Page:Perils of home rule.djvu/14

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argue whether Pitt was or was not justified, though I think it probable that he was. Walpole said in his clay that every man had his price, and I have heard eminent Liberal members say that it was the vilest, most sordid, and most satanic principle that they had ever heard of. Every class has its price is a later version; but then classes, you know, are composed of individuals, and then this bribery of classes is bribery in the highest degree. The only word to express this sort of bribe—it occurs in Burke, I think; it is an ugly word—the word is bribe-pander. (Hear.) Pander is an unpleasant word. The man who condescends to awaken the lust of covetousness in classes and conditions of men, who procures objects for the concupiscence which he has evoked among masses of people

A BRIBE-PANDER.

(Applause.) I no more call Mr. Gladstone a bribe-pander than Mr. Gladstone called Mr. Pitt a blackguard. I am only speaking of their policy. (Applause.) I would say to my Nonconformist friends, if I could address them, "Mr. Gladstone, his party, and his policy comes before you with the biggest bribe in his right hand that ever was offered to the sons of men." If one's indignation did not rise, I think one could hardly help smiling. Perhaps this assembly would excuse me if I remind them of the passage in the "Fortunes of Nigel." King James the First is speaking of his son, who, perhaps, was not famous for sincerity, and of his favourite, who was not famous for regularity of life. "I heard," he says, "baby Charles and Steeny laying down Delgaoud's duty to gingling Geordie. Man it was grand to hear baby Charles on the guilt of dissimulation, and Steeny lecturing on the turpitude of incontinence." (Laughter and applause.) When the mists have cleared away, and when the policy of Mr. Gladstone comes to be compared with Pitt's, I feel perfectly sure that the word blackguard will not be used, because even if our language go on increasing at the rate of some thousands of words in the century there will scarcely be a word, but there may be a word to express the character of the conduct which tries