16 SKETCH OF THE AUTHORS LIFE. 



We are aware that John Younger came to be 

 viewed with some jealousy, as a man who held ex- 

 treme political opinions. With his outspoken dis- 

 position, and forcible powers of expression, he could 

 hardly escape such an imputation. In this respect 

 we think he was misjudged. He was a poor man, 

 and naturally took the side that poor men take 

 when questions affecting popular privileges are under 

 discussion ; but he was remarkably free from all 

 political crotchets. When the chartist movement 

 was at its formidable stage he was invited to take 

 part in it, but declined, seeing no good results to 

 follow, and imputing to it not a few bad ones at the 

 period. He has recorded the following remark on 

 political discussion : " The man who will tell me 

 that because I am a poor man, I have no business 

 with the government of my country, I must despise 

 as something worse than a simple idiot.'' He has 

 the following just remarks on public affairs, and the 

 principle by which they should be conducted. " A 

 continual stirring, in what are called state conten- 

 tions, is kept up by parties for public offices, in idea 

 of honour or profit, or both ; but these are compara- 

 tively like winds and storms to the balance of the 

 general atmosphere, partial and trivial in their effects, 

 compared with the spirit of the exclusive principle, 



