Then arises the money-lender, and no time should be lost by those
who have the good and the genuine liberty of the countryside at
heart in labouring to prevent his entry into the village. Whatsoever
constitution the village obtains in future, let us strive to
strictly limit the borrowing powers of its council. No borrowing
powers at all would be best--government without loans would be
almost ideal--if that cannot be accomplished, then at least lay down
a stringent regulation putting a firm and impassable limit. Were
every one of my way of thinking, government without loans would be
imperative. It would be done if it had to be done. Rugged discomfort
is preferable to borrowing.

I dread, in a word, lest the follies perpetrated in towns should get
into the villages and hamlets, and want to say a word betimes of
warning. Imagine a new piece of roadway required, then to get the
money let a penny be added to the rates, and the amount produced
laid by at interest year after year, till the sum be made up. Better
wait a few years and walk half a mile round than borrow the five or
six hundred pounds, and have to pay that back and all the interest
on it. Shift somehow, do not borrow.

In the discussions upon the agricultural franchise it has been
generally assumed that the changes it portends will be shown in
momentous State affairs and questions of principle. But perhaps it
will be rather in local and home concerns that the alterations will
be most apparent. The agricultural labourer voters--and the numerous
semi-agricultural voters, not labourers--are more than likely to
look at their own parish as well as at the policy of the Foreign
Office. Gradually the parish--that is, the village--must become the
centre to men who feel at last that they are their own masters.
Under some form or other they will take the parish into their own
hands, and insist upon their business being managed at home. Some
shape of village council must come presently into existence.

Shrewd people are certain to appear upon the scene, pointing out to
the cottager that if he desires to rule himself in his own village,
he must insist upon one most important point. This is the exclusion
of property representation. Instead of property having an
overwhelming share, as now, in the direction of affairs, the owner
of the largest property must not weigh any heavier in the village
council than the wayside cottager. If farmer or landowner sit there
he must have