The many agricultural meetings that have been held of late
have established two facts : first, that the rural mind is now firmly convinced of the beneficence of a free trade policy and of its conspicuous consequences,—greater enterprise in the pursuit of agriculture, greater belief in science, more reliance on ascer- tained natural law ; secondly, that the rural mind is fully alive to the necessity of putting the country in a state of defence adequate to any emergency. We hear nothing of agricultural distress, much of its prosperity, and more of its future. We read no sneers, but much hearty English sentiment, handsomely expressed, on the subject of national armaments, like rifle corps. Nor have politics been wholly excluded. At the Woodstock meeting, Lord Alfred Churchill put forward a new programme of her Majesty's Opposition—one more likely to be successful than any which has yet been advanced. He admits that there are many matters which need revision. There should be such a Reform in Parliament as would extend the franchise in proportion to the extension that has actually taken place in intelligence and education. He would carry out these changes in the spirit of the Constitution. He regards frequent changes of Government as injurious to economy, and conducive to a constantly-increasing expenditure. And he is for a revision of our annual outlay in order to reduce the enormous amount of taxation—seventy millions within the year. The difficulty is to see how Lord Alfred can command the influence which would rally even the leaders of his own party in an agreement upon these practical Parliamentary objects.
Two other great parties in the State appear to be in that un- easy condition which precedes the public avowal that a compro- mise is- necessary. It is well known, that many of the master builders dislike the " declaration " just as a large body of the men dislike the policy of mixing up an agreement upon the sub- ject of hours with the rates of wages. During the week there have been rising hopes of an arrangement, but towards its close matters do not look so promising.
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