THE LIBERALS OF PERCYCROSS.
Yes;--Ontario Moggs was appalled, delighted, exalted, and nearly
frightened out of his wits by an invitation, conveyed to him by
certain eager spirits of the town, to come down and stand on the real
radical interest for the borough of Percycross. The thing was not
suggested to him till a day or two after Sir Thomas had been sounded,
and he was then informed that not an hour was to be lost. The
communication was made in the little back parlour of the Cheshire
Cheese, and Moggs was expected to give an answer then and there. He
stood with his hand on his brow for five minutes, and then asked that
special question which should always come first on such occasions.
Would it cost any money? Well;--yes. The eager spirits of Percycross
thought that it would cost something. They were forced to admit that
Percycross was not one of those well-arranged boroughs in which the
expenses of an election are all defrayed by the public spirit of the
citizens. It soon became clear that the deputation had waited upon
Moggs, not only because Moggs was a good Radical, but because also
Moggs was supposed to be a Radical with a command of money. Ontario
frowned and expressed an opinion that all elections should be made
absolutely free to the candidates. "And everybody ought to go to
'eaven, Mr. Moggs," said the leading member of the deputation, "but
everybody don't, 'cause things ain't as they ought to be." There was
no answer to be made to this. Ontario could only strike his forehead
and think. It was clear to him that he could not give an affirmative
answer that night, and he therefore, with some difficulty, arranged
an adjournment of the meeting till the following afternoon at 2 P.M.
"We must go down by the 4.45 express to-morrow," said the leading
member of the deputation, who even by that arrangement would subject
himself to the loss of two days' wages,--for he was a foreman in the
establishment of Mr. Spicer the mustard-maker,--and whose allowance
for expenses would not admit of his sleeping away from home a second
night. Ontario departed, promising to be ready with his answer by 2
P.M. on the following day.
How bright with jewels was the crown now held before his eyes, and
yet how unapproachable, how far beyond his grasp! To be a member of
Parliament, to speak in that august assembly instead of wasting his
eloquence on the beery souls of those who frequented the Cheshire
Cheese, to be somebody in the land at his early age,--something so
infinitely superior to a maker of boots! A member of Parliament was
by law an esquire, and therefore a gentleman. Ralph Newton was not
a member of Parliament;--not half so great a fellow as a member of
Parliament. Surely if he were to go to Polly Neefit as a member of
Parliament Polly would reject him no longer! And to what might it not
lead? He had visions before his eyes of very beautiful moments in
his future life, in which, standing, as it were, on some well-chosen
rostrum in that great House, he would make the burning thoughts of
his mind, the soaring aspirations of his heart, audible to all the
people. How had Cobden begun his career,--and Bright? Had it not
been in this way? Why should not he be as great,--greater than
either;--greater, because in these coming days a man of the people
would be able to wield a power more extensive than the people had
earned for themselves in former days? And then, as he walked alone
through the streets, he took to making speeches,--some such speeches
as he would make when he stood up in his place in the House of
Commons as the member for Percycross. The honourable member for
Percycross! There was something ravishing in the sound. Would not
that sound be pleasant to the ears of Polly Neefit?
But then, was not the thing as distant as it was glorious? How could
he be member for Percycross, seeing that in all matters he was
subject to his father? His father hated the very name of the Cheshire
Cheese, and was, in every turn and feeling of his life, diametrically
opposed to his son's sentiments. He would, nevertheless, go to his
father and demand assistance. If on such an occasion as this his
father should give him a stone when he asked for bread, he and his
father must be two! "If, when such a prospect as this is held out to
his son, he cannot see it," said Ontario, "then he can see nothing!"
But yet he was sure that his father wouldn't see it.
To his extreme astonishment Mr. Moggs senior did see it. It was some
time before Mr. Moggs senior clearly understood the proposition which
was made to him, but when he did he became alive to the honour,--and
perhaps profit,--of having a member of his firm in Parliament. Of
politics in the abstract Mr. Moggs senior knew very little. Nor,
indeed, did he care much. In matters referring to trade he was a
Conservative, because he was a master. He liked to be able to manage
his people, and to pay 5_s._ 3_d._ instead of 5_s._ 8_d._ for the
making of a pair of boots. He hated the Cheshire Cheese because his
son went there, and because his son entertained strange and injurious
ideas which were propagated at that low place. But if the Cheshire
Cheese would send his son to Parliament, Mr. Moggs did not know
but what the Cheshire Cheese might be very well. At any rate, he
undertook to pay the bills, if Ontario, his son, were brought forward
as a candidate for the borough. He lost his head so completely in the
glory of the thing, that it never occurred to him to ask what might
be the probable amount of the expenditure. "There ain't no father in
all London as 'd do more for his son than I would, if only I see'd
there was something in it," said Moggs senior, with a tear in his
eye. Moggs junior was profuse in gratitude, profuse in obedience,
profuse in love. Oh, heavens, what a golden crown was there now
within his grasp!
All this occurred between the father and son early in the morning at
Shepherd's Bush, whither the son had gone out to the father after a
night of feverish longing and ambition. They went into town together,
on the top of the omnibus, and Ontario felt that he was being
carried heavenwards. What a heaven had he before him, even in that
fortnight's canvass which it would be his glory to undertake! What
truths he would tell to the people, how he would lead them with him
by political revelations that should be almost divine, how he would
extract from them bursts of rapturous applause! To explain to them
that labour is the salt of the earth;--that would be his mission.
And then, how sweet to teach them the value, the inestimable value,
of the political privilege lately accorded to them,--or, as Ontario
would put it, lately wrested on their behalf from the hands of an
aristocracy which was more timid even than it was selfish;--how sweet
to explain this, and then to instruct them, afterwards, that it was
their duty now, having got this great boon for themselves, to see
at once that it should be extended to those below them. "Let the
first work of household suffrage be a demand for manhood suffrage."
