n said to give a clear idea of the chief causes
and effects of land hunger in Ireland.

The remedy, in the opinion of many advanced and enlightened Home
Rulers, must come from a Tory Government. From the multitude of
counsellors I met in the thirty-two counties of Ireland, I will select
two who represent the vast majority of able men of every political
party. Mr. Thomas Manley said:--"Settle the land question, reform the
Poor Laws and the Grand Jury laws, and reclaim the land, which would
pay ten per cent." Mr. Mason, of Mullingar, said:--"The whole
agitation would be knocked on the head by the introduction of a
severe land measure. Previous legislation has been very severe, and I
do not say that a further measure would be just and equitable. I
merely say that the people do not want Home Rule, but that they want
the advantages which they are told will accrue from Home Rule." And so
said everyone.

To settle the land question is to settle everything. Religious
animosity would be silenced by self-interest. The operation of the
Land Purchase Act has undoubtedly done much to turn the people using
its provisions into good Conservatives--law-abiding and
law-supporting, as having a stake in the country. The people have not
the land for nothing but they look forward to its becoming honestly
their own, and meanwhile they enjoy the security insured by the
Government of England. In any attempt to settle this great problem, a
Conservative Government would probably be largely supported by the
landlords themselves, while the rank and file of Ireland would look
with respect and confidence on any bill bearing the honoured name of
Balfour. But how shall we decide the scope and character of such a
final Land Bill? I do not hesitate to say that it must contain a very
strong infusion of the compulsory element. The great measure of 1891
is generous to a fault, but it is voluntary, and the result is that
the tenants who give greatest trouble--the poor, idle, ignorant dupes
of a scheming priesthood and a corrupt political conspiracy--never
come under its benefits, because they unquestioningly accept the
advice given them to wait until an Irish Parliament lets them have the
land for nothing.

Compulsion is not required for the landlords half so much as it is for
the tenants. The conclusion arrived at may be stated in a few words.
Perhaps it may be worthy the consideration of our brilliant and
far-seeing Unionist leaders:--

The Land