The Comparison; In Which Mock Reform, Half Reform, and Constitutional Reform Are Considered. Or, Who Are the Enlightened and Practical Statesmen, of T

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1810. Excerpt: ... ments, on observing this whig malady, were thus expressed;-- That man, amongst the opposition to the present ruinous men and measures of the court, who shall not immediately pledge himself to the public, by the most explicit declarations and the most sacred assurances, to exert himself to the utmost of his power and abilities, and perpetually, so long as he shall live, in attempting to bring about a thorough and complete par liamentary reformation; and shall not instantly set about it, in preference to every other consideration, is, in my humble opi nion, nothing better than a factious demagogue, who cares not that his country be sunk in the pit of perdition, so long as he can but hope to come in for a share of power and plunder.* To what extent the malady has proved curable in three and thirty years the nation has seen and felt. Friends of the People!--Whig Leaders !-- Enlightened Statesmen !.--is it not the characteristic of a Friend of the People, incessantly to contemplate the Constitution; incessantly to note the neglect or the violation of it; and incessantly and actively to oppose himself to such neglect or violation; whether by exertions in parliament, by discussions of the press, or by informing and reasoning with the people in their public meetings ? What do we mean by a Leader, but one who does not wait to be led t He is properly .a Leader, who calls forth the people to save them; who, having broken their deadly slumber, awakens reflection; who informs the public understanding--infuses public spirit--arouses courage--animates to action--inspires hope--and leads on, by the safe paths of the law and constitution, to victory and the peace of freedom! An enlightened statesman I have already described. He is equally in his proper sphere, wheth...