417 



meet and in the paddock the commercial eleme-^it in number far exceed- 

 ing that of the upper ten. 



Without money no institution can get along. Money, however, is 

 not everything. Without leaders in whom subordinates place confi- 

 dence, and for whom they hold respect, no institution can be maintained 

 in either propriety or prosperity. 



Luckily we have had a great accession of commercial men into the 

 ranks of sport within recent years, and were it not for their money, 

 hunting, shooting, fishing, yachting, and racing would, I fear, be in a 

 very bad way now. But, although not as well off" as they once were, 

 the "old stock" still holds the helm, and therefore all goes well. If, 

 however, thiogs continue to be as bad with them as they have been, 

 their incomes, within a comparatively short space of time, will practi- 

 cally disappear altogether. In that event the commercial men must 

 take their place. 



Commercial men can make first-rate statesmen, soldiers, sailors, and 

 sportsmen, and for dealing with great financial or other State questions 

 they are of course much better qualified than the aristocracy. But 

 in the interest of Sport, and without intending to hurt the feelings 

 of anyone, I ask, will men possessed only of money, and no matter 

 how honourable in feeling and intention, be able to command the 

 respect, and thus the poiver of control^ which was reposed in pre- 

 decessors of higher social graded — If they do it will be contrary to all 

 precedent. 



The commercial aristocracy have many means of acquiring wealth ; 

 the territorial aristocracy have none other than that which they have 

 succeeded to— their landed estates. These properties have been vested 

 in them for centuries, acquired as they have been by their forefathers 

 or predecessors by conquest, grant of Government, or by purchase. 

 Therefore to their estates are our landed gentry entitled by every law 

 which governs rightful possession. The title to their properties 

 is in all cases equal to that of Great Britain to her colonies, and in 

 many instances much stronger. It is therefore the duty of our Govern- 

 ment not alone to protect that title, but to protect the possessors, 

 while it was nothing short of aiding and abetting robbery to pass 

 Acts of Confiscation as has been done in recent years. 



A systematic and all-round reduction of rents was not necessaiy 

 to be made, as it was, in Ireland ; but that legislation with regard 

 to rents on some Irish properties was needed no fair-minded man can 

 deny, and it was highly proper that the interest of the agricultural 

 tenant, in respect of unjust rents, should be provided for. So it haa 

 been ; but a vast deal has yet to be done for the agricultural interest 

 of the kingdom, and that by means more beneficial to the tenants while 

 preserving intact the position of the landlords. 



Mining, manufacture, and commercial enterprises of all sorts are, of 

 course, tremendous factors in the maintenance of England in the posi- 



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