Full text : The life of Richard Cobden

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great Republic. To keep that force in the North-Dolonies
 ab the expense of the tax-payers of this count
precisely the same drain upon our resources as if the Goovernment
 of the United States could levy a contribution
pon us for the pay and subsistence of its army. The same
may hie said of our army in Australia, New Zealand, ete. ;
snd if we do not draw in oar horns, this country, with ail
its wealth, energy, and resources, will sink under the weight
of its extended empire.”
“April, { ,, )—Did this subject aver come voder youor
notice? I have lying before me a return of all the barracks
in the United Kingdom, the date of their erection, their size,
ste. Tt is to we one of the most discouraging and humiliating
 documents I am acquainted with. Almost every considerable
 town has it barracks. They have nearly all been
erected since 1790, beforewhich date they were hardly known,
and were denounced with horror by such men as Chatham,
Fox, etc. By far the most extensive establishments have been
erected during the last twenty-five years. I spesk of Greab
Britain. As for Ireland, it is studded over with barracks
like a permanent encampment. I need not enlarge upon the
direct moral evils of such places. One fact is enough: real
property always falls in value in the vicinity of barracks. A
prison or & cemetery is a preferable neighbour. But you will
also gee at & glance that this increase of barracks is the outlward
 and visible sign of the increased discontent of the mass
of the people, and the growing slarm of the governing
classes. It argues great injustice on one side or ignorance on
the other, perhaps both. The expense is too obvious to
require corument. And where is this to end? Either we
must change our system-—give ‘the people a voice in the
government, snd qualify the rising generation to exercise the
tights of freemen, —or we shell follow the fate of the Con¥iwont.
 and end in 8 convnlsion.
            
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