48 AGiaCULTXTRE AND TARII.' REFORM. 



(2). " The present law lias ruined the Corn Law 

 speculators (laugliter). You may laugli . . . 

 but wlien you hare ruined tlie corn speculators 

 who will supply you with foreign wheat?" 



Note. — It scenes curious that Mr. Cobden should have 

 been interested in corn spccidators. 



Speech, May Iotii, 1843 (House of Commons). 



(3). " Let the farmer perfectly understand that 

 his prosperity depends upon that of his cus- 

 tomers." 



Note. — Exacthj; hut hy unnatural means the forelynar 

 is aUoiced to supply those customers. 



(4). " I do not ask for a law to enhance the 

 profits of my business." 



Note. — \ncther he asked for it or not he got it; be- 

 cause by the repeal of the Corn Laws the laboureis 

 flocked to the towns to engage in that C'xtra work which 

 icas brought about by the fact that the foreigner who 

 sent liis wheat, etc., to us had, at that day, to take in 

 return our manufactured goods. 



(5). " I ask owners if they expect farmers io 

 farm well without long leases ? " 



Note. — Owners would he only too glad to grant long 

 leases. That is just xchat they cannot do; because 

 tenants, by foreign competition, feel no certainty as t.) 

 how long they will he able to stand such competitioii. 

 Hence, tenants refuse long leases. 



(6). " "We (the manufacturers) are the farmers' 

 best friends, their only friends, their best 

 customers." 



Note.— T/t/s was true in IS.'fS, but it is by no n^.eans 

 so true to-day. ' 



