276 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



per cent, over the borrowing rate, uhicli would uo doubt be 

 charsied to acrriculturists for the accommodation — ivould cover 

 all costs of administration. 



Whichever way this question is looked at it presents the 

 same set features. It is a plain, common-sense proposition, 

 demonstrable by plain, common-sense methods. 



Agriculture is a plant that will flourish well enough in this 

 country if set in natural surroundings and treated to a congenial 

 atmosphere. It has languished and become the poor weakling 

 it is to-day because sixty odd years ago it was plucked up by the 

 roots and subjected to such conditions as induced atrophy and 

 decay. 



Will Paeliame^^t Act or Siiikk Eesponsibility ? 



It now remains to be seen what the two great political 

 parties, which to-day control the destinies of this country, will 

 do. Neither of them is bold enough to admit that in The 

 Land lies the redem})tion of the people from all this present- 

 day turmoil and political and social unrest; perhaps they do 

 not realise it, but the fact remains that in the land, by the land, 

 and through the land, will and must come eventually, that 

 which all England is seeking — Prosperity and Peace. 



It may be that the liadicals won't bring in a sweeping land- 

 reform measure because they are afraid it might be the means 

 of turning them out of office. It may be that the Liberal- 

 Unionists won't tackle the matter because of their fear of land- 

 lords and other vested interests. It may be that both parties 

 will fool away their chances and so play into the hands of the 

 Socialists, and then, the — Dehdcle. 



The trumpet has, however, sounded the warning note of 

 danger ; the clarion voice of Truth has pealed in the streets and 

 in all the haunts of men, and if the representatives of the 

 people in Parliament, and the people themselves, wilfully close 

 theii" ears and understanding to these significant portents, they 

 must, of necessity, accept the consequence of their reckless folly 

 and mad infatuation. 



