You never can tell what aspiration'll get 'em next. And the 'ole
point of an aspiration is the sacrifice of someone else. Don't you make
a mistake, sir. I defy you to make a public speech which 'asn't got that
at the bottom of it."
"We are wandering from the point, Joe," returned Mr. Lavender. "Who is
it that governs, the country?"
"A Unseen Power," replied Joe promptly.
"How?"
"Well, sir, we're a democratic country, ain't we? Parlyment's elected by
the People, and Gover'ment's elected by Parlyment. All right so far;
but what 'appens? Gover'ment says 'I'm going to do this.' So long as it
meets with the approval of the Unseen Power, well an' good. But what
if it don't? The U.P. gets busy; in an 'undred papers there begins to
appear what the U.P. calls Public Opinion, that's to say the opinion
of the people that agree with the U.P. There you 'ave it, sir, only
them--and it appears strong. Attacks on the Gover'ment policy, nasty
things said abaht members of it that's indiscreet enough to speak aht
what, they think--German fathers, and other secret vices; an' what's
more than all, not a peep at any opinion that supports the Gover'ment.
Well, that goes on day after day, playin' on the mind of Parlyment, if
they've got any, and gittin' on the Gover'ment's nerves, which they've
got weak, till they says: 'Look 'ere, it's no go; Public Opinion won't
stand it.
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