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the zeal of the poor man's friends. Electoral Reform has been the only panacea suggested!
Shall we contrast the munificence of the Lancashire nobleman during the cotton famine with the magniloquence of the Lancashire manufacturer?
If space permitted I might refer you to the Factory acts, and a dozen other Conservative measures specially beneficial to the operative which either received no support from Mr. Bright, or encountered his strenuous opposition.
- Its sacrifice of principle to popularity.
As a spurious popularity is the basis on which Radicalism must rest, it is not surprising that principle should be subordinated to it. When the Conservative administration inherited from their predecessors the vexed question of meetings in the Parks, did Lord Russell and Mr. Gladstone by word or sign interpose so as to vindicate order and authority, and a course of action, which judging from the out spoken sentiments of Sir G. Grey they would have adopted themselves? Bad as was this behaviour on the part of the Liberal leaders it was nothing when compared with Mr. Gladstone's conduct in the matter of Finlen.
Mr. Finlen leaving his starving children in their wretched den proceeded with a deputation one Saturday afternoon to communicate to Mr. Gladstone their valuable sympathy, their disapproval of the House of Lords, and their intention to hold a
