the ragged trousered philanthropists-第140节

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Then；　raising　his　voice　till　it　rang　through　the　air　and　fell　upon　the　ears　of　the　assembled　multitude　like　the　clanging　of　a　funeral　bell；　he　continued：

‘It　is　madness！　　Chaos！　　Anarchy！　　It　means　Ruin！　　Black　Ruin　for　the　rich；　and　consequently；　of　course；　Blacker　Ruin　still　for　the　poor！'

As　Sweater　paused；　a　thrill　of　horror　ran　through　the　meeting。　　Men　wearing　broken　boots　and　with　patches　upon　the　seats　and　knees；　and　ragged　fringes　round　the　bottoms　of　the　legs　of　their　trousers；　grew　pale；　and　glanced　apprehensively　at　each　other。　　If　ever　Socialism　did　come　to　pass；　they　evidently　thought　it　very　probable　that　they　would　have　to　walk　about　in　a　sort　of　prehistoric　highland　costume；　without　any　trousers　or　boots　at　all。

Toil…worn　women；　most　of　them　dressed　in　other　women's　shabby　cast…off　clothing　…　weary；　tired…looking　mothers　who　fed　their　children　for　the　most　part　on　adulterated　tea；　tinned　skimmed　milk　and　bread　and　margarine；　grew　furious　as　they　thought　of　the　wicked　Socialists　who　were　trying　to　bring　Ruin　upon　them。

It　never　occurred　to　any　of　these　poor　people　that　they　were　in　a　condition　of　Ruin；　Black　Ruin；　already。　　But　if　Sweater　had　suddenly　found　himself　reduced　to　the　same　social　condition　as　the　majority　of　those　he　addressed；　there　is　not　much　doubt　that　he　would　have　thought　that　he　was　in　a　condition　of　Black　Ruin。

The　awful　silence　that　had　fallen　on　the　panic…stricken　crowd；　was　presently　broken　by　a　ragged…trousered　Philanthropist；　who　shouted　out：

‘We　knows　wot　they　are；　sir。　　Most　of　'em　is　chaps　wot's　got　tired　of　workin'　for　their　livin'；　so　they　wants　us　to　keep　'em。'

Encouraged　by　numerous　expressions　of　approval　from　the　other　Philanthropists；　the　man　continued：

‘But　we　ain't　such　fools　as　they　thinks；　and　so　they'll　find　out　next　Monday。　　Most　of　'em　wants　'angin'；　and　I　wouldn't　mind　lendin'　a　'and　with　the　rope　myself。'

Applause　and　laughter　greeted　these　noble　sentiments；　and　Sweater　resumed　his　address；　when　another　man　…　evidently　a　Socialist　…　for　he　was　accompanied　by　three　or　four　others　who　like　himself　wore　red　ties　…　interrupted　and　said　that　he　would　like　to　ask　him　a　question。　　No　notice　was　taken　of　this　request　either　by　Mr　Sweater　or　the　chairman；　but　a　few　angry　cries　of　‘Order！'　came　from　the　crowd。　　Sweater　continued；　but　the　man　again　interrupted　and　the　cries　of　the　crowd　became　more　threatening。　　Rushton　started　up　and　said　that　he　could　not　allow　the　speaker　to　be　interrupted；　but　if　the　gentleman　would　wait　till　the　end　of　the　meeting；　he　would　have　an　opportunity　of　asking　his　question　then。

The　man　said　he　would　wait　as　desired；　Sweater　resumed　his　oration；　and　presently　the　interrupter　and　his　friends　found　themselves　surrounded　by　the　gang　of　hired　bullies　who　wore　the　big　rosettes　and　who　glared　menacingly　at　them。

