=Source.=--Martineau's _History of the Peace_, Vol. III. pp. 254-5.
Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.
_Speech by Mr. O'Connell at Edinburgh, 1835._
"We achieved but one good measure this last session; but that was
not our fault; for the 170 tyrants of the country prevented us
from achieving more. Ancient Athens was degraded for submitting
to thirty tyrants; modern Athens will never allow 170 tyrants to
rule over her.... It was stated in one of the clubs, that at one
time a dog had bitten the bishop, whereupon a noble lord, who was
present, said, 'I will lay any wager that the bishop began the
quarrel.' Now, really the House of Lords began the quarrel with
me. They may treat me as a mad dog if they please; I won't fight
them; but I will treat them as the Quaker treated the dog which had
attacked him. 'Heaven forbid,' said he, 'that I should do thee the
slightest injury, I am a man of peace, and I will not hurt thee';
but when the dog went away, he cried out, 'Mad dog! mad dog!' and
all the people set upon him. Now, that is my remedy with the House
of Lords. I am more honest than the Quaker was; for the dog that
attacked me is really mad. Bills were rejected in the House of
Lords simply because Daniel O'Connell supported them; and I do say,
that if I had any twelve men on a jury on a question of lunacy, I
would put it to such jury to say if such men were not confirmed
madmen. So you perceive the dog is really mad--and accordingly
I have started on this mission to rouse the public mind to the
necessity of reforming the House of Lords; and I have had 50,000
cheering me at Manchester, and 100,000 cheering me in Newcastle;
and I heard one simultaneous cry, 'Down with the mad dogs, and up
with common sense!' The same cry has resounded through Auld Reekie.
The Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat re-echoed with the sound; and
all Scotland has expressed the same determination to use every
legitimate effort to remove the House of Lords. Though the Commons
are with us, yet the House of Lords are against us; and they have
determined that they will not concede a portion of freedom which
they can possibly keep back. Sir Robert Peel, the greatest humbug
that ever lived, and as full of political and religious cant as any
man that ever canted in this canting world--feeling himself quite
safe on his own dunghill, says that we want but one chamber--one
House of radical reformers. He knew that in saying this he was
saying what was not true. We know too well the advantage of double
deliberation not to support two Houses; but they must be subject to
popular control; they must be the servants, not the masters, of the
people."