Mr. Chamberlain has made one important convert. It is Sir
W. Harcourt, who, speaking at Blandford on Monday, declared that he entirely agreed with him, and that "the more he was abused the stronger be grew." The sentence will have effect, for Sir William is believed by his enemies always to see very early who is going to lead the people, and to awake when he sees it very widely to that man's merits. We do not find, however, that Sir William Harcourt endorses Mr. Chamberlain's whole plan. He is entirely in favour of a reform of tenure which shall enable the labourer to buy his house, and release him from dependence on wages ; but he does not recommend that the sale should be made compulsory, and at a fixed price. His idea is rather that the principle of an old Act of George IIL should be acted on, and that Rural Councils should be authorised to buy land without compulsion to distribute among labourers. That is a very different matter, to be argued on grounds of expediency alone. There is no objection whatever to such purchases and distributions except this,—that John will be taxed to make Will comfortable ; and that if rural municipalities are to buy and distribute land, urban municipalities must buy and distribute houses. Where, indeed, are we to stop Bread, clothing, medicine, and coffins are more necessary than land. Is the Commune to deal in them all ?
