按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
adventurous spirit； done the most to distinguish himself and it；
did not blush for the tremendous audacity of having so come between
the wind and his nobility； turned an airy period with reference to
the private theatricals at Drury Lane Theatre。 Now； I have some
slight acquaintance with theatricals； private and public； and I
will accept that figure of the noble lord。 I will not say that if
I wanted to form a company of Her Majesty's servants； I think I
should know where to put my hand on 〃the comic old gentleman；〃 nor；
that if I wanted to get up a pantomime； I fancy I should know what
establishment to go to for the tricks and changes； also； for a very
considerable host of supernumeraries； to trip one another up in
that contention with which many of us are familiar； both on these
and on other boards； in which the principal objects thrown about
are loaves and fishes。 But I will try to give the noble lord the
reason for these private theatricals； and the reason why； however
ardently he may desire to ring the curtain down upon them； there is
not the faintest present hope of their coming to a conclusion。 It
is this：… The public theatricals which the noble lord is so
condescending as to manage are so intolerably bad； the machinery is
so cumbrous； the parts so ill…distributed； the company so full of
〃walking gentlemen；〃 the managers have such large families； and are
so bent upon putting those families into what is theatrically
called 〃first business〃 … not because of their aptitude for it； but
because they ARE their families； that we find ourselves obliged to
organize an opposition。 We have seen the COMEDY OF ERRORS played
so dismally like a tragedy that we really cannot bear it。 We are；
therefore； making bold to get up the SCHOOL OF REFORM； and we hope；
before the play is out； to improve that noble lord by our
performance very considerably。 If he object that we have no right
to improve him without his license； we venture to claim that right
in virtue of his orchestra； consisting of a very powerful piper；
whom we always pay。
Sir； as this is the first political meeting I have ever attended；
and as my trade and calling is not associated with politics；
perhaps it may be useful for me to show how I came to be here；
because reasons similar to those which have influenced me may still
be trembling in the balance in the minds of others。 I want at all
times； in full sincerity； to do my duty by my countrymen。 If I
feel an attachment towards them； there is nothing disinterested or
meritorious in that； for I can never too affectionately remember
the confidence and friendship that they have long reposed in me。
My sphere of action … which I shall never change … I shall never
overstep； further than this； or for a longer period than I do to…
night。 By literature I have lived； and through literature I have
been content to serve my country； and I am perfectly well aware
that I cannot serve two masters。 In my sphere of action I have
tried to understand the heavier social grievances； and to help to
set them right。 When the TIMES newspaper proved its then almost
incredible case； in reference to the ghastly absurdity of that vast
labyrinth of misplaced men and misdirected things； which had made
England unable to find on the face of the earth； an enemy one…
twentieth part so potent to effect the misery and ruin of her noble
defenders as she has been herself； I believe that the gloomy
silence into which the country fell was by far the darkest aspect
in which a great people had been exhibited for many years。 With
shame and indignation lowering among all classes of society； and
this new element of discord piled on the heaving basis of
ignorance； poverty and crime； which is always below us … with
little adequate expression of the general mind； or apparent
understanding of the general mind； in Parliament … with the
machinery of Government and the legislature going round and round；
and the people fallen from it and standing aloof； as if they left
it to its last remaining function of destroying itself； when it had
achieved the destruction of so much that was dear to them … I did
and do believe that the only wholesome turn affairs so menacing
could possibly take； was； the awaking of the people； the
outspeaking of the people； the uniting of the people in all
patriotism and loyalty to effect a great peaceful constitutional
change in the administration of their own affairs。 At such a
crisis this association arose； at such a crisis I joined it：
considering its further case to be … if further case could possibly
be needed … that what is everybody's business is nobody's business；
that men must be gregarious in good citizenship as well as in other
things； and that it is a law in nature that there must be a centre
of attraction for particles to fly to； before any serviceable body
with recognised functions can come into existence。 This
association has arisen； and we belong to it。 What are the
objections to it？ I have heard in the main but three； which I will
now briefly notice。 It is said that it is proposed by this
association to exercise an influence； through the constituencies；
on the House of Commons。 I have not the least hesitation in saying
that I have the smallest amount of faith in the House of Commons at
present existing and that I consider the exercise of such influence
highly necessary to the welfare and honour of this country。 I was
reading no later than yesterday the book of Mr。 Pepys； which is
rather a favourite of mine； in which he； two hundred years ago；
writing of the House of Commons； says：
〃My cousin Roger Pepys tells me that it is matter of the greatest
grief to him in the world that he should be put upon this trust of
being a Parliament man； because he says nothing is done； that he
can see； out of any truth and sincerity； but mere envy and design。〃
Now； how it comes to pass that after two hundred years； and many
years after a Reform Bill； the house of Commons is so little
changed； I will not stop to inquire。 I will not ask how it happens
that bills which cramp and worry the people； and restrict their
scant enjoyments； are so easily passed； and how it happens that
measures for their real interests are so very difficult to be got
through Parliament。 I will not analyse the confined air of the
lobby； or reduce to their primitive gases its deadening influences
on the memory of that Honourable Member who was once a candidate
for the honour of your … and my … independent vote and interest。 I
will not ask what is that Secretarian figure； full of
blandishments； standing on the threshold； with its finger on its
lips。 I will not ask how it comes that those personal
altercations； involving all the removes and definitions of
Shakespeare's Touchstone … the retort courteous … the quip modest …
the reply churlish … the reproof valiant … the countercheck
quarrelsome … the lie circumstantial and the lie direct … are of
immeasurably greater interest in the House of Commons than the
health； the taxation； and the education； of a whole people。 I will
not penetrate into the mysteries of that secret chamber in which
the Bluebeard of Party keeps his strangled public questions； and
with regard to which； when he gives the key to his wife； the new
comer； he strictly charges her on no account to open the door。 I
will merely put it to the experience of everybody here； whether the
House of Commons is not occasionally a little hard of hearing； a
little dim of sight； a little slow of understanding； and whether；
in short； it is not in a sufficiency invalided state to require
close watching； and the occasional application of sharp stimulants；
and whether it is not capable of considerable improvement？ I
believe that； in order to preserve it in a state of real usefulness
and independence； the people must be very watchful and very jealous
of it； and it must have its memory jogged； and be kept awake when
it happens to have taken too much Ministerial narcotic； it must be
trotted about； and must be bustled and pinched in a friendly way；
as is the usage in such cases。 I hold that no power can deprive us
of the right to administer our functions as a body comprising
electors from all parts of the country； associated together because
their country is dearer to them than drowsy twaddle； unmeaning
routine； or worn…out conventionalities。
This brings me to objection number two。 It is stated that this
Association sets class against class。 Is this so？ （CRIES OF
〃No。〃） No； it finds class set against class； and seeks to
reconcile them。 I wish to avoid placing in opposition those two
words … Aristocracy and People。 I am one who can believe in the
virtues and uses of both； and would not on any account deprive
either of a single just right belonging to it。 I will use； instead
of these words； the terms； the governors and the governed。 These
two bodies