Land Problems and National Welfare 



protective duty of course produces a rise in the 

 price of corn and increases the value of the land ; 

 it is therefore perfectly comprehensible that 

 English agriculturists strive for protective tariffs. 

 " The question whether they will have Protec- 

 tion or Free Trade must naturally be solved by 

 the English themselves. Would the adoption of 

 protective duties, however, bring English agri- 

 culture nearer its aim ? Would it thereby be 

 enabled to nourish the population of the British 

 Islands ? What would be the probable conse- 

 quence of the adoption of a duty on corn ? An 

 augmentation of the value of the land, a better 

 livelihood for the tenant in occupation, and, of 

 course, also an mcrease in the area of the land 

 devoted to the cultivation of corn. The cultiva- 

 tion of corn, however, would soon reach a limit, 

 owing to the scarcity of agricultural labourers ; 

 there is little probability of workmen returning 

 to the country from the towns, for work on the 

 land has no charms for the townsman. The 

 prospect of possession, on the other hand, is 

 alluring to him ; the wish to own a piece of land 

 is inborn in every man. If, therefore, protective 

 duties are to be beneficial they must be accom- 

 panied by an internal colonisation on a large 

 scale. An endeavour should be made to create 

 afresh a peasantry, and a new class of land- 

 owners occupying an intermediate position 

 between them and the great landlords. Tenants 



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