THE PURSUIT OF IDEALS. 23 



enemy of the consumer, and when the nation will encourage 

 and not discourage his enterprise. The labourer looks 

 forward to a time when his interest as the predominant 

 partner in the use of the land will be recognised and his 

 share in the products of his toil will be admitted as a right 

 and not granted as a favour. 



The methods by which these ideals were to be realised 

 varied widely. Some believed in political changes while 

 at the same time they usually condemned present political 

 activities. Others relied on converting the urban popula- 

 tion, which decides the nation's policy, to an altruistic 

 devotion to agricultural interests of which, it must be 

 granted, it shows little sign at present. The earlier meetings 

 of the Club were held during the war and the town-dwellers 

 were for a time badly scared and, under the dread of star- 

 vation, made fervent protestations of a change of heart 

 and vowed earnestly that in future they would make any 

 sacrifices needful to stimulate food-production and encourage 

 Agriculture. But 



"When the devil was sick, the devil a saint would be, 

 When the devil was well, the devil a saint was he." 



Agriculturists continue to demonstrate, as a novel political 

 theory, the personal interest which every town-dweller 

 has in the prosperity of Agriculture. Their arguments 

 are unanimously accepted by the gatherings of agriculturists 

 to whom they are most commonly addressed. Even a town 

 audience will receive them with applause, but their approval 

 does not find expression in the ballot-box. 



Faith in political action as a means of realising ideals 

 was whole-hearted in only a few. Education, improvements 

 of methods, better organisation, and above all, closer co- 

 operation of all engaged in the industry were generally 

 accepted as more hopeful agencies, and at least more certain in 

 their action than the incalculable engine of politics. Indeed, 

 though the Club included many who might be described as 

 politicians, its usual attitude towards that much-criticised 

 class could not fairly be described as adulatory. 



