1863.
Ar, 59,

B06 ;

LIFE ©? COBDEN. [omar

political power, whils in another coontry they possess ic, they will be
treated there with more consideration, they will have greater advantages
they will be better educated, and have & better chance of possessing
property than in a country where they are deprived of political power:
(Hear)
You will observe in the above passage from my speech, taken from your
own report, that I use the words, I don’t want any agrarian outrages by
which we should change all this;” and now we must appeal to the
authority of the lexicographer. If you turn to Webster's (quarto)
Dictionary you will find the word “ agrarian” interpreted, on the
authority of Burke, as follows 1
“Relating to lands. Denoting or pertaining to an equal division of
lands; as, the agrarian laws of Rome, which distributed the conquered
and other public lands equally among all the citizens, limiting the quan”
tity which each might enjoy.” Again, in the same dictionary the word
* agrarianism ” is given ag an equal division of lands or property, or the
principles of those who favour such a division,”
Thus, in repudiating the agrarian system, I repudiated, in pure and
anquestionable English, according to Burke, the principles of those who
favour an equal division of land ; I repudiated the agrarian laws of Rome;
and yet, in spite of this, you charge me and Mr. Bright with * proposing
a division among the poor of the lands of the rich,” and you associate 28
with Gracchus in schemes of socialistic spoliation.

Mr. Delane in reply (Dec. 16) insisted that the passage t0
which Cobden had referred him, did in his opinion convey #
proposition for the division among the poor of the lands of
the rich. “ You seem to assume,” he said, that I charged
you with proposing that this division should be accomplished
by violence. But your own words were there to prove to me
that such was not your meaning, and to confute me instantly
if I had attempted to attach that meaning to it” This, 28
wo shall see in a moment, ruined Mr. Delane’s case, for the
Times had distinctly and in terms described the proposed
change as the work of violence, Meanwhile, he went on 0
say that it could be effected by compulsory partition after
death as in France ee

A similar measure proposed by yourself, or by Mr. Bright, and
srried in a parliament elected principally by the peasantry whom you