ULTRA RADICALISM. 37 



burners and scull-batterers ; it follow s, though they do not perhaps 

 positively approve of such doings, they are certainly not so disgusted 

 at them as the rest of educated society are. The appellations de- 

 structive and incendiary are, it must be confessed, not attractive; 

 and, no doubt, somewhat over-express the political bias and ten- 

 dencies of the ultra party, But they are not applied, in their full 

 import, to the educated and controversial portion of the party ; and 

 as meaning no more than toleration of, and comparative indifference 

 to, destruction and incendiarism, and abomination of all efficient mea- 

 sures of coercion, the Radical is surprised at their being objected to. 



The Radical, the alterer and improver, is not for directly wrench- 

 ing up by root, whatever displeases in branch, or bud, or blossom, or 

 fruit, but for carefully digging down and laying bare in order to dis- 

 cern the source of mischief ; and then, either pruning, or lopping, or 

 sawing off, or, if it be really necessary, rooting up. The Radical is 

 generally disposed to believe something may be worth preserving in 

 the midst of that which is more or less bad. But he is, at the same 

 time, utterly fearless of consequences in undertaking and prosecuting 

 inquiry to the utmost. He is determined to spare absolutely nothing, 

 in kind as well as degree, which, after the most pains taking investi- 

 gation, shall be found worthless. 



The radical holds his own distinct opinions upon the subject of pledges, 

 alike removed from aristocratic insolence and democratic illiberality. 

 He deems it preposterous presumption in a man to affect representa- 

 tion, till he has laid up in his head and heart a certain store of poli- 

 tical principles, adopted after years of observation and reflection. Of 

 course, therefore, the radical scouts the canting delicacy of candidates, 

 who, justly spurning the yoke of servitude to constituents, go the 

 absurd length of refusing to admit any definition of the trust they 

 covet, It being only his political principles that can qualify one man 

 of sufficient ability in preference to another, the radical considers a 

 clear and detailed avowal of principles indispensable in a candidate. 

 " De non apparentibus et non existentibus" thinks the radical, " eadem 

 est ratio;" therefore, though averse from requiring formal pledges, 

 on any points, still fairly in a debatable state, he expects a candidate 

 to declare to what extent he has made up his mind on many subjects 

 which have been long before the public; and to explain, with satis- 

 factory precision, the existing bias of his opinion on other points still 

 undetermined with him. He thinks no man fit for a representative 

 who has all, or very much to learn, from listening to future debates 

 in parliament, on measures already old in public consideration ; and 

 cannot help suspecting incompetency or sinister intention in those 

 who profess themselves altogether " in statu pupillari" as to particu- 

 lars of future conduct. But the radical has the feelings of a gentle- 

 man, and wonders how his countrymen can allow writers or speakers 

 to compare a representative to a servant in want of place. He 

 would not feel himself degraded by cleaning shoes, brushing coats, &c. 

 and, under reduced circumstances, proving himself in all respects 

 " Verna ministeriis ad nutus aptus hcriles ;" but his very gorge rises at 

 the idea of serving the many-headed master Plebs in his own way. 

 Death from one of Plebs's brickbats would be luxury to such servi- 



