He had just returned from a lengthened visit to the United
States, and what he had seen there he kept at first very much to
himself. But at a small committee meeting held when his election was
still a matter of doubt, he unbosomed himself at last to some effect.
"The vote we want," he said, "is the vote of those people who are losing
their bread, and who see ruin and starvation coming in upon them. I
mean the middle-class manufacturers and the operatives who are dependent
upon them. I tell you where I think that as a nation we are going
wrong. We fixed once upon a great principle, and we nailed it to our
mast--for all time. That is a mistake. Absolute Free Trade, such as is
at present our national policy, was a magnificent principle in the days
of Cobden--but the times have changed. We must change with them. That
is where the typical Englishman fails. It is a matter of temperament.
He is too slow to adapt himself to changing circumstances."
There was a moment's silence. These were ominous words. Every one felt
that they were not lightly spoken. Henslow had more behind.
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