to promote the practical success of those objects the
advocacy of which forms the chief feature of his political
writings. It is rather a measure of his success
in promoting these objects, and of the disgust with
which his success is regarded by those who are opposed
to his political ideas. It was known, or ought
to have been known, by every one who supported Mr.
Mill’s candidature in 1865, that he was a powerful
advocate of proportional representation, and that he
attributed the very greatest importance to the political,
industrial, and social emancipation of women; he advocated
years ago, in his “Political Economy,”
the scheme of land tenure reform with which his name
is now practically associated; his essay “On
Liberty” left no doubt as to his opinions upon
the value of maintaining freedom of thought and speech,
his article entitled “A Few Words on Non-intervention”
might have warned the partisans of the Manchester
school that he had no sympathy with their views on
foreign policy. There is little doubt that the
majority of Mr. Mill’s supporters in 1865 did
not know what his political opinions were, and that
they voted for him simply on his reputation as a great
thinker. A large number, however, probably supported
him, knowing in a general way the views advocated
in his writings, but thinking that he would probably
be like many other politicians, and not allow his practice
to be in the least degree influenced by his theories.
Just as radical heirs apparent are said to lay aside
all inconvenient revolutionary opinions when they
come to the throne, it was believed that Mr. Mill in
Parliament would be an entirely different person from
Mr. Mill in his study. It was one thing to write
an essay in favor of proportional representation it
was another thing to assist in the insertion of the
principle of proportional representation in the Reform
Bill, and to form a school of practical politicians
who took care to insure the adoption of this principle
in the school board elections. It was one thing
to advocate theoretically the claims of women to representation
it was another to introduce the subject into the House
of Commons, to promote an active political organization
in its favor, and thus to convert it, from a philosophical
dream, into a question of pressing and practical importance.
It was one thing to advocate freedom of thought and
discussion in all political and religious questions
it was another to speak respectfully of Mr. Odger,
and to send Mr. Bradlaugh a contribution toward the
expenses of his candidature for Northampton.
The discovery that Mr. Mill’s chief objects in
Parliament were the same as his chief objects out
of Parliament branded him at once as an unpractical
man: and his success in promoting these objects
constituted his “failure” as a politician.
His fearless disregard of unpopularity, as manifested
in his prosecution, in conjunction with Mr. P.A.
Taylor, of Ex-Governor Eyre, was another proof that
he was entirely unlike the people who call themselves
“practical politicians.” His persistency
in conducting this prosecution was one of the main
causes of his defeat at the election of 1868.