Page:Dialogue between John and Thomas, on the corn laws, the charter, teetotalism, and the probable remedy for the present disstresses (sic) (1).pdf/3

 T. I dinna think ye're far wrang John, altho' I have heard some argue strictly in behalf o' the Corn Bill, and tell us if it wasna the Corn Bill our grun' wadna be sae weel cultivated, and its value wad sink in estimation, but I rather think the lads up by are feart the rents wad sink in their estimation; and is this a' the relief John— the takin aff o' the Corn Laws— that we had to look for, for the bettering o' our condition? if this is a' it is a very forlorn hope.

J. I hae nae doubt Thomas but there is ither causes that produce these great grievances amang us. Anither great cause, I believe, is our great National Debt, which hangs about our neck like a millstane, and I'm afraid will sink us to the bottom if the string is not cut, and what surprises me maist is to see sae little attention paid to economy, to help to pay off this debt. It is grievin' to read o' the thousands, and thousands, and hunders o' thousands, that is payt awa' every year to placemen and pensioners, for no purpose under the sun, but ranks wastery: ane wad think, when they see our kintra sinkin' and sae muckle need for care, that they would be glad to adopt any plan to save us; and they ha'e a capital pattern o' cheap government laid down to them in America, whar the head o' the house costs them only £6000 instead o' £400,000, which some folk has to pay.

T. I must confess John you talk very reasonably on the subject, and if your plans could be brought to work, they micht hae' a gude effect; but there is a heap o' folk thinks that if we had the Charter it would work a wonderfu' Reform amang us, and that we woald get a' our evils set to right in a short time, but I'm afraid it will not be easy gotten to mak' a trial o'.

J. I daresay there would be a change, if that could be gotten, but, as ye say, I doubt it will not be gotten in a hurry, but I should like to see't try't, and see what effect it wad hae to Reform matters; but there is ae Reform