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THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES.
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cautious in our proceedings. I do not mean cautious lest anything should be catched up with a view to prosecution,—but cautious that, seeing so many are looking up to us for counsel and for guidance, that we do not take a false step. You know that we have been loaded with the obloquy of one of the great parties in the state, and have been tempted by the cajolery and coaxing of the other; and you know that the party who held the government of this country, and might have done for the term of their natural lives, if they had not been drawn by the most extraordinary infatuation add imbecility that men ever laboured under—you know that we have little more to expect from these men than from the others. And yet there are many of them who dream of coming into power again with an 8s. fixed duty! (Laughter.) These men, I say, are no more our friends than the others; and directly we pass the limit to which they are willing to extend relief, and which would serve themselves, they are as anxious to put an end to our progress as the most determined monopolist. (Hear, hear.) Now, then, what we have to take care of is, that this struggle is not made a mere plaything, a make-weight between these two parties. (Applause.) We have had enough of that. We must take care that politics are no longer the game of mere party, but that it is to be a game of substantial advantages for the people. (Applause.) I am sure there is power enough to do it. There is not a borough constituency in the kingdom that might not be induced to return members for free trade; for though most of them have been locked up by faction and in the hands of party, yet if you go to the shopkeepers and the rank and file of the constituency,—as you are doing through your deputations and lecturers and tracts, and show them the truth,—I say if you do this, I believe there are few men so bowed down and craven in spirit, that when they see the right way they will not come down from faction, forsake the party they have been bound up with from mere prejudice, and serve their country. (Applause.) You know that in Manchester and Rochdale, and many other towns, where the people are enlightened enough to see the truth, they have the power to return whom they like. Even when a monopolist candidate has dared to show his face here, he has always found it necessary, at least, to put on the garb of a free trader. ( Laughter ) Now I wish the League to go on in this course. I believe the farmers are as anxious for good laws as we are, if they could but see the light. Once get rid of this immense mass of ignorance and prejudice that binds them to the present law; once get rid of these Corn Laws, the cementing influence which binds them all to one faction, and you will have full scope to bring them to support the interest which you believe to be the true interest of all, and as anxious to co-operate with you to obtain good government and every benefit which just and impartial laws could gain
