130 THE MURDER OF AGRICULTURE 



tude, we still persist in pooh-poohing the matter, we 

 shall deserve the disaster that will surely overtake us as 

 a people. 



There is, however, another aspect of the case which 

 may, perhaps, cause us as much pecuniary loss, trouble 

 and distress, as having our supplies cut off by a hostile 

 power, and that is the general helplessness of our posi- 

 tion. 



As an island in the western seas our position is suffi- 

 ciently isolated, but by the voluntary sacrifice of our 

 agriculture we render ourselves doubly dependent on 

 outside support and at the mercy of every group of 

 "Cornerers" who, by the power of their millions, may 

 chance to make our country the subject of their financial 

 operations. 



Even last year there is evidence of our utter helpless- 

 ness. The recent rise in the price of corn was the result of a 

 probable shortage in the American wheat crop, and it was 

 sufficient to send prices up eight shillings a quarter. AH 

 that is wanted now is a " corner " in wheat, and we 

 shall have famine, or war prices, and consequent distress 

 and misery among millions of our people. 

 Home- If we grow our own corn, and we can do it easily 

 Corn enough, the balance of demand and supply would be more 

 equably poised, and the host of rascally speculators who 

 deliberately and cruelly make money out of a people's 

 despair would think twice before commencing their 

 nefarious and villainous transactions. 



Here again we are more or less led astray by statists 

 and political economists. 



We are told that the price of a commodity does not 



