to the country for sufficient support to justify him in declaring his views openly:  the leading members of the League were not slow to make use of those rumours:  and, in his strikingly able speech, calling for the Committee, Mr. Cobden more than hinted that the Premier, although not yet a free trader before the country, was one at least in heart.  “There are politicians in the House,” said he, “men who look with an ambition—­probably a justifiable one—­to the honors of office; there may be men who—­with thirty years continuous service, having been pressed into a groove from which they can neither escape nor retreat—­may be holding office, and high office:  maintained there probably at the expense of their present convictions which do not harmonize very well with their early opinions.  I make allowances for them; but the great body of honorable gentlemen opposite came up to this House, not as politicians, but as the farmer’s friends, and protectors of the agricultural interests.  Well! what do you propose to do?  You have heard the Prime Minister declare that, if he could restore all the protection which you have had, that protection would not benefit the agriculturists.  Is that your belief?  If so, why not proclaim it; but if it is not your conviction, you will have falsified your mission in this House by following the right hon. baronet into the lobby, and opposing inquiry into the condition of the very men who sent you here.  I have no hesitation in telling you, that if you give me a Committee of this House I will explode the delusion of agricultural protection.  I will bring forward such a mass of evidence, and give you such a preponderance of talent and of authority, that when the Blue Book is published and sent forth to the world your system of protection shall not live in the public opinion for two years afterwards.”  And again he said with irresistible logic:  “I ask you to go into this Committee with me.  I will give you a majority of county members.  I ask you only to go into a fair inquiry as to the causes of the distress of your own population.  Whether you establish my principle or your own, good will come out of the inquiry; and I do therefore beg and entreat you not to refuse it.”

The effect of this speech in the House and throughout the country was very great.  The anti-Corn Law League printed it by the million and scattered it broad-cast over the land; it was even said that it had no inconsiderable effect on Sir Robert Peel himself, and many of his friends believed that Mr. Cobden exercised, on the occasion, “a real influence over him.”  The Premier refused the Committee, but remained silent; Sidney Herbert it was whom his chief entrusted with the arduous duty of replying to the great Leaguer.  In the course of his speech he said, “it would be distasteful to the agriculturists to come whining to Parliament at every period of temporary distress; but in adverse circumstances they would meet them manfully, and put their shoulder to the wheel."[73]