Page:A Few Plain Observations Upon the End and Means of Political Reform.djvu/38

 which the unprincipled advocates for Corruption would not fail to draw a temporary advantage, to the exclusion of those whose honest doubts a mature investigation of the subject would ultimately remove—and indeed, until some specific system of Reform be duly brought forward to Public notice, what can be the effect of such a pledge?—It will never be contended that it binds the Party having given it to support any proposition which may assume the plausible appearance of Reform, without the freedom of discriminating between the temperate dictates of wisdom and experience, and the wild dreams of fanaticism or absurdity.

If not, what security will there be that the Member so pledged will be influenced by his former declaration?—That he will not, under the pretence of exercising such