ABSTRACT
Gentlemen, – I accept with the deepest gratitude this demonstration. I accept it as a proof of your approbation of the principles of Free Trade, and of the means by which the Free-traders of England obtained their victory. We advocated commercial liberty, not in the spirit of a political party, nor for the benefit of a particular class, but for the interests of the whole community, and we effected our object solely by such moral means, as all good men in every country will, I hope, be able to approve. From the commencement to the close of our struggle, we renounced all resort to physical force, and trusted solely to the power of reason and argument. The sharpest weapon we wielded was the pen, and our loudest artillery was the voice of the orator. We never sought to slay an opponent, but only to convert him. It is true we made many prisoners, but they were the willing captives of conviction. For seven years a civil contest was waged in the midst of twenty-seven millions of people without shedding a drop of blood. The battle was long and arduous; but a victory achieved by discussion is in no danger from a re-action. Once gained, it is gained for ever.
