WHAT WILL DO GOOD IN IRELAND. 213 



It is the undue facilities for borrowing, given by 

 those very banks to farmers, that cause the grievous 

 indebtedness of the class I have heretofore spoken of. 



It is gravely suggested that such troubles as these 

 can be set right by robbing the landlords, and above 

 all by driving away or crippling every landlord who 

 improves his property. I again suggest that it will 

 be wise to look to the end. 



M. de Molinari here too leaves no doubt of the 

 right direction. 



He asserts that no people in Europe at present 

 are so wanting in all the qualities needful for success- 

 ful peasant proprietors. No one can doubt that he 

 is right, and the practical question at once arises 

 Can those needful qualities be acquired ? And how ? 

 No remedy is worth anything that does not lead to 

 this end. If the proposed remedy will not do this, 

 no choice is left but to look deeper and in another 

 direction. 



That which lies at the bottom of the trouble 

 is the thorough untruth that prevails in Ireland, 

 especially among politicians. The whole agitation 

 is got up, in hope of gaining something by it. It 

 is only money -grasping, without one high idea. 

 The extreme party urges confiscation, and the more 

 moderate party Ulster tenant-right. Present private 

 gain is the only end of both. For any man to 

 succeed in dealing with such people it is necessary 

 he should see and understand their faults. The 



