d about half an hour afterwards they
emerged from their retreat and swooped down upon the Tory meeting. They
overturned the platform, recaptured their torches, tore the enemy's
banner to tatters and drove them from their position. Then the
Liberals in their turn paraded the streets singing 'Has anyone seen a
Tory Flag?' and proceeded to the hall where Sir Featherstone was
speaking, arriving as the audience left.

The crowd that came pouring out of the hall was worked up to a frenzy
of enthusiasm, for the speech they had just listened to had been a sort
of manifesto to the country.

In response to the cheering of the processionists--who, of course, had
not heard the speech, but were cheering from force of habit--Sir
Featherstone Blood stood up in the carriage and addressed the crowd,
briefly outlining the great measures of Social Reform that his party
proposed to enact to improve the condition of the working classes; and
as they listened, the Wise Men grew delirious with enthusiasm. He
referred to Land Taxes and Death Duties which would provide money to
build battleships to protect the property of the rich, and provide Work
for the poor. Another tax was to provide a nice, smooth road for the
rich to ride upon in motor cars--and to provide Work for the poor.
Another tax would be used for Development, which would also make Work
for the poor. And so on. A great point was made of the fact that the
rich were actually to be made to pay something towards the cost of
their road themselves! But nothing was said about how they would get
the money to do it. No reference was made to how the workers would be
sweated and driven and starved to earn Dividends and Rent and Interest
and Profits to put into the pockets of the rich before the latter would
be able to pay for anything at all.

These are the things, Gentlemen, that we propose to do for you, and, at
the rate of progress which we propose to adopt, I say without fear or
contradiction, that within the next Five Hundred years we shall so
reform social conditions in this country, that the working classes will
be able to enjoy some of the benefits of civilization.

'The only question before you is: Are you willing to wait for Five
Hundred Years?'

'Yes, sir,' shouted the Wise Men with enthusiasm at the glorious
prospect.

'Yes, Sir: we'll wait a thousand years if you like, Sir!'

'I've been waiting all my life,' said one poor old veteran, who had
assisted to 'carry th