Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/446

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432
MR. COBDEN.

country found that they would not give way to moral force, they might think it requisite to place them in another Schedule A. (Laughter.)"

Mr. Cobden proceeded to notice the state of the agricultural counties where the protectionists did not dare to call meetings, and reminded them of the progress which was made there in the purchase of forty-shilling freeholds, which would soon neutralize the effects of the Chandos clause; asserted that the farmers and farm-labourers now denied that protection was any benefit to them; invited the House to recognise the principles that the community should not be taxed for the benefit of a class; and concluded by saying: " We have set an example to the world in all ages; we have given them the representative system. Why, the very rules and regulations of this House have been taken as the model for every representative assembly throughout the whole civilized world; and having besides given them the example of a free press, of civil and religious liberty, and of every institution that belongs to freedom and civilisation, we are now about to offer a still greater example; we are going to set the example of making industry free—to set the example of giving the whole world every advantage in every clime, and latitude, and production; relying ourselves on the freedom of our industry. Yes, we are going to teach the world that other lesson. Don't think there is anything selfish in this, or anything at all discordant with Christian principles. I can prove that we advocate nothing but what is agreeable to the highest behests of Christianity. To buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest. What is the meaning of the maxim? It means that you take the article which you have in the greatest abundance, and obtain from others that of which they have the most to spare, so giving to mankind the means of enjoying the fullest abundance of every earthly good, and in doing so carrying out to the fullest extent the Christian doctrine of