190 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



The importance of tillage in the regenera- 

 tion of Ireland cannot be over-emphasised. I 

 will not dwell on the question of land owner- 

 ship, for enough has been written on that point 

 already by hundreds of politicians. It is 

 sufficient for the moment that we are com- 

 mitted to a certain land policy, which forfend 

 we should ever imitate in England ! I have 

 been repeatedly told that every Irishman, as 

 well as every Englishman, has a strong senti- 

 mental feeling about owning a patch of his 

 native land ; but when it comes to assuring 

 to the tiller of the soil security of tenure, 

 I find that the sentiment of the Irishman 

 is assimilated to that of most English- 

 men ; with fixity of tenure at a fair rent he 

 remains content. 



