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MR. GIBSON ON FREEHOLDS.
Mr. Milner Gibson, after alluding to the failure of the agricultural associations, said of the Anti-Corn-Law League:—
"There are in this society men who have enlightened the agriculturists upon husbandry, and the different modes by which the produce of the earth may be increased. I venture to say that there is not in any part of this kingdom an individual to be found more anxious to improve the agriculture of the country, or to see two blades of grass grow where one only is now produced, than our excellent leader, Mr. Cobden. (Cheers.) His speeches have been replete with sound advice to the agriculturists. They have also, I believe, led to a practical improvement in agriculture. (Hear, hear.) In different parts of the kingdom where they have been delivered, they have turned the attention of the agriculturist to the improvement of his art, and have withdrawn him from that fatal reliance upon what Parliament can do for him, which has hitherto been the bane of the farming body. (Hear, hear.) We are no enemies, I say, to agriculture. It has been stated also that we are opposed to the British farmer. When the Anti-League meetings have been held, we have been told that 'the British lion'—meaning, by the expression, the British farmer—'was shaking his mane at us.' (Laughter.) The British farmer is beginning to think, at least in that part of the country where I reside, namely, the county of Suffolk, that perhaps the League will turn out to be his best friend. (Hear, hear.) We are not foes to the farmer. We desire to see him prosper: but we know that there can be no permanent stability in his calling until every vestige of protection is swept away; when he relies on Corn Laws we know that he is building his prosperity upon an unsound basis; raising his house upon a sand, which will not stand the shocks with which it will have to contend. Experience has proved that no class in this kingdom has suffered more severely from the operation of the Corn Laws than the British farmer. (Hear, hear.) Then it is said that we are opposed to the landowner. We are not hostile to men merely because they own land. We are enemies to the principle which is laid down by the landowners of this country—or at least by many of them— that the possession of land entitles a man to go to the legislature, and ask it to prevent persons from buying food of any one but himself. (Cheers.) If a shoemaker made the demand that (he inhabitants of this metropolis should buy all their shoes of him, and we objected to such a monopoly, could it be said on that account that we were opposed to the body of shoemakers? (' Hear, hear,' and great cheering.) We are opposed, undoubtedly, to the unjust demands of the landowners. We do object to the principle which is laid down by them, that trade is to be a secondary consideration in this country; that the merchant,
