Page:Speech of the Rev. T. Spencer, of Bath, delivered at the meeting of the Anti-Corn-Law League.pdf/10

2 your opinion." (Cheers) I am sorry to be of the opinion of Bishop Butler in this respect, "that the greater part of men do not think for themselves." (Cheers.) I do not wish to say anything disrespectful of my fellow- creatures, but I am convinced that he is right: that men are indolent in their minds, whatever they may be in their bodies—they do not like thinking, studying, and labouring mentally; therefore, even when they read, it is, as he says, "too frequently only an act of idleness." We may see them devouring a novel—there is no study in that; or reading a newspaper—there is no mental labour, no inquiry, no investigation, no balancing of the truth. But this stuffing, as it were, of the mind, and this lading of the memory, go on till by-and-by there is a fit of indigestion the memory becomes weakened and destroyed—and nothing, I would remind you, weakens the memory so much as reading an immense mass of matter without the exercise of great consideration, and by much digestion causing it to become part and parcel of the mind itself. I ascribe one difficulty in the way of the League to this want of thought on the part of the people. The League has to do the thinking part for them, just as some people like to have all their work done for them: there are some who commit their health to the doctor, their estates to their agents, all their difficulties to the lawyer, and their souls to the priests. (Great cheering and laughter.) They do not read the scripture aright, for it says, "Examine yourselves;" whereas they say, "Do you come and examine for me if all be right." (Laughter.) The scripture says, "Prove your ownselves"—"Prove all things—hold fast that which is good"—"Know ye not your ownselves?"—"Why do ye not your ownselves judge what is right?" This is the scripture rule; but men are always shifting their responsibility upon other men, and doing everything by proxy. (Cheers and laughter.) Now, as soon as ever the people of this country will do their thinking for themselves—whenever they will come and realize justice for themselves—and, above all, when they come to know for themselves what true religion is,—that it is not mere cant—not the putting on long faces, the saying of prayers, and singing of psalms, but the putting of justice and rectitude into all their words and actions,—when this time, I say, shall come, then will the League go through the country and make converts so fast that a few weeks will see as much success as as many years have witnessed in times past. (Great applause) There is another reason why this cause has not gone on faster than it has done, and that if, that even amongst those who do think a little, and who have made up their minds that Free Trade is right,—and thinking is sure to bring men to this conclusion I mean, unbiassed and disinterested thought,—they commit the great fault of leaving the acting to other people They say, "Nevermind, it is not necessary for me to do much—there is Mr. Cobden (great applause)—there is Mr. Cobden, he will do it all (cheers); there is my representative in the House of Commons, he is a good man, he will speak for me there; and there are people signing petitions and holding meetings; and there are paid agents, and men going about without being paid at all; and there is the League, and the newspapers and tracts of various kinds, all working well: therefore 1 need not spend my time, my money, and my labour, to make enemies, and neglect my own business for this cause; I may very safely leave it in the hands of others." (Applause.) This has been the ruin of many a great cause (Cries of "Hear,") But the really great man is the man who says to himself, "I must act as if I were the only man in this cause (cheers); I will take such steps as are necessary, if all others neglect their duty; and, though I believe in the superintendence of Providence, I will work as though Providence would help no man except he be doing the very best himself," (Hear, hear.)

As to names, it is not enough to bring them forward either for or against me. There have been those who have found fault with others for relying upon great names, but who have fallen into the very same error themselves—men who charge others with relying on a Pope, and yet stick up another themselves: who have got a Luther, a Calvin, a John Knox, or a Wesley, upon whom they pin their faith. (Cheers.} The proper plan is to throw aside those great names, and not to