162 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



ting them for such higher state, now when potatoes 

 can no longer be relied on. And the question is, 

 whether this can best be done by acting on plans which 

 are partly speculative theories about peasant proprie- 

 torship, partly the scheming of those who have their 

 own ends to serve, and partly the sentimental views 

 of politicians, all seeking to employ means hitherto 

 unknown among us, and which would be unjust and 

 dishonest to the class of owners ; or by following the 

 plain common-sense ways of practical men, who un- 

 derstand land, and which have succeeded in their 

 hands, and whether they wholly succeed or not, must 

 do good so far as they go. 



