378 APPENDIX. [No. XXXV. 



success at the late general election was largely due to the existence in most 

 comities and boroughs in England of Conservative associations which 

 represented all classes of society. Elections cannot be won by the isolated 

 efforts of a few persons, however able and influential they may be ; what is 

 required is a combined effort on the part of all who are attached to the 

 Crown and the Constitution, and who desire the freedom of the people. 

 The Conservatives of Rochester may rely on our sympathy and assistance 

 in their attempt to constitute a united and powerful party in Rochester." 

 For the first time since the last election, which we lost from various causes, 

 you have constituted yourselves into committees to carry that out. Tou 

 have only to thoroughly organize those committees, and success is yours. 

 A gentleman has favoured us this evening with his presence — my friend 

 Mr. Trego, Chairman of the Conservative organization at Tottenham 

 (applause) — and he wiU. tell you presently, if you call upon him, what 

 success attended his efforts in Tottenham, how hundreds voted at the last 

 election in comparison with tens who voted before; and as he won the 

 victory in Middlesex, so you may win' Rochester by a thorough combination, 

 (Applause.) Do not let us neglect to follow the Liberals in whatever may 

 be good; and they in this city have done much to show what organization 

 can do. They have got a house fox- the purpose in which they " keep 

 dark," in which they attend to the registration and to the votes, and they 

 by that organization have obtained the advantage for many an election. 

 (Hear, hear.) But the working men of this city are powerful indeed, for 

 they constitute the majority ; they have only to be true to themselves, and 

 true to each other, and the member they desire wiU be placed at the head 

 of the poll. (Applause.) I look upon this letter as a pledge that they in 

 London will render every aid in their power if you do your duty in looking 

 after each other, and securing the vote of every man who is upon the 

 register. (Applause.) Now, the power of Conservatism over the country 

 cannot be too highly estimated. It is a matter of high principle ; it is a 

 matter of principle which iufluences every action of our lives. We begin 

 by combining reUgion as a part of our government, feeling that it ought to 

 be carried on on just the same principles which we carry into every action 

 of our lives; (Hear, hear.) The working man is essentially Conservative ; by 

 nature he must be so. (Applause.) I will illustrate that by one simple 

 instance. I have alluded on other occasions to that machine which is con- 

 trived over in Strood by Mr. Aveling — with its piston to go quick and its 

 wheels to go slow — ^whioh can be seen in the streets of London continually. 

 Now, supposing you were to act contrary to principle — to screw down the 

 safety valve — it would be blovm into ten thousand pieces. Or supposing 

 there was some little damage and the engine would not go at all, you would 

 not think of trusting it to any man to repair who did not understand the 

 principles upon which it was made. Yet this country has trusted the most 

 recondite principles of government, the most recondite principles of action, 

 to men of all sorts of varying ideas, and who had no principle upon any 

 subject whatever. (Applause.) Now let me take a glance at the growth of 

 the doctrine of Conservative progress since I first entered into your city. 

 When I first addressed you in the King's Head rooms opposite, I was 

 astonished at the multitude of my audience. We had to take precautions 

 that no accident should happen to the house from the number of persons 

 who' were present. That was followed by the meeting when we a;pplied for 