This had been enunciated by Ontario Moggs with great effect at the
Cheshire Cheese;--and now, as the result of such enunciation, he was
going down to Percycross to stand as a candidate for the borough! He
was almost drunk with delight as he sat upon the knife-board of the
Shepherd's Bush omnibus, thinking of it all.
He, too, went down to Percycross, making a preliminary journey,--as
had done Sir Thomas Underwood,--timing his arrival there a day or
two after the departure of the lawyer. Alas, he, also, met much to
disappoint him even at that early period of the contest. The people
whom he was taken to see were not millionaires and tradesmen in
a large way of business, but leading young men of warm political
temperaments. This man was president of a mechanics' institute, that
secretary to an amalgamation of unions for general improvement, and
a third chairman of the Young Men's Reform Association. They were
delighted to see him, and were very civil; but he soon found that
they were much more anxious to teach him than they were to receive
his political lessons. When he began, as unfortunately he did very
early in his dealings with them, to open out his own views, he soon
found that they had views also to open out. He was to represent
them,--that is to say, become the mouthpiece of their ideas. He had
been selected because he was supposed to have some command of money.
Of course he would have to address the people in the Mechanics' Hall;
but the chairman of the Young Men's Reform Association was very
anxious to tell him what to say on that occasion. "I am accustomed to
addressing people," said Ontario Moggs, with a considerable accession
of dignity.
He had the satisfaction of addressing the people, and the people
received him kindly. But he thought he observed that the applause was
greater when the secretary of the Amalgamation-of-Improvement-Unions
spoke, and he was sure that the enthusiasm for the Young Men's
chairman mounted much higher than had done any ardour on his own
behalf. And he was astonished to find that these young men were just
as fluent as himself. He did think, indeed, that they did not go
quite so deep into the matter as he did, that they had not thought
out great questions so thoroughly, but they had a way of saying
things which,--which would have told even at the Cheshire Cheese. The
result of all this was, that at the end of three days,--though he
was, no doubt, candidate for the borough of Percycross, and in that
capacity a great man in Percycross,--he did not seem to himself to
be so great as he had been when he made the journey down from London.
There was a certain feeling that he was a cat's-paw, brought there
for certain objects which were not his objects,--because they wanted
money, and some one who would be fool enough to fight a losing
battle! He did not reap all that meed of personal admiration for his
eloquence which he expected.
And, then, during these three days there arose another question, the
discussion of which embarrassed him not a little. Mr. Westmacott was
in the town, and there was a question whether he and Mr. Westmacott
were to join forces. It was understood that Mr. Westmacott and Mr.
Westmacott's leading friends objected to this; but the chairmen of
the young men, and the presidents and the secretaries on the Radical
side put their heads together, and declared that if Mr. Westmacott
were proud they would run their horse alone;--they would vote for
Moggs, and for Moggs only. Or else,--as it was whispered,--they would
come to terms with Griffenbottom, and see that Sir Thomas was sent
back to London. The chairmen, and the presidents, and the secretaries
were powerful enough to get the better of Mr. Westmacott, and large
placards were printed setting forward the joint names of Westmacott
and Moggs. The two liberal candidates were to employ the same agent,
and were to canvass together. This was all very well,--was the very
thing which Moggs should have desired. But it was all arranged
without any consultation with him, and he felt that the objection
which had been raised was personal to himself. Worse than all, when
he was brought face to face with Mr. Westmacott he had not a word
to say for himself! He tried it and failed. Mr. Westmacott had been
a member of Parliament, and was a gentleman. Ontario, for aught he
himself knew, might have called upon Mr. Westmacott for the amount
of Mr. Westmacott's little bill. He caught himself calling Mr.
Westmacott, sir, and almost wished that he could bite out his own
tongue. He felt that he was a nobody in the interview, and that the
chairmen, the secretaries, and the presidents were regretting their
bargain, and saying among themselves that they had done very badly in
bringing down Ontario Moggs as a candidate for their borough. There
were moments before he left Percycross in which he was almost tempted
to resign.
But he left the town the accepted candidate of his special friends,
and was assured, with many parting grasps of the hand on the
platform, that he would certainly be brought in at the top of the
poll. Another little incident should be mentioned. He had been asked
by the electioneering agent for a small trifle of some hundred pounds
towards the expenses, and this, by the generosity of his father, he
had been able to give. "We shall get along now like a house on fire,"
said the agent, as he pocketed the cheque. Up to that moment there
may have been doubts upon the agent's mind.
As he went back to London he acknowledged to himself that he had
failed hitherto,--he had failed in making that impression at
Percycross which would have been becoming to him as the future member
of Parliament for the borough; but he gallantly resolved that he
would do better in the future. He would speak in such a way that the
men of Percycross should listen to him and admire. He would make
occasion for himself. He thought that he could do better than Mr.
Westmacott,--put more stuff in what he had got to say. And, whatever
might happen to him, he would hold up his head. Why should he not be
as good a man as Westmacott? It was the man that was needed,--not
the outside trappings. Then he asked himself a question whether, as
trappings themselves were so trivial, a man was necessarily mean who
dealt in trappings. He did not remember to have heard of a bootmaker
in Parliament. But there should be a bootmaker in Parliament
soon;--and thus he plucked up his courage.
On his journey down to Percycross he had thought that immediately on
his return to London he would go across to Hendon, and take advantage
of his standing as a candidate for the borough; but as he returned he
resolved that he would wait till the election was over. He would go
to Polly with all his honours on his head.