for in
Dunchester there existed a large body of voters, many of them employed
in shoe-making factories, who were almost socialistic in their views.
These men, spending their days in some hive of machinery, and their
nights in squalid tenements built in dreary rows, which in cities
such people are doomed to inhabit, were very bitter against the upper
classes, and indeed against all who lived in decent comfort.

This was not to be marvelled at, for what can be expected of folk
whose lot, hard as it is, has none of the mitigations that lighten the
troubles of those who live in the country, and who can at least breathe
the free air and enjoy the beauties that are common to all? Here, at
Dunchester, their pleasures consisted for the most part in a dog fight
or some such refining spectacle, varied by an occasional "boose" at
the public-house, or, in the case of those who chanced to be more
intellectually inclined, by attending lectures where Socialism and other
advanced doctrines were preached. As was but natural, this class might
be relied upon almost to a man to vote for the party which promised to
better their lot, rather than for the party which could only recommend
them to be contented and to improve themselves. To secure their support
it was only necessary to be extravagant of promises and abusive of
employers who refused to pay them impossible wages.

Next in importance to these red-hot "forwards" came the phalanx of
old-fashioned people who voted Liberal because their fathers had
voted Liberal before them. Then there were the electors who used to be
Conservative but, being honestly dissatisfied with the Government on
account of its foreign policy, or for other reasons, had made up their
minds to transfer their allegiance. Also there were the dissenters, who
set hatred of the Church above all politics, and made its disendowment
and humiliation their watchword. In Dunchester these were active and
numerous, a very tower of strength to me, for Stephen Strong was the
wealthiest and most important of them.

During the first day or two of the canvass, however, a careful estimate
of our electoral strength showed it to be several hundred votes short of
that of our opponents. Therefore, if we would win, we must make converts
by appealing to the prejudices of members of the electorate who were of
Conservative views; in other words, by preaching "fads."

Of these there were many, all useful to the candidate of pliant mind,
su