e lower forms the nobler imperfection of man and of what may lie
beyond him. She looks always to the end; and so in our statesmanship
should we, striving to express, not to limit, by our institutions the
forces with which we have to deal. Our polity should grow, like a
skin, upon the living tissue of society. For who are we that we should
say to this man or that, go plough, keep shop, or govern the state?
That we should say to the merchant, 'thus much power shall be yours,'
and to the farmer, 'thus much yours?' No! rather let us say to each
and to all, Take the place you can, enjoy the authority you can win!
Let our constitution express the balance of forces in our society, and
as they change let the disposition of power change with them! That is
the creed of liberalism, supported by nature herself, and sanctioned, I
would add with reverence, by the Almighty Power, in the disposition and
order of His stupendous creation.

"But it is not a creed that levels, nor one that destroys. None can
have more regard than I--not Cantilupe himself--for our ancient crown,
our hereditary aristocracy. These, while they deserve it--and long may
they do so!--will retain their honoured place in the hearts and
affections of the people. Only, alongside of them, I would make room
for all elements and interests that may come into being in the natural
course of the play of social forces. But these will be far too
numerous, far too inextricably interwoven, too rapidly changing in
relative weight and importance, for the intelligence of man to attempt,
by any artificial scheme, to balance and adjust their conflicting
claims. Open to all men equally, within the limits of prudence, the
avenue to political influence, and let them use, as they can and will,
in combined or isolated action, the opportunities thus liberally
bestowed. That is the key-note of the policy which I have consistently
adopted from my entrance into public life, and which I am prepared to
prosecute to the end, though that end should be the universal suffrage
so dreaded by the last speaker. He tells me it is a policy of reckless
abandonment. But abandonment to what? Abandonment to the people! And
the question is, Do we trust the people? I do; he does not! There, I
venture to think, is the real difference between us.

"Yes, I am not ashamed to say it, I trust the People! What should I
trust, if I could not trust them? What else is a nation but an
assemblage of t