ALUTe

Xu,
1] COBDEN’S VIEWS ON THE FRANCHISE.

4

for éffecting a deep and permanent political transform
“Some people,” he said, * tell you that it is very danger
ad unconstitutional to invite people to enfranchise them-Selves
 by buying a freehold qualification. I say, without
being revolutionary, or boasting of being more democratic
than others, that the sooner the power in this country is
transferred from the landed oligarchy, which has so misused
i, and ig placed absolrtely—mind, I say absolutely—in the
hands of the intelligent middle and industrious classes, the
better for the condition and destinies of this country.” *
Cobden’s eloquent colleague, Fox, placed the movement
deeper still, by dwelling on the moral elements that lay
beneath it. If it was wise and good, he said, to endeavour
fo make all who could save their pittance become fundholders,
 it must be at least as prudent and just to induce
them according to their proportion to become landholders
Blso—joint shareholders in this lovely and fruitful country,
Which is their country as much as it is that of the wealthiest
obleman whose lands cover half a county. It would give
them g tan gible bond of connexion with society ; it would pub
them in 4 position which was deemed necessary to citizen-Ship
 in the republics of ancient days; and it was better
*dapted than anything else to cherish in them those emobons
 which best accord with consistency and dignity of
characte,

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Speeches, i. 256. Jan. 16, 1845.