or

.
Pen
pos

—-bo



fm

~r YS,

Ca

“hich Cobden cherished was comfort for the mass
hixury for the fow. He kuew much better than they,
Material comfort is, as little as luxury, the highest satis
faction of men’s highest capacities ; but he could well afford
bo scorn the demand for fine ideals of life on the lips of a
class who were starving the workers of the country in order
bo save their own rents.
There is one more point on which it is worth while to say
% Word in connexion with Cobden’s character as an agitator.
The great danger of the career is that it may in time lessen
3 man’s moral self-possession. , Effect becomes the decisive
Consideration instead of truth ; a good meeting grows into
2 final object in life ; the end of existence is a paradise of
loud ang prolonged cheeriz~: and character is gradually
destroyed by the parasites cf self-conscivnsness and vanity.
On one occasion, in 184F. as we shall see, Cobden was
betrayed, excusably enough, into some strong language
about Sir Robert Peel. Miss Martineau, George Combe,
and others, rebuked him rather sharply. He took the
rebuke with perfect temper and humility, and in seeking to
excuse himself, he described his feelings about public life in
Words of which it is impossible to doubt the exact truth.
“Yon must not judge me,” he said, “by what I say ab
these tumultuous public meetings. I constantly regret the
Necessity of violating good taste and kind feeling in my
Public harangues. I say advisedly n: sity, for I defy anybody
 to keep the ear of the public for seven years upon one
Question, without studying to amuse as well as instruct.
People go not attend public meetings to be taught, but to
be excited, flattered, and pleased. If they are simply
lectureg, they may sit out the lesson for once, but they will
"0b come again; and as I have required them again and
8g8in, T have been obliged to amuse them, not by standing
°0 my head or eating fire, but by kindred feats of jugglery,

‘RAT .~
52

5,

ies
wn

3
hg

2