6 SEPTEMBER 1890, Page 2

Mr. Davitt has written a long letter to the Freeman's

Journal on the potato-disease in the West of Ireland,—which, as he evidently hopes and suggests, may render it impossible to pass the Government Land-Purchase Bill, and yet neces- sary to have resort to a different kind of measure. He declares that the only remedy is to add to the small holdings in the West portions of grass-land now in the occupation of large graziers, so as to enable the small farmer to raise, besides potatoes and vegetables, sheep and cattle. He does not explain how he would procure the division of the grazing-farms without heavy compensation ; and if not without heavy compensation, how he would obtain it at any cost which would render it profitable to the small holder. But it is evident that he hopes to find in the potato failure an incident which will put a spoke in the policy of the Government. We trust not ; we trust that it may even aid the Government. But we are quite agreed with Mr. Davitt that a wise land policy is at the root of the Irish Question, though we are not agreed as to what a wise land policy is.