Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/135

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FIRST COVENT GARDEN MEETING.
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surpassing skill and untiring energy with which the League have prosecuted their labours. Neither can any man doubt the issue of the great struggle, when he considers the points in dispute, the condition of the country, the state of public feeling, and the means at the disposal of the League for prosecuting the war on which they have embarked. Mr. Cobden, who was received with, if possible, greater applause, than ever, plunged at once into the marrow of the question. He commenced by grappling with the argument against the abolition of the Corn Laws which has been 90 often, of late, urged by the monopolists-namely, that, notwithstanding the existence of these laws, trade is confessedly reviving. He first demonstrated that the revival of trade is only partial, and then that even this partial resuscitation is solely the result of a redaction of prices, consequent on two favourable harvests. The hon. gentleman entered into various statistical details in proof of his position, which ke established with the conclusiveness of mathematical demonstration, and amidst the loudest plaudits that ever greeted the eloquence of a public speaker. Mr. Cobden adverted at considerable length to the League's plan of operations for the future. Anything better adapted to accomplish its purpose was never devised by human ingenuity. The announcement of Mr. Cobden, that it is not the intention of the League to recommend any further petitioning to parliament, produced a sensation exceeding anything we ever before witnessed. The immense assemblage—there must have been fully 5,000 present—simultaneously rose to their feet, and gave expression to their joy in thunders of applause. We wish that all the members of the corrupt Commons had been present to witness this expression of the estimation in which they are held by the country. Mr. Bright, in a speech displaying more than his wonted eloquence and power, proceeded throughout on the assumption that the corn monopoly is tottering to its full. Even already, as he justly remarked, there are thousands of families in England who are deriving actual happiness from the labours of the League, merely from the confident expectation that the entire extinction of the monopoly is at hand. Mr. Fox followed Mr. Bright. His speech was one of the best he ever delivered, and was received with continued bursts of applause. The speaking was equal, on the whole, to anything we have heard since the commencement of the Anti-Corn-Law agitation. But what is of more importance, the arguments were conclusive in the themselves, and were brought forward with irresistible effect. No monopolist sophistry was left unexposed-no point was omitted which could place in a strong and striking light the terrible effects which have been produced by the operation of the Corn Laws. If, indeed, the decision of the points at issue depended on the awards of justice, reason, and utility, the question might have been fairly considered to have been last night settled."