xiv LAND REFORM 



which, from any cause, even for a few months, would 

 cause a famine in the land. 



Some years ago an enterprising American attempted 

 to make a "corner" in wheat. He did not succeed, 

 but came near enough to success to show that what 

 was too difficult for a private person would be quite 

 practicable for a hostile nation. 



In case of a war with a great Power or combination 

 of Powers (themselves self-feeding) it would not be 

 difficult, but a mere business transaction, for our 

 opponents, secretly acting through chosen agents, by 

 the well-known operation of dealing in "futures," to 

 place this country in a perilous position. Our navy 

 might possibly — though this is doubtful — make the sea 

 secure for grain-laden ships, but the grain itself would 

 not be forthcoming except in scanty quantities and at 

 famine prices. In fact, we are in the foolish position 

 of spending vast sums to strengthen and guard the 

 fortress, and omitting to victual the garrison inside, 

 trusting for that to convoys from without which may 

 never come. 



Unhappily, the mass of the people of this country 

 have been so long cut off from any connection with 

 the land that they have ceased to regard agriculture as 

 a subject which specially affects them. They regard 

 it simply as one among many industries, instead of as 

 being the root of all others, and the one industry 

 in which they are vitally concerned. 



Land being one of the elements indispensable to 

 human life and happiness, its ownership is naturally 

 subject to certain conditions for the public good which 

 are attached to no other form of property. The first 

 of these conditions is that it should not become dere- 



