Year: 1879

To THE EDIT HERALD


1t is pity that of such mark ss Mr.. Glad
stone should commit himself to grave public utter
ances upon subjects about which he confesses that
he knows but little. His agricultural speech at West
Calder. in the midst some of the best cultivated
country in the world is series of false nferences
from the beginning to the end. You would noa
allow sufficient space in your columns to follow
him through his maze of l will therefore
lect a single but striking example. 1t is expressed
in the lowing passage when speaking the land
question in England:-"Three weeks ago friend OF
DR.. Playfair bought farm near Wellesley for $685.
&c 12s That is the present position Of agr
cultural property in the old States of New England
You have not como in England nor in Scotland. to
the point at which land is had for the price OF
f6 12s. acre" He then states that the price of
land for agricultural purposes in New York ranges
from $50 to Sl0OflO to f2O-per acre. and concludes
Is follows -"I think that you gentlemen who are
farmers will derive some comfort from perceiving
that. il the pressure hero is heavy the pressure
elsewhere and the seat OF supply greater
STILL. 1t is pity to to be obliged to deprive the
bucolic gentlemen whom Mr.. Gladstone addressed OF
the questionable comfort to be derived from the
reflection that other people worse oil than them
selves; but in the matter OF the price OF land what
reasonable comparison can be instituted between the
two countries? The Yankee wag who had been
customed to plenty of elbow room his
try, when he found himself amid the dense popu-
laton aud limited space of the three islands which
tho Inappropriate designation or Grelt Britain has
been assigned. happily expressed the Insignificant
OF its compared with that United
States in the well known wittcism-he was con-
stantly afraid of being pushed overheard. In this
country any quantity OF land, productive that it
will not need lertzing adjuncts for generation
ut least. may be had at merely nominal price, Near
to tho trade emporiums OF course,
certain price. This price varies with certain
dtlons among which it is safe. think. to assert.
that hitherto, at all events agricultural prosperity
depression has been the least influential The prcs-
ent depression in the value of real estate has struck
city real estate quite hard blow it has struck
land for agricultural purposes. The causes nrs
quito remote from any deprcssco state OF agriculture


In Great Britain nearly the whole of its little stock
OF land owned by u comparatively few proprie-
tors. 1t is not cultivated by them. but by tenaata
who pay yearly rent per acre. equal to the sum
which purchaser would have to pay III tins
try for the full propretorship OF his land Before
they can touch cent OF profit from the land they
must deduct, every year, u sum equal to that tor
which absolute propretorship of the soil could be
purchased in this country, and then about equal
for the cultivation of exhausted soil. hamperod.
too In his cultivation by restrictions of he most
troublesome and injurious kind.


In Great Britain, consequently, serious fall in
the price OF land unerrinlsly indicates depressed
coudt.on of the agricultural interest. II the great
landed proprctors. with the strongest Inducements
that can influence privileged class, allow the pricc
OF land to fall IL is because the tenant farmers cam
not make living and at the same time pay rent
which could make land a profitable investment. On
the other hand II the price of land kept up. is
no sign of agricultural prosperity it is because tho
landed proprietors will have it and the tenant
farmers who. as general rule, are untitled Tor any
other occupation. have to choose between struggling
to pay their rent ruin.


Ii is not wonderful that Mr.. Gladstone should go
30 much astray subject with which he does nos
profess to be acquainted; but that the only Prime
Minister whom England has h'd since Canning uis-
tupuished for ripe scholarship should exhibit him.
self much astfay In classical as agricultural lore
is. indeed. unexpected There was saying OF
great ancient Crook orator.. ne informs tho Mid
lothian ..rurals who very much undervaluod
what we call the better portion OF the community
namely. women that their great merit would DO to
be never heard or y


This is too bad; the more as IL seems to be forced
into the speech as the heaviest kind OF joke. The


llustrious speaker refers evidently to the funeral
GRAFTON the heroes had fallen the battle
nf IA ION o.
pericles. The widows of these he exhorts to
keep at home to ply the disaf and avoid publicity
'It is u shame for woman" he says, "that even
her name should be in the mouths OF men," write
memory and cannot be sure of the exact words,
but can lay my hand on the passage IL required.
IL IL difficult to imagine thing refined than


this noble advice of the great orator to the Athenau
widows. Far from being evidence OF his under
valuing the IL s evidence to the contrary aud
IL is advice which might be followed with advantage
by the giggling maidens aud flirting widows OF Q
Christian age. y. u. A. HARPER.