Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/273

 Theatre, on Wednesday, December 12th. Mr. Wilson, the chairman, detailed, at considerable length, the operations during the last three months. Mr. Villiers followed in a tone of confidence that victory was not far distant, and said:—

"With regard to the end, we all agreed: it is to give force to the free-trade party. The means, I presume, are most legitimate, for they are those of our first ministers. (Laughter.) When Sir Robert Peel was out, and wished to be in, he called his friends together, and explained to them the rights they possessed, and how they could use them for him (laughter), and told them to go, each man, and register a vote; and they went and did as he bid them, and Sir Robert Peel came in in consequence (laughter); and if Sir Robert Peel had not told them they would not have attended to the register, and he would not have come in. (Hear.) Well, then, is not this the advice which the League tenders to its friends, whom they advise to profit by the privilege which the constitution gives them, to register their votes; and with this difrerence only in the end, that the League does not want to turn anybody out or anybody in, but to compel whoever is there to do what is just to the people (cheers); and Sir Robert can hardly say—Register, register, to put me in power; but do not register, register, to make me use that power justly and wisely. (Hear.) I see no reason why the League should not succeed in adding greatly to the strength of their means; and one thing is sure, that nothing will be gained unless something is attempted. The League is trying what they have reason to believe will succeed. They are not standing still, or, as our opponents say, dying, but they are trying something new, and which, from what I have heard my honourable friend the chairman say, is not unlikely to succeed. (Cheers.) It is gratifying to hear what he has told us of the rescue of one important county, which has always heretofore been in the hands of the monopolists, and would have remained so but for the efforts the League have made. (Cheers.) That is a proof that it is worth making some attempt to improve our position. We were beaten at the last election in that county, perhaps, from not having attended to the register. I believe that the monopolists of Lancashire have given up that county now in consequence of their having attended to it. (Hear.) I see no reason why that which has happened in Lancashire should not occur in Yorkshire; and if that which happened in Lancashire and will do so in Yorkshire is the result of the intelligence, numbers, and property of the commercial and productive classes, I ask why should not that happen in Middlesex which has been accomplished in the other two?"