12 JANUARY 1884, Page 2

If Mr. George wishes, as he evidently does, to be

considered rather the Professor of a new Political Economy than an in- cendiary, he should separate himself from colleagues like Mr.. Michael Devitt. That person is losing his older and higher tone, and is giving dangerous hints. He told the three thou- sand men gathered in St. James's Hall not "to rest satisfied altogether with the preaching of the doctrines of Progress and Poverty, and not to place all their reliance on appeals to the sense of justice." For generations that was the policy in Ire. land, and it failed ; but at last, " the working-classes, in solid, open, constitutional combination, made up their minds to seize the evil by the throat, and compel justice to be done.. The result of this was that in four short years Irish landlordism was brought to its knees." That will be said to mean an appeal% to the ballot-box, but considering the history of the Land League, it is much more like an appeal to force. Fortunately, such an appeal is not dangerous here ; but we are by no means equally confident about the North of Scotland, where the economic conditions and the constant sacrifice of the poor to the pleasures of rich deer-killers, have evoked a very dangerous temper. The Highlanders are beginning to say they must have land, and will have it, though they are willing to pay rent for it..