Page:A protest against the extension of railways in the Lake District - Somervell (1876).djvu/65

 It is not likely that argument will shake the purpose, or contempt stay the hand of men whose prime principle is to make money. It simply remains for us now to determine whether they possess a majority in the councils of the nation, or whether, as one would hope, there be not yet strength of heart and purpose enough among the wise and gentle to say with authority to this restless herd—'thus far shall ye come and no farther.'

I have to thank you for your courteous insertion and notice of my protest and petition against the construction of new railways in the Lake District: and you are so far favourable to my views, that, with your permission, I will state what I have to say in answer to your objections.

Your article divides itself into two parts;—criticism of position, and definition of your own. Critically you demolish me before a select committee of the House of Commons; and afterwards you give me some good-natured advice.

The argument which you put into the mouth of an 'acute Parliamentary barrister' is as follows:

(a) I accept your statements about the defilement of many parts of the country;

(b) that the Lake District is used by many as a place for health-getting and recreation is a fact, and I do not deny it;

(c) but the inhabitants of the smoke-darkened regions are the very people who most need the refreshment of your fine country, and yet, when they come for a day to the lakes, some of the grandest scenery is barred against them, since it can only be visited 'at an expenditure far beyond the reach of any one who does not belong to the affluent classes.'

(d) Hence it is desirable that railways should be pushed on into the heart of the district; Q.E.D.

The weight of the argument rests upon the statement in paragraph c.