522 LIFE OF COBDEN, [omar

1854 wero known to be egainst almost all war, In all this
ir. 80. there is wmch that is true and excellently stated. WW
may certainly demur to the assertion that Cobden had 28
& matter of fact put forward the doctrines of the P gaa
party in immoderate terms. A careful examination of his
speeches both in the House and in the country shows that
he had always advocated the principles of non-interventiot
not on grounds of sentiment, philanthropy, or religion, bul
strictly in the dialect of policy and business. The country:
however, did not at the time perceive this, People are #00
much occupied, and they are moreover specially disinclined
by national temperament, to examine an innovating doctrin®
with minute and litera] precision, The virtues of Englishmen
 lie very close to their vices. The same dogged
tenacity with which they encounter obstacles in the greab
material and political tasks which they have set themselves
throughout their adventurous history all over the world,
binds them closely to their prejudices. The same invincible
stubbornness, as Haydon said, which beat the French st
Waterloo, makes them prepare to receive cavalry at every
innovation. They eye every reform as they would an
enemy’s cuirassier.’ Above all, though full of religious
sentiment, in every reference to morality in practical
politics they instantly suspect cant. Cobden knew all this
as well as anybody. But what he also knew was that the
doctrine could only be made to take a hold on men by
strenuous and persistent advocacy, even at the risk of this
advocacy being misunderstood. Events showed in the longrun
 that his tactics were prudent. It was by the strenuousness
and persistency of himself and Mr, Bright, that they at last
succeeded in making that gross and broad impression which
it was their object to produce. They were routed on the
question of the Crimean War, but it was the rapid spread of
* Haydon's Memotrs, ii, 873, 274,