were the land nationalised, it follows that we should still be undersold.-Yours very sincerely, LACKLAND. [If the land were nationalised by purchase we should undoubtedly be "undersold" by our own people, who would go where land was cheap, and the labourer, not the landlord, obtained the produce. The landlord would be as much of a burden after purchase as before. The fact is we cannot and must not support a set of idle landlords, either by paying them rent or interest.-ED.] SIR,-As the letter from one of your correspondents in the October number, calling attention to our Society, is not strictly correct, we beg to give you the following statement of our objects, but would first say that we are in no way connected with any factory in Peckham : A few months ago the thought occurred to us that a Society to encourage the reading up of the Land Question might be formed by the aid of the DEMOCRAT, we determined upon making the attempt, and have met with considerable support from both Liberals and Conservatives. A meeting was held in Camberwell a short time since at which the undersigned were unanimously elected as officers, and it was also decided to adopt the following name, basis, and definition of object, viz. :— The Society for Promoting the Study of the Land Question. "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the earth is MINE."-Leviticus. " 'Equity does not permit property in land."-Herbert Spencer. "He takes my life who takes the means whereby I live."-Shakespere. Object.-To encourage and urge upon all, the careful study of the Land Question, in order that a just and proper settlement may be effected as being the best means of securing the social, moral, and physical well-being of all classes. A subscription of Is. 3d. per half year will carry membership and include a copy of the "DEMOCRAT" being posted to each member monthly; or the subscription will be 1s. per half year if the periodical is called for, or can be conveniently delivered by a member. Thus we shall keep touch with each other, furnish each member with information as to the progress of the Land Question agitation generally, and give an immediate equivalent for the subscription. One important branch of our work will be to assist in the formation of local discussion societies. We are now forming one in Camberwell, by the aid of our members in that district, for debating the Land Question and other social problems. We propose to deliver a series of six consecutive lectures on Progress and Poverty " (Henry George), to be followed by discussion. When our arrangements are completed, we will write to you further with full particulars as to time and place of meetings. Any of your readers desiring further information will be supplied with same upon application.— We are, Sir, yours truly, JOSEPH SHEWARD, Treasurer, 20 Denmark-road, Coldharbour-lane, S.E. A. POWELL, Secretary, 12 Carlton-terrace, Peckham, S.E. 17th October, 1887. RECEIVED. Labour Reformer (Toronto), Irish World, Highland News, Deutsch Land (Baden), Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney), Church of England Temperance Chronicle, Workmen's Advocate (New Haven, Connecticut), Women's Suffrage Journal, Weekly Bulletin, Evansville Courier (Evansville, Indiana), Knights of Labour (Chicago), Kapunda Herald (Kapunda), Labour Tribune, Vincennes News (Vincennes, Indiana), The True Witness (Montreal), Weekly Star (San Francisco), Greenock Herald, Union Advocate (New York), Daylight, Richmond and Twickenham Times, Northern Ensign, Brotherhood, Standard (New York), Credit Foncier of Sinaloa (Hammonton, New Jersey), Concord, Scottish Highlander. A CORRESPONDENT of the Daily News states that the memoirs of Duke Ernest of Saxe-CoburgGotha, brother of the late Prince Consort, will shortly appear. In anticipation of publication he gives the following extract from the preface :"In reading the memoirs and historical sketches of the last thirty or forty years," the Duke writes, "I have been sometimes struck by finding either no allusion, or but slight reference made to persons at whose instigation I remembered certain important steps were taken. This omission may have been caused by the desire not to expose to criticism the actions of certain Royal personages. However, such a manner of treating a subject leaves much cause for reflection. The constitutional principle conceals the action of the Crown out of respect. History sometimes, for the same reason, passes over in silence the proceedings of Royalty." This paragraph is of great significance. It shows how much more we are injured and humbugged by Royalty than we suppose ourselves to be. Wherever Royalty interferes it necessarily does so on behalf of birth and privilege, upon which it is founded. We contribute about a million sterling to support Royalty, and, in return, it exercises a potent but unseen It influence to the prejudice of popular interests. becomes the means of personal aggrandisement in Officers a manner fatal to the public service. who are paid by the people have to look to Royalty for promotion, or compete with a brood of princes who have no opportunity for promotion by merit. "LET him that stands take heed lest he fall." A few weeks ago the Duke of Argyll was boasting that his tenants were blessed with the best of all possible landlords. Unfortunately for his argument, the Land Commissioners have come along his way and pulled down his rents from £1,251 to £922, and his arrears from £2,717 to £1,191. We now quite understand the Duke's position on the Irish question. "A fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind." There is honour among rack-renters, little as you would think it. A MAN, to be greatly good, must imagine intensely and comprehensively; he must put himself in the place of another and of many others; the pains and pleasures of his species must become his own.-Shelley. No one goes unpunished who stands aside in moments when the duty of action is laid imperatively or all.-Ranke. WE claim in society dominion for individual merit, in morality for inborn generosity, in literature for genuine feeling.-Taine. RADICAL RHYMES. AIR.-New Year's Song. My countrymen, awake, arise! Your mingled voices rend the skies, You've proudly marched and bravely met Too long has Erin heard the clink Too long have landlords come to think Though they may boast, their rightful debt But, oh, my friends, we'll teach them yet What working men can do. Too long we've blindly borne the yoke, As long as one detested rag Of feudal rule remains; As long as idle hands shall drag As long as Right by Might be met: So long, my men, there's something yet The Branch of Peace is in our hands, From North to South the myriad bands Music Hall Melody. There's a fellah that I know, For he's got 10,000 a year, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. And he's what they call a peer, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol, But his time is going past, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. There's some fellahs that I know, Who will surely have to go, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. For they've all some thousands a year, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol fol. And plenty of that to spare, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. Though they're running rather short, For the farmers, somehow, thought, That they get more than they ought, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. There's another that I know, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. And I used to call him Joe, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. But he's such an awful swell, That I fear he's caught the spell From the fanciful P. L., Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. For he has some thousands a year, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. Just the same as any peer, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. But let's hope it isn't so, That he hasn't got in tow, And become a Primrose beau, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. There are others that I know, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. And they have such thousands a year, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. There's another that I know, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. And these others love him so, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. Though the classes may condemn, And attempt his course to stem. Oh! they fear the G.O.M. Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol. Though they have their thousands a year, |
