We shall be outed; and that'll never do, because there's
no other set of fellows that can save this country.' Then they 'ave a
meetin' and change their policy. And what they've never seen is that
they've never seen Public Opinion at all. All they've seen is what the
U.P. let 'em. Now if I was the Gover'ment, I'd 'ave it out once for all
with the U. P."
"Ah!" cried Mr. Lavender, whose eyes were starting from his, head, so
profoundly was he agitated by what was to him a new thought.
"Yes," continued Joe, "if I was the Gover'ment, next time it 'appened,
I'd say: 'All right, old cock, do your damnedest. I ain't responsible to
you. Attack, suppress, and all the rest of it. We're goin' to do what
we say, all the same!' And then I'd do it. And what'd come of it? Either
the U.P. would go beyond the limits of the Law--and then I'd jump on it,
suppress its papers, and clap it into quod--or it'd take it lyin' down.
Whichever 'appened it'd be all up with the U. P. I'd a broke its chain
off my neck for good. But I ain't the Gover'ment, an Gover'ment's got
tender feet. I ask you, sir, wot's the good of havin' a Constitooshion,
and a the bother of electing these fellows, if they can't act according
to their judgment for the short term of their natural lives? The U.
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