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274 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM.
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not the proper method. But it iR easy to name severel other
reforms which ought, in all probability, to be approached in fho
experimental manner. Thus peasant proprietorship ought certainly
to be tried in Ireland, as it wa9 intended to be tried under
the Bright clauses of the Irish Land Act. I am familiar with
most of the economic objections to peasant proprietorship in
thia kingdom, and I have read sufficient of the large literature
of the subject to know that evidence in favour of and against
such tenure of land is excecdingly divergent and perplexing.
The proper resource then is to fry the thiag-not by some vast
revolution in tho land-owning of Ireland, as proposed by the
late Mr. Mill, a measure which, in the first place, mould never
pass Parliament, and, if it did, mould cost an enormous sum of
money, rrud probably result in failure-but by a small and
progressive experiment. “Earth hunger ” is a very potent
passion, and I believe it is tht from which the Irish people
are really sufferiug. Bread and bacon arc not 6he only good
thing8 an Irish peasant might aspire to ; a plttce to call his
own, a Rhnre of the air and sunlight of his native isle, and a
land-bank in which to save up the strokes of his pick and
spade, might work moral wonders. It is not safe to predict
the act.ion of human motive ; but, at any rate, try it, although
the trial cost as much as one or two first-rate ironclads, or a
new triumph over a negro monarch. Surely the state of our
Irish Poland is the worst possible injury to our prestige.
Much doubt exists, again, as to whether imprisonment is
necessary t.0 enforce the payment of small debts. If needless,
it is certainly oppressive. But if the abolition of t.he power of
imprisonment, on the part of County Court judges, would
really destroy the credit of the poorer classes with their
tradesmen, 8 geueral measure to that effect would be dangerous
and difficult to retract.. I do not see how the question
can be decided, except by trying the effect in a certain
number of County Court districts, and watching the resulta.
It would be well worth the trouble to try t.he effect upon a
certain body of inhabitants of t,he most perfect sanitary regulation,
somewhat in the manner foreshadowed by Dr. B; W.
Richardson in his City of Hygeia This I should like to see