right to express any opinion. You are not fit to vote. You should
not be allowed to vote.'

Crass was by this time very angry.

`I pays my rates and taxes,' he shouted, `an' I've got as much right
to express an opinion as you 'ave. I votes for who the bloody 'ell I
likes. I shan't arst your leave nor nobody else's! Wot the 'ell's it
got do with you who I votes for?'

`It has a great deal to do with me. If you vote for Protection you
will be helping to bring it about, and if you succeed, and if
Protection is the evil that some people say is is, I shall be one of
those who will suffer. I say you have no right to vote for a policy
which may bring suffering upon other people, without taking the
trouble to find out whether you are helping to make things better or
worse.'

Owen had risen from his seat and was walking up and down the room
emphasizing his words with excited gestures.

`As for not trying to find out wot side is right,' said Crass,
somewhat overawed by Owen's manner and by what he thought was the
glare of madness in the latter's eyes, `I reads the Ananias every
week, and I generally takes the Daily Chloroform, or the Hobscurer,
so I ought to know summat about it.'

`Just listen to this,' interrupted Easton, wishing to create a
diversion and beginning to read from the copy of the Obscurer which he
still held in his hand: