co., of Lon
don, are the publishers of Rural Eng
land" The books are handsomely got up,
and the beautiful illustrations give better
idea of real English country life than has
ever before been given TO the public. 1t
will not have a wide circulation, but be-
cause there is not large reading public
for this sort of literature. Mr.. Haggard
has written the standard work on modern
English agriculture, and has thus brought
the work of Young and Card up to date.
1t will make thoughtful every man who
reads it, for 1t is sad record of the decline
of great industry. In the words of one
of England's prominent statesmen, Mr..
Haggard is whipping a dead horse
WOULD BRING PROSPERITY.
Protection is the remedy agreed upon, and
with equal unanimity protection is declared
impossible. Paliatives are the only alter
native, and Mr.. Haggard's bold suggestions
strike at the roots of the existing evils.
1.-THE greatest loss ever suffered by Eng