when there is a question of humanity or
suffering; but who seem strangely transformed into she-tigers, whenever
any but those of whom they can approve attain to power; and who, instead
of entwining their soft arms around their husbands and brothers, to
restrain them from the hot strife of opinions, cheer them on by their
encouragement and throw dirt with the volubility and wit of fish-women."

"Miss Poke, to the backbone!"

"In short, sir, I expect to see an entirely different state of things at
Leaplow. There, when a political adversary is bespattered with mud,
your gentle monikinas, doubtless, appease anger by mild soothings of
philosophy, tempering zeal by wisdom, and regulating error by apt and
unanswerable quotations from that great charter which is based on the
eternal and immutable principles of right."

"Well, Sir John, if you speak in this elocutionary manner in the house,"
cried the delighted Noah, "I shall be shy of answering. I doubt, now, if
the brigadier himself could repeat all you have just said."

"I have forgotten to inquire, Mr. Downright, a little about your Leaplow
constituency. The suffrage is, beyond question, confined to those
members of society who possess a 'social stake.'"

"Certainly, Sir John, They who live and breathe."

"Surely none vote but those who possess the money, and houses, and lands
of the country?"

"Sir, you are altogether in error; all vote who possess ears, and eyes,
and noses, and bobs, and lives, and hopes, and wishes, and feelings, and
wants. Wants we conceive to be a much truer test of political fidelity,
than possessions."

"This is novel doctrine, indeed! but it is in direct hostility to the
social-stake system."

"You were never more right, Sir John, as respects your own theory,
or never more wrong as respects the truth. In Leaplow we contend--and
contend justly--that there is no broader or bolder fallacy than to
say that a representation of mere effects, whether in houses, lands,
merchandise, or money, is a security for a good government. Property
is affected by measures; and the more a monikin has, the greater is the
bribe to induce him to consult his own interests, although it should be
at the expense of those of everybody else."

"But, sir, the interest of the community is composed of the aggregate of
these interests."

"Your pardon, Sir John; nothing is composed of it, but the aggregate
of the interests of a class. If your government is instituted for