Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/414

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MR. COBDEN.

sliding scale. Alluding to the changes made in many of the counties and boroughs by attention to the registrations, he said there was every reason to be hopeful, and concluded an eloquent speech by saying: "We must not relax in our labours; on the contrary, we must be more zealous, more energetic, more laborious, than we ever yet have been. When the enemy is wavering, then is the time to press upon him, I call, then, on all who have any sympathy in our cause, who have any promptings of humanity, or who feel any interest in the well being of their fellow-men, all who have apprehensions of scarcity and privations, to come forward to avert this horrible destiny, this dreadfully impending visitation." The prolonged cheers that followed promised the increased activity that had been so earnestly recommended.

Mr. Henry Ashworth, of Turton, followed, and dwelt with much effect on the duty which the free traders owed to their country in the continuance, with redoubled vigour, of the instructions which they had already so widely spread. Their whole moral force must now be exerted to consummate what they had begun. If other seven years' labour was required it must be given. "I know," he said, "that there are around me those whose cheeks are furrowed with the exercise of the last seven years; but I fully believe they will endure another seven years' labour, if such were needful, in the same cause, and to spend quarter-of-a-million of money in the contest, confident that it would be the wisest expenditure they ever made."

Mr. Bright followed Mr. Ashworth, and dashed at once into the question. "At this moment," he said, "all around us is strengthening the conviction of former years; all around us is telling us, in a voice louder than ever, that every word of reproach, that every harsh saying, which we have uttered against the Corn Law, has not by any means conveyed its true character as it is now exhibited before us. The present state of feeling throughout