328 LAND REFORM 



an exception "when some particular sort of industry 

 is necessary for the defence of the country." He 

 strongly held that "defence is of much more im- 

 portance than opulence." Looked at in this light, 

 governments should seriously consider whether or not 

 they are fatally neglecting the industry of agriculture, 

 which, in a country so singularly situated as ours, 

 might be truly described as the "first line of defence." 

 Lord Selborne, in the speech already referred to, 

 remarks: "I would say that the navy and our national 

 credit are the two pillars on which, in every material 

 sense, the safety of the Empire depends." This is 

 the old story of absolute reliance on wealth, but in 

 times of stress it will surely be found that a third 

 pillar is necessary — that of a thriving agriculture — 

 without which no country is permanently safe, and our 

 country is in actual danger.^ 



1 A writer who was perhaps the highest authority of his day on the 

 subject of the Corn Laws, made the following remarks on the question 

 of war in connection with wealth : " There may be politicians indeed 

 who, considering money as the chief end of all policy, may think that 

 forcing the cottagers into towns and the villagers into cities is a good 

 to be desired rather than an evil to be deplored. Yes, we have had 

 statesmen who laid it down as a maxim that modern war is merely a 

 matter of expense. The wealthiest nation, it was naturally presumed, 

 would ultimately be the most triumphant, and final victory was supposed 

 to be appended to the weightiest purse. We have lived, however, to see 

 a nation arise (France) who could make conquests without money ; as 

 indeed history had already recorded the conquest of poverty over riches. 

 Europe has already seen that our wealth could not obtain warriors. . . . 

 Where is that illustrious regiment which overthrew the invincible phalanx 

 to find recruits if sheep be driven into our northern glens as a more valu- 

 able animal than the human race ? Where shall our armies obtain levies if 

 villagers be forced into cities ? Wc may now perceive that money cannot 

 buy men ; that men are of more value than money : the policy then which 

 regards riches as the chief good must end in the ruin of the state : and 

 that statesman who should consider the exchequer as the only object of 

 his care, would soon be without an exchequer to care for." ("Tracts on 

 the Corn Trade and Corn Laws," Charles Smith, edition 1804.) 



