thought they were Conservatives - the majority of them could not have
read a dozen sentences aloud without stumbling - it was not necessary
to think or study or investigate anything. It was all as clear as
daylight. The foreigner was the enemy, and the cause of poverty and
bad trade.

When the storm had in some degree subsided,

`Some of you seem to think,' said Owen, sneeringly, `that it was a
great mistake on God's part to make so many foreigners. You ought to
hold a mass meeting about it: pass a resolution something like this:
"This meeting of British Christians hereby indignantly protests
against the action of the Supreme Being in having created so many
foreigners, and calls upon him to forthwith rain down fire, brimstone
and mighty rocks upon the heads of all those Philistines, so that they
may be utterly exterminated from the face of the earth, which rightly
belongs to the British people".'

Crass looked very indignant, but could think of nothing to say in
answer to Owen, who continued:

`A little while ago you made the remark that you never trouble
yourself about what you call politics, and some of the rest agreed
with you that to do so is not worth while. Well, since you never
"worry" yourself about these things, it follows that you know nothing
about them; yet you do not hesitate to express the most decided
opinions concerning matters of which you admittedly know nothing.
Presently, when there is an election, you will go and vote in favour
of a policy of which you know nothing. I say that since you never
take the trouble to find out which side is right or wrong you have no