But in order to protect property, and especially
landed property, from illegitimate and reckless attack,
and from the efforts of the Land and National
Leagues, and in order, also, to make some provision
for the deficiency of a trained middle class in Ireland,
which would naturally check inexperienced power, I
would here unquestionably take precautions which



IRISH LOCAL GOYERNMENT 375

do not exist in the English system. I would avail
myself largely of the cumulative vote, giving the
wealthier ratepayers increased right as a counterpoise
to masses of poor peasants, and I would place on
every County Council a certain number of men of
substance — say from ;^40O a year upwards — to be
elected separately by a free vote, in order specially
to represent property and to form a conservative force
in the County Council. The peculiar circumstances
of Ireland require a check of this kind ; and if this
elective but controlling body were superadded to the
County Council, the new institution, I fain would
hope, would perform its functions reasonably well.
