On the following day Mr. Bright was entertained by the
Northern Department of the Reform League, and in returning thanks menaced his opponents very distinctly with force :—" I believe that however much any of us may abhor the thought that political questions in any country should ever again be settled by force, yet there is something in the constitution of our nature, when these evils are allowed to run on beyond a certain period =redressed, that the most peace-loving of men are unable to keep the peace." He held it to be "no more immoral to use force for the securing of freedom, than for a Government by force to sup- press and deny that freedom." Eh ? Surely Mr. Bright thinks it is immoral to suppress freedom by force, and if so, then to gain it by force is on his showing an immoral act ! Not to make much of a verbal blunder, however, Mr. Bright will at least acknowledge that unnecessary force is immoral,--that it is wrong, as well as cruel, to slap a child before he has disobeyed. If the people will to have Reform, they will have Reform, and to talk about force is useless provocation.
