The Political Primer: Or, Road to Public Honours |
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Alcibiades allusion amiable amongst amused applause argument aspirant attention bestow body Britain butcher's wife calculation candidate Catholics cause CHAP character classes committee conduct corn laws course dog Billy effect election eloquence employed enemy England estrange excite favour feelings figurative language flattery FLEET STREET free trade friends gain gentlemen give good-humour habit hearers honorable House of Commons House of Lords human influence interest Ireland Irish kind kiss'd labour ladies land laugh Lords manner members of parliament ment mind ministers mode nation nature never object observed opinion opponent orator parliament persons petition petitioners for repeal Poland political popular ports possess pular question racter reason requires ridicule Scythians sentiments Spain speak extempore speaker speech statesman style success supplied talent taste tion tranquillity turbed Ukraine vote voters word young member
Popular passages
Page 69 - You well know, gentlemen, how soon one of those stupendous masses, now reposing on their shadows in perfect stillness — how soon, upon any call of patriotism, or of necessity, it would assume the likeness of an animated thing, instinct with life and motion — how soon it would ruffle, as it were, its swelling plumage — how quickly it would put forth all its beauty and its bravery — collect its scattered...
Page 69 - In cherishing those resources, we but accumulate those means. Our present repose is no more a proof of inability to act, than the state of inertness and inactivity in which I have seen those mighty masses that float in the waters above your town, is a proof...
Page 68 - Is there anybody who does not now think, that it was the office of government to examine more closely all the various bearings of so complicated a question, to consider whether they were called upon to assist a united nation, or to plunge themselves into the internal feuds by which that nation was divided - to aid in repelling a foreign invader, or, to take part in a civil war? Is there any man that does not now see what would have been the extent of burdens that would have been cast upon this country?...
Page 65 - I must think myself, as my honourable friend has said, eminently fortunate, if such compensation as he describes, has fallen to me at an earlier period than to many others ; if I dare flatter myself (as his partiality has flattered me), that the sentiments that you are kind enough to entertain for me, are in unison with those of the country ; if, in addition to the justice done me by my friends, I may, as he has assured me, rely upon a candid construction, even from political opponents. But, gentlemen,...
Page 66 - Gentlemen, the end which I confess I have always had in view, and which appears to me the legitimate object of pursuit to a British statesman, I can describe in one word. The language of modern philosophy is wisely and diffusively benevolent : it professes the perfection of our species, and the amelioration of the lot of all mankind.
Page 66 - But, gentlemen, the secret of such a result does not lie deep. It consists only in an honest and undeviating pursuit of what one conscientiously believes to be one's public duty — a pursuit which, steadily continued, will, however detached and separate parts of a man's conduct may be viewed under the influence of partialities or prejudices, obtain for it, when considered as a whole, the approbation of all honest and honourable minds.
Page 70 - Such as is one of these magnificent machines, when springing from inaction into a display of its might ; such is England herself, while apparently passive and motionless she silently concentrates the power to be put forth on an adequate occasion.
Page 68 - ... have rushed forward at once from the sense of indignation at aggression, and who deemed that no act of injustice could be perpetrated from one end of the universe to the other, but that the sword of Great Britain should leap from its scabbard to avenge it. But as it is the province of law to control the excess even of laudable passions and...
Page 69 - Government did not hesitate to proclaim that the country was prepared for war, if war should be unfortunately necessary, every month of peace that has since passed has but made us so much the more capable of exertion. The resources created by peace are means of war. In cherishing those resources, we but accumulate those means. Our present repose is no more a proof of...
Page 66 - ... minds. Any man may occasionally be mistaken as to the means most conducive to the end which he has in view ; but if the end be just and praiseworthy, it is by that he will be ultimately judged, either by his contemporaries or by posterity. Gentlemen, the end which I confess I have always had in view, and which appears to me the legitimate object of pursuit to a British Statesman, I can describe in one word. The language of modern philosophy is...