the bottom?

You have an argument, I perceive, in common with many others,
against the Catholics, that their demands complied with would only
lead to further exactions, and that it is better to resist them now,
before anything is conceded, than hereafter, when it is found that
all concessions are in vain. I wish the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, who uses this reasoning to exclude others from their just
rights, had tried its efficacy, not by his understanding, but by
(what are full of much better things) his pockets. Suppose the
person to whom he applied for the meltings had withstood every plea
of wife and fourteen children, no business, and good character, and
refused him this paltry little office because he might hereafter
attempt to get hold of the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster for
life? would not Mr. Perceval have contended eagerly against the
injustice of refusing moderate requests, because immoderate ones may
hereafter be made? Would he not have said, and said truly, Leave
such exorbitant attempts as these to the general indignation of the
Commons, who will take care to defeat them when they do occur; but
do not refuse me the Irons and the Meltings now, because I may
totally lose sight of all moderation hereafter? Leave hereafter to
the spirit and the wisdom of hereafter; and do not be niggardly now
from the apprehension that men as wise as you should be profuse in
times to come.

You forget, Brother Abraham, that is a vast art, where quarrels
cannot be avoided, to turn public opinion in your favour and to the
prejudice of your enemy; a vast privilege to feel that you are in
the right, and to make him feel that he is in the wrong: a
privilege which makes you more than a man, and your antagonist less;