Verily! Friend Bright, the cry against the landlord is a “_cry against capital unthinkingly uttered_.” Verily thou encouragest the “_internecine wars of capital and labour_.” Verily thou art the reverse of a benefactor to thy country. The verdict of Political Economy condemns thee!! FOOTNOTES: [73] Total national income £1,247,000,000 Total rent for land 58,000,000 (Mulhall, p. 7.) Percentage of rent to total income, 4⅔ per cent. No. Acres. Average acres per landowner. Large Landowners 34 6,211,000 183,000 Medium ditto 841 3,156,000 3,760 Small ditto 179,649 60,912,000 330 ------- ---------- ------- Total 180,524 70,279,000 390 (Mulhall’s Statistics, p. 266.) The acreage of large and medium landowners is, therefore, less than one-seventh of the total. [74] Or _could_ have sold it, until the iniquitous Land Bill was passed. For my own part, I would not, under any consideration, risk money in the investment of land under British rule, which has proved itself capable of legalizing plunder and breach of contract. [75] Macleod’s Economics, pp. 138-39. CHAPTER XX. PROSPEROUS ADVERSITY. One conclusion at which the Commission of 1882 arrived was, that the agricultural labourers were “never in a better position.” When, however, we analyze the evidence on which that conclusion was based, the case wears a very different aspect. The evidence of landlords, agents, and factors,--of those who have to pay the wages out of their struggle to make both ends meet,--is to the effect that the labourer is well enough off; but the evidence of the labourer himself--the recipient--gives rather a different version of the case. It is true that wages are higher than they were formerly: this naturally must follow the increase of wages in manufacturing districts; but the evidence of the labourer shows that these wages are insufficient to keep a family, or provide for bodily wants, to say nothing of sickness or loss of work; perquisites are being gradually taken away, and no compensation given; families are suffering severely; physique degenerating for want of sufficient food; articles of diet, such as cheese, bacon, eggs are much more expensive than before; the supply of milk, and especially of skimmed milk, formerly so plentiful and obtainable at nominal prices, is now at prohibitory rates. Water, with a little bread, sweetened with sugar, forms the general substitute for wholesome milk in rearing children.