54 THE MURDER OF AGRICULTURE 



When one attempts to portray what would be hkely 

 to happen under given conditions, people as a rule dis- 

 miss the matter by saying: " Nonsense, you are a 

 croaker " (provided the picture you have drawn be an 

 unpleasant one) , and with an inconsequent remark they 

 proceed to the consideration of more congenial subjects. 



If the same plan is adopted here, we shall be criminally 

 negligent of our own most vital interests, and we shall, 

 moreover, court and richly deserve any disaster that 

 may hereafter befall us as a people. We are not in the 

 habit of croaking more than our neighbours, but if we 

 commit folly, we like to see what sort of a position our 

 folly is likely to land us in. 

 Our There is no croaking or pessimism about the living 

 Peril truth so clearly set forth in Our National Peril, for as a 

 people, we are in grave danger, and it is well that a man 

 here and there should point out the truth. 



^*By a few smart seci'ct financial operatiojis^ agents of tlie 

 enemy could corner the world' s 7vheat supply ." 



" Oh," says your man whom nothing will convince, 

 " Government would never allow that, nor would the 

 Colonies ever sell to our enemy in war time." 



Government would doubtless take every precaution 

 to prevent food-stuffs finding their way into the enemies' 

 country, and the Colonies might not sell openly to our 

 foes, but that could not prevent the " comer." The 

 Continental Powers are not fools, and with a number of 

 secret agents and unlimited funds, the stuff would be 

 " cornered," and prices would advance to hundreds of 

 shillings a quarter; to a price, in short, that would mean 

 starvation to millions of our unfortunate people. 



