Such was the tenor of Mr Disraeli's motion, which was negatived, in a
crowded house, by a majority of only FOURTEEN. In the proposal itself
there was nothing unreasonable--nothing which even faction could lay
hold of. The difficulties of one class in the community were admitted
by Ministers, and contrasted by them with the general prosperity which
was assumed as the condition of all others. It was not denied, but
rather stated as matter of exultation, that this general prosperity
arose from the same cause which had occasioned the depression--that the
same fountain had given forth both sweet and bitter waters, refreshing
and enlivening on the one side, whilst, on the other, it spread decay.
Under these circumstances, it will not be denied, by any unprejudiced
person, that it was the bounden duty of Her Majesty's Ministers--not
to come forward voluntarily with any remission to the suffering class,
which might be construed as a favour--but seriously to consider whether
or not the statement preferred on the part of the agriculturists, that
they were unjustly and unequally burdened and restricted, was true; and
if it were true, then to accord relief in a fair and equitable manner.
Sorry are we, indeed, to say, that neither her Majesty's Ministers, nor
such of the supporters of the late Sir Robert Peel as spoke and voted
on the motion, had the courage to face openly this question of abstract
justice. It was enough for them that the proposition was made by a
leader of the country party, and that it was generally supported by
those opposed to their commercial policy. These circumstances were of
themselves sufficient to secure its rejection, even had the discussion
of it not involved points to which no Free-Trader has ever yet ventured
to address himself.
What these points are, we shall presently examine. But first let us go
back for a little to what are matters of history.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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