Papers like the "Fiery Cross," even though such a
man as Westlake edit them, serve the cause of hatred; they preach,
by implication at all events, the childish theory of the equality of
men, and seek to make discontented a whole class which only needs
regular employment on the old conditions to be perfectly satisfied.'
'Westlake says here that they have no _right_ to be satisfied.'
'I know. It is one of the huge fallacies of the time; it comes of
the worship of progress. I am content with the fact that, even in
our bad day, as a class they _are_ satisfied. No, these reforms
address themselves to the wrong people; they begin at the wrong end.
Let us raise our voices, if we feel impelled to do so at all, for
the old simple Christian rules, and do our best to get the educated
by the ears. I have my opinion about the clergy; I will leave you to
guess it.'
'Have you any belief in the possibility of this revolution they
threaten?'
'None whatever. Changes will come about, but not of these men's
making or devising. And for the simple reason that they are not
sincere. I put aside an educated enthusiast such as Westlake. The
proletarian Socialists do not believe what they say, and therefore
they are so violent in saying it. They are not themselves of pure
and exalted character; they cannot ennoble others.
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