MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S IDEAL.
rTo THE EDITOR OP TEE " SPECTATOR."1
SLR,—In your comments on Mr. Chamberlain's speeches at Hull, you say that his ideal—that every honest and industrious man should have access to some means of enjoyment and improve- ment, and be able to save up something for old-age—is a very reasonable one ; but you continue, it will be quite impracticable to realise it in an old and densely-populated country like England without resort to emigration. You admit, however, that it is fairly realised in the Channel Islands. Now, I need hardly state that these islands have been settled quite as long as any part of the United Kingdom; and, according to Mr. G. C. Brodrick, they are thrice as densely populated. It is, therefore, evident that the difference between their social state and that of England can- not be attributed to any excess of population in the latter country. If no stronger arguments than this can be adduced to show the impracticability of Mr. Chamberlain's ideals, we shall begin to think them eminently practicable before long.—I am, Sir, &c.,
[If Mr. Brodrick said so, he was mistaken ; the Channel Islands are not more thickly populated than England, and their population is a slightly diminishing one.—En. Spectator.]
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