238 RURAL DENMARK 



beggars who, because of their lack of combination 

 and, indeed, of their internecine divisions, can neither 

 frighten our rulers into concessions nor buy them by 

 the promise of active support. Therefore they must 

 be content with the cold shoulder, or, if they persist, 

 with the contemptuous treatment that beggars know. 



I put to Mr. Collings the point that in such 

 transactions the State should be guarded against 

 loss. He answered me thus : "1 do not think that 

 this can be treated as a purely economic question, 

 for the reason that the reform contemplated, in my 

 opinion, involves the solution of social difficulties, 

 and is necessary for the security and prosperity of 

 the nation. Under the proposals made I do not 

 think there would be any risks to the State, but 

 if there were they should be accepted. The reform 

 is as necessary to State welfare and defence as the 

 building of Dreadnoughts." 



Coming from such a source this is a view that 

 is entitled to all sympathy and respect. Whether 

 it will command the attention of the British Treasury 

 is another matter. Can practical men hope that the 

 Irish land-purchase regulations, or anything nearly so 

 liberal, will ever be applied to England, at any rate 

 in our day ? Or will the Treasury ever consent to 

 advance all the purchase price to British as dis- 

 tinguished from Irish tenants who wish to become 

 owners of their holdings, on the ground that a national 

 benefit may result ? 



I fear that to seek these great advantages is but 

 to cry for the moon. Also, would such a bargain be 

 one of which we could ask a State, largely composed 

 of town-dwellers, to bear the burden ? 



For my part I think it would be wiser, amongst 

 other possible expedients, to concentrate upon a 



