I feel it to be my duty to give my hearty support to His
Majesty's Ministers.

We have been told, indeed, that this is not the plan of Reform
which the nation asked for. Be it so. But you cannot deny that
it is the plan of Reform which the nation has accepted. That,
though differing in many respects from what was asked, it has
been accepted with transports of joy and gratitude, is a decisive
proof of the wisdom of timely concession. Never in the history
of the world was there so signal an example of that true
statesmanship, which, at once animating and gently curbing the
honest enthusiasm of millions, guides it safely and steadily to a
happy goal. It is not strange, that when men are refused what is
reasonable, they should demand what is unreasonable. It is not
strange that, when they find that their opinion is contemned and
neglected by the Legislature, they should lend a too favourable
ear to worthless agitators. We have seen how discontent may be
produced. We have seen, too, how it may be appeased. We have
seen that the true source of the power of demagogues is the
obstinacy of rulers, and that a liberal Government makes a
conservative people. Early in the last session, the First
Minister of the Crown declared that he would consent to no
Reform; that he thought our representative system, just as it
stood, the masterpiece of human wisdom; that, if he had to make
it anew, he would make it such as it was, with all its
represented ruins and all its unrepresented cities. What
followed? Everything was tumult and panic. The funds fell. The
streets were insecure. Men's hearts failed them for fear. We
began to move our property into German investments and American
investments. Such was the state of the public mind, that it was