Sweater　concluded　his　speech　with　an　appeal　to　the　crowd　to　deal　a　‘Slashing　Bow　at　the　Enemy'　next　Monday；　and　then　amid　a　storm　of　applause；　Lord　Ammenegg　stepped　to　the　front。　　He　said　that　he　did　not　intend　to　inflict　a　long　speech　upon　them　that　evening；　and　as　it　was　nomination　day　tomorrow　he　would　not　be　able　to　have　the　honour　of　addressing　them　again　during　the　election；　but　even　if　he　had　wished　to　make　a　long　speech；　it　would　be　very　difficult　after　the　brilliant　and　eloquent　address　they　had　just　listened　to　from　Mr　Sweater；　for　it　seemed　to　him　（Ammenegg）　that　Adam　Sweater　had　left　nothing　for　anyone　else　to　say。　　But　he　would　like　to　tell　them　of　a　Thought　that　had　occurred　to　him　that　evening。　　They　read　in　the　Bible　that　the　Wise　Men　came　from　the　East。　　Windley；　as　they　all　knew；　was　the　East　end　of　the　town。　　They　were　the　men　of　the　East；　and　he　was　sure　that　next　Monday　they　would　prove　that　they　were　the　Wise　Men　of　the　East；　by　voting　for　Adam　Sweater　and　putting　him　at　the　top　of　the　poll　with　a　‘Thumping　Majority'。

The　Wise　Men　of　the　East　greeted　Ammenegg's　remarks　with　prolonged；　imbecile　cheers；　and　amid　the　tumult　his　Lordship　and　Sweater　got　into　the　motor　car　and　cleared　off　without　giving　the　man　with　the　red　tie　or　anyone　else　who　desired　to　ask　questions　any　opportunity　of　doing　so。　　Rushton　and　the　other　leaders　got　into　another　motor　car；　and　followed　the　first　to　take　part　in　another　meeting　down…town；　which　was　to　be　addressed　by　the　great　Sir　Featherstone　Blood。

The　crowd　now　resolved　itself　into　military　order；　headed　by　the　men　with　torches　and　a　large　white　banner　on　which　was　written　in　huge　black　letters；　‘Our　man　is　Adam　Sweater'。

They　marched　down　the　hill　singing；　and　when　they　reached　the　Fountain　on　the　Grand　Parade　they　saw　another　crowd　holding　a　meeting　there。　These　were　Tories　and　they　became　so　infuriated　at　the　sound　of　the　Liberal　songs　and　by　the　sight　of　the　banner；　that　they　abandoned　their　meeting　and　charged　the　processionists。　　A　free　fight　ensued。　Both　sides　fought　like　savages；　but　as　the　Liberals　were　outnumbered　by　about　three　to　one；　they　were　driven　off　the　field　with　great　slaughter；　most　of　the　torch　poles　were　taken　from　them；　and　the　banner　was　torn　to　ribbons。　　Then　the　Tories　went　back　to　the　Fountain　carrying　the　captured　torches；　and　singing　to　the　tune　of　‘Has　anyone　seen　a　German　Band？'

　　　　　　　　‘Has　anyone　seen　a　Lib'ral　Flag；　　　　　　　　　Lib'ral　Flag；　Lib'ral　Flag？'

While　the　Tories　resumed　their　meeting　at　the　Fountain；　the　Liberals　rallied　in　one　of　the　back　streets。　　Messengers　were　sent　in　various　directions　for　reinforcements；　and　about　half　an　hour　afterwards　they　emerged　from　their　retreat　and　swooped　down　upon　the　Tory　meeting。　They　overturned　the　platform；　recaptured　their　torches；　tore　the　enemy's　banner　to　tatters　and　drove　them　from　their　position。　　Then　the　Liberals　in　their　turn　paraded　the　streets　singing　‘Has　anyone　seen　a　Tory　Flag？'　and　proceeded　to　the　hall　where　Sir　Featherstone　was　speaking；　arriving　as　the　audience　left。

The　crowd　that　came　pouring　out　of　the　hall　was　worked　up　to　a　frenzy　of　enthusiasm；　for　the　speech　they　had　just　listened　to　had　been　a　sort　of　manifesto　to　the　country。

