Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/440

424 upon the people. They have the means in their own hands,if they but use them; if they would but exercise self-reliance, and not look to ministers to do that for them which they ought to do for themselves. At the beginning of a year it is natural to speculate on what events that year may produce, but speculation does not influence the event. The farmer may make shrewd conjectures as to the next summer's weather; but he goes on preparing his ground, laying down his manure, and putting in his seed. The politician may make shrewd conjectures as to the probable course of next session's legislation; but he ought not to satisfy himself with curious speculation, and abstain from influencing that course to the utmost extent in his power. The people should not stand idly looking for favourable circumstances; they ought to endeavour to create them. They ought, like the farmer, to prepare their ground, and put in their seed, that whether there be bright sunshine, or clouds and rain, there may be a good return. Looking to what Peel will do, without any effort to direct what Peel shall do, is as absurd as it would be of the farmer to expect all from the genial warmth of spring and the ripening heat of summer, without doing anything himself. "What will Peel do?' 'What will the agricultural interest do?' 'What will the tories do?' What will the whigs do?' These are all foolish questions. The only question ought to be. What shall we make them do?'

"All governments are conservative; all resistive, rather than impulsive; all either obstructive of popular opinion, or its unwilling followers. The best yield only when they can no longer resist. Their maxim is, that what has been ought to be. Even in republican America a wrong when vested becomes a right. The rule of Bentham, that the suffering many can obtain justice only by making the ruling few uneasy, though seemingly harsh, is of universal application. Governments will not effect reforms until they are compelled; and it is the same with party factions. Our