592 CAN THE TORIES TAKE OFFICE AFTER ALL ? 



the fruit of a vine which shall cling for ever to the British oak, and 

 which is named REFORM. 



But if which Heaven forbid that we should ascribe to his Majesty 

 the king has seen reason to deplore the consequences of reform 

 if, actuated by the pernicious counsels of men who cannot bring one 

 argument, whether drawn from the constitution of this kingdom, 

 the practice of any free state heretofore in the world, or the philo- 

 sophical theory of any government whatever, in plausible support of 

 their own arbitrary determination to enslave the people of England ; 

 if, we say, the king has been misadvised to thrust his hand between 

 the wheels of the mighty engine propelled by the daily accumulated 

 force of public opinion then we plainly assert that the endeavour 

 will prove, to speak mildly, impracticable. To go back now were 

 indeed " as tedious as go on," and at the same time more difficult 

 more dangerous, and certain to lead to that which the Tories are 

 perpetually deploring, and constantly seeking to effect, that is to say, 

 confusion, anarchy, and bloodshed. 



" If," says Milton, of the Tories of that day, " their absolute de- 

 termination be to enthrall us, before so long a Lent of servitude, they 

 may permit us a little Shroving-time first, wherein to speak freely, 

 and take our leave of liberty. They knew," he adds in another 

 place, " they knew the people of England to be a free people, them- 

 selves the representers of that freedom." It is the absolute determi- 

 nation of the Tories to enthrall us ; and we know the people of Eng- 

 land to be a free people, themselves the representers of that freedom. 

 Now, then, is the struggle ; and, if the Tories will have it so, the 

 people must once more shew them and since it is to be for the last 

 time, it were well to make it plain to the meanest capacity amongst 

 them that governments were made for nations by nations, and not 

 nations for and by governments. The question, therefore, the Tories 

 now have to resolve is this, how are we once more to enslave the peo- 

 ple of England ? and this would seem to be somewhat difficult of 

 practical answer. It is, or may be, expedient, since they cannot at 

 present cut his throat, that the rats should fasten a tinkling cymbal, 

 or rather symbol, round the neck of Grimalkin. But where is the 

 Archibald Bell the cat among the Tories that will venture to try 

 the experiment ? 



To speak freely during this our Shroving-time we must confess 



