26o LAND REFORM 



Irish farmers get what they demand ; they accept it 

 without thanks, and straightway ask for more, which 

 as a rule they also get. English tenant farmers will 

 not get what they want without some combined effort 

 on their part. In the present state of agriculture they 

 may fairly and properly make a Government under- 

 stand that reasonable attention to their interests is a 

 condition of their support. 



So far, the economic side of the question has been 

 considered ; but the social and political side is of still 

 more importance. Every man placed in the position 

 described would be an addition to that element of 

 strength and conservation in our national life, of 

 which we are getting so lamentably deficient. He 

 would represent one step towards restoring the old 

 landed classes, who, on occasions in our " rough island 

 story," served their country so well. 



