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248 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM.
its persistent agitations. Yet
* from its goal aa ever.
I venture to say that it is aa far
FIII.
Before concluding I will go a step farther and assert that
the whole policy and principles of action of such a body as tho
United Kingdom Allianco arc mistaken and inexpedient. They
set forth a definite scheme a in Bill, and demand this or nothing.
Tho remarkahlo success of tho Anti-Corn Law League has had,
I beliove, ono evil effect. It has led many zealous people
to believe that if thy only lmnd themselves together with
sufficient detorminntion, if they deliver enough speeches,
ecnttcr enough tracts, iu short agitate with sufficient, energy,
they mill ultimately carry public opinion with them. But we
must not argue too rcdily from analogy in such cases. Tho
Anti.Com Lam Lcnguo aimed at an object which could unquestionably
bo cffocteil by tho mere passing of an Act,. Thore
was no permissive legislation in it. The actual results of ths
abolition of duty on corn wero as well understood by economists
and by all unprejudiced persons of moderate intelligence as
any question in social scionco can bo. The mass of the pcople
wore readily induced to join in a cry for cheap broad, even if
they did not clearly understand how it was to be secured. The
straggle was thus one of tho mass of the people against a body
of landlords taking u selfish and mistaken view of their own
iut.erosts. Tho success of tho League was substantially
accomplished iu five or seven years.
In tho case of tho United Kingdom Alliance everything is
different. Tho real struggle would not begin until the Bill
was passed ; the mass of the people would in most cases be
against the law, and the operation of the law, as I maintain,
mast bo altogether a matter of uncertainty. When we know
so many useful legislative changes which might be passed,
and which would be stare to have a more or less favourable
deet, it seoms to me a most deplorable fact that twenty-two
years should have been spent upon one impracticable Bill. So
considerable nro the chances against the success of any legislation,
as could W y be proved by 8p examination of the statute