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Untitled Article
soon work a cure of the most desperate cases . No matter for the name or the form . These are the essentials . Now , had the respectable Whigs of Norwich established some such system of political instruction and social organization , they would have done a much better thing than buying back the bought votes of their opponents , and lavishing thousands on corporation contests . What is wanted for the poor is simply that they should understand their own interests , which are also the interests of all . The
hostility which many of them entertain against machinery would not , we verily believe , retain its hold upon their minds for six months after the subject had come under the public investigation of intelligent persons ( some selected from their own class ,, and put on a fair and equal footing with the rest ) who should possess their confidence * Their extravagant expectations from the principle of
co-operation might , in like manner , be corrected , and their attainment of many of the practical advantages which may be derived from it be secured . Above all , the delusion would be dispelled from their minds of supposing the middle classes in league with the upper to oppress and cajole them . We speak strongly , for we are not theorizing , but have witnessed the beneficial results of the
experiment we recommend , as tried under most unfavourable circumstances . We have seen within the last year some of the strongest prejudices removed from hundreds of the working people even by such imperfect influences as the apathy of what are called the respectable would allow the establishment of . It was by an organization , in some measure analogous , that Westminster was transformed , about five-and-twenty years ago , from the foulest sink
of corruption and debasement that the sun ever blushed to look upon , into a model of pure election in the worst of times . It was when beer-barrels were tapped and staved at Charing Cross , and the human beasts threw themselves on the ground to lap the liquor from the kennels , that the unutterable disgust of an honest tradesman who had not for years meddled with politics made him vq ^ & in his heart the political regeneration of Westminster , and by tHg next election it was realized . The reformation of Norwich would
be an easier task than that ; and even that of Liverpool , perhaps , not more difficult . We speak of these places because they have made themselves conspicuous . Our remarks equally apply to others where the evil is more latent . By such association a public opinion would be created to which the poorest voter would feel himself amenable for the purity of his political conduct ; which would be far more influential than any to which he is now
responsible ; which would give him strength to resist solicitations , promises , and threats ; would , simply by its approval , reward him for some sacrifices made in that resistance ; and probably , by its formidable aspect , prevent the temptation altogether . The disgusting system of personal canvass would be checked , if not destroyed . The pretensions of candidates , their principles , their past conduct , their aptitude for legislation , would be subjected to
Untitled Article
44 The Elections .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1833, page 44, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2606/page/44/
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