Gentlemen, I do not despair. (Loud cheering for several minutes.) We will work on another year. (Cheers.) I think the noble lord said a year, a little year. We will work on gladly for him for another year (cheers); and then, when he has reflected on our principles—when he has considered the justice of our case—when he has brought his mind, by the unaided course of his own calm reflections and his high moral guidance, to believe that we are right and just in our object—when be shall have done this, I live in hopes that ho, at the end of a little year, will get come forward and and achieve the triumph of this great question in the House of Commons. (Cheers.) But, whilst we express that hope again, I must remind you that we are here us anti-corn-law leaguers. We are here pledged to our principles, and I must tell you in the West Riding, that it lies with you now to show to the people of England that we are honest in the avowal of our principles. You may be called upon to make sacrifices, greater sacrifices, of personal feeling, rightly directed and well merited-greater personal attachment than any constituency of this country ever was called upon to make. I neither hold out bribes nor threats to the noble lord, I know he is competent, by his own unaided intellect and right-minded integrity of character, to decide for himself. But we stand pledged not to whigs nor to tories, but to the whole people of this country that we are not politicians. (Cheers.) Mir. Cobden having mentioned the names of various eminent individuals holding conservative opinions who were with the League, said in conclusion, I say to the noble lord one word more. The noble lord has said to us 'God speed you; you are in the right path, and I hope that you will go forward under your advancing banner.' I say to him, he is in the right path, and God speed him whilst he makes progress in it."
Mr. Bright, on rising, was greeted with the same earnest. ness and warmth of feeling which had marked the reception of his distinguished colleague. The committee of management had requested him, said he, to propose to the meeting this sentiment—"The Abolition of the Sugar and all other Monopolies," and although it was not his custom to propose what were commonly called toasts, he had very great pleasure in proposing this sentiment, and was glad of being permitted to offer some observations upon it. The hon. gentleman then proceeded to discuss several bearings of the free-trade question; and commented at some length on the various meetings of the agricultural "protection"
