Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/253

 Tuesday, Mr. Bright, M.P., arrived, and attended a second meeting held on the evening of that day in the Lancasterian School-room, which was crowded to excess. Mr. Palmer was in the chair, and Mr. Bright spoke for about two hours, on the great question of freedom of industry, and on the solemn responsibility of electors. The arguments carried conviction to every mind, and the enthusiasm of the meeting was extraordinary. Mr. Bright alluded to the fact that ironmasters and manufacturers were acting along with Lord Ward's agents in retarding the triumph of He felt a deep commiseration for free-trade principles. the electors, whose position and whose necessities almost compelled them to submit to the dictation of the powerful monopolists. He was not surprised that Lord Ward and his order should work for "protection" whilst they believed that their interests and rents were involved in the question of its abolition; but he expressed the utter abhorrence he felt that men employing their capital in trade and manufactures, and dependent on the industry of the operative class, should combine with the lordly monopolist to ruin their own order. He compared them to the wretches who, whilst their town was surrounded by a hostile army, panting for the spoliation of its inhabitants, should traitorously throw open the gates and invite the spoilers to come in and gorge themselves with their prey. He felt so deeply the conduct of such men that he knew hardly how to speak of them, but hoped they might be marked as traitors to their order, and as men unworthy of all confidence, and deserving of the scorn and contempt of every right-minded citizen of a free country.

The nomination took place on Wednesday morning, when about 5,000 persons assembled. Mr. Benbow, the monopolist candidate, was proposed by Mr. Badger, a glass and nail manufacturer, and seconded by Captain Bennett; Mr. Rawson was proposed by Charles Twamley, Esq., solicitor, and seconded by the Rev. J. Palmer. Mr.