Page:A Few Plain Observations Upon the End and Means of Political Reform.djvu/18

, who therefore did not obtain a very patient hearing, that little hope could now be entertained of effecting a Parliamentary Reform.—If he had stated that little hope could be entertained from such meetings and such measures, I should have concurred in the statement; being fully satisfied that such assemblies are ill calculated for the purposes of temperate discussion—that the moderation of their proceedings depends exclusively upon a few of their most popular leaders—Thatthat [sic] if their resolutions be of a strong and decisive nature they will excite alarm, opposition, and distrust—Ifif [sic] otherwise they must necessarily fall short of the attainment of their object, because they offer no affirmative proposition sufficiently distinct and determinate to interest the feelings and combine the exertions of the people in it's support.