In　response　to　the　cheering　of　the　processionists　…　who；　of　course；　had　not　heard　the　speech；　but　were　cheering　from　force　of　habit　…　Sir　Featherstone　Blood　stood　up　in　the　carriage　and　addressed　the　crowd；　briefly　outlining　the　great　measures　of　Social　Reform　that　his　party　proposed　to　enact　to　improve　the　condition　of　the　working　classes；　and　as　they　listened；　the　Wise　Men　grew　delirious　with　enthusiasm。　　He　referred　to　Land　Taxes　and　Death　Duties　which　would　provide　money　to　build　battleships　to　protect　the　property　of　the　rich；　and　provide　Work　for　the　poor。　　Another　tax　was　to　provide　a　nice；　smooth　road　for　the　rich　to　ride　upon　in　motor　cars　…　and　to　provide　Work　for　the　poor。　　Another　tax　would　be　used　for　Development；　which　would　also　make　Work　for　the　poor。　　And　so　on。　　A　great　point　was　made　of　the　fact　that　the　rich　were　actually　to　be　made　to　pay　something　towards　the　cost　of　their　road　themselves！　　But　nothing　was　said　about　how　they　would　get　the　money　to　do　it。　　No　reference　was　made　to　how　the　workers　would　be　sweated　and　driven　and　starved　to　earn　Dividends　and　Rent　and　Interest　and　Profits　to　put　into　the　pockets　of　the　rich　before　the　latter　would　be　able　to　pay　for　anything　at　all。

These　are　the　things；　Gentlemen；　that　we　propose　to　do　for　you；　and；　at　the　rate　of　progress　which　we　propose　to　adopt；　I　say　without　fear　or　contradiction；　that　within　the　next　Five　Hundred　years　we　shall　so　reform　social　conditions　in　this　country；　that　the　working　classes　will　be　able　to　enjoy　some　of　the　benefits　of　civilization。

‘The　only　question　before　you　is：　Are　you　willing　to　wait　for　Five　Hundred　Years？'

‘Yes；　sir；'　shouted　the　Wise　Men　with　enthusiasm　at　the　glorious　prospect。

‘Yes；　Sir：　we'll　wait　a　thousand　years　if　you　like；　Sir！'

‘I've　been　waiting　all　my　life；'　said　one　poor　old　veteran；　who　had　assisted　to　‘carry　the　〃Old　Flag〃　to　victory'　times　out　of　number　in　the　past　and　who　for　his　share　of　the　spoils　of　those　victories　was　now　in　a　condition　of　abject；　miserable　poverty；　with　the　portals　of　the　workhouse　yawning　open　to　receive　him；　‘I've　waited　all　my　life；　hoping　and　trusting　for　better　conditions　so　a　few　more　years　won't　make　much　difference　to　me。'

‘Don't　you　trouble　to　'urry　yourself；　Sir；'　shouted　another　Solomon　in　the　crowd。　　‘We　don't　mind　waiting。　　Take　your　own　time；　Sir。　　You　know　better　than　the　likes　of　us　'ow　long　it　ought　to　take。'

In　conclusion；　the　great　man　warned　them　against　being　led　away　by　the　Socialists；　those　foolish；　unreasonable；　impractical　people　who　wanted　to　see　an　immediate　improvement　in　their　condition；　and　he　reminded　them　that　Rome　was　not　built　in　a　day。

The　Wise　Men　applauded　lustily。　　It　did　not　appear　to　occur　to　any　of　them　that　the　rate　at　which　the　ancient　Roman　conducted　their　building　operations　had　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　the　case。

Sir　Featherstone　Blood　sat　down　amid　a　wild　storm　of　cheering；　and　then　the　procession　reformed；　and；　reinforced　by　the　audience　from　the　hall；　they　proceeded　to　march　about　the　dreary　streets；　singing；　to　the　tune　of　the　‘Men　of　Harlech'：

　　　　　　　　‘Vote　for　Sweater；　Vote　for　Sweater！　　　　　　　　　V