ÜBODR QUESTIONS IN ENGLAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2183, 26 July 1889, Page 3

ÜBODR QUESTIONS IN ENGLAND

The London " Daily Chronicle " says, fn writing of tome " practical public difficul'ies Involving grave issues for the •eantry *' :— W» may take it that our main perplexities at present arise from three eltarly marked movements of population Agricultural laborers are lenviog a lamentable void on many a country side m order to herd m the lowest aod already •rercrowded quarters of great cities. The Immigration of impoverished foreigners is intensifying the misery of the Blums. At the same time our colonies and thu United States ars> drawing from us every year no Jnooßsiderable portion of our best manhood* This latter process we cannot check, nor should we desre to plaoe barriers m the way of the impulse which has sent and is sending so msny of our countrymen across the sea to better themse yes and to help io the building of new Englandi. Butthe other two injurious movements of population may be Impeded or put a stop to altogether. It is mon■trons that wo should be flooded with foreign paupers. Ev n the Übited States with its vast territories has deolined to submit' to a similar nuisance Immigrants shoald be compelled to ifftr at tbe ports of arrival proof that they are not of tbe pauper or helpless clais of oitizocs. With our •treats over-filled with ear own poor, It Is folly to continue to allow the poor of other countries to be shunted by shiploads on to our shores. Then there Is the ques* tlon of the agricultural laborer. Canon Fane observes, probably with juet'ce that it ia the " denial of independence to the rustic laborer which is driving him Into the oities and rapid y bringing about m London an intolerable state of things." Here, indeed, the Churoh can help. If it ranges itself on the laborer's side, and aaiUti him m his aspirations after a position by bis homestead worlhy of an EngHsbman, the reform of the land and game laws will probably be aohiev* d, and tbe mral laborers be traneformed into » prosperous and self respecting peasantry, too contented to migrate rashly to smoky cities.