Every English Prime Minister
has been a rich man. It may be a blot on our English life. I
think it is. But, then, I have been all my life on the side
of the poor. You, who are a Tory and an Imperialist, who
sympathize with militarism and with war, will agree that it
is important our politicians should be among the 'Haves,'
that a man's possessions _do_ matter to his party and
his cause.
"They matter especially--at the present moment--to _our_
party and _our_ cause. We are the poor party, and our rich
men are few and far between.
"You may say that you would help him, and that your own money
would be at his disposal. But could a man live upon his wife,
in such circumstances, with any self-respect? Of course, I
know that you are very young, and I trust that your views on
many subjects, social and political, will change, and change
materially, before long. It is a serious thing for women
nowadays to throw themselves across the path of progress. At
the same time I see that you have a strong--if I may say
so--a vehement character. It may not be easy for you to cast
off at once what, I understand, has been your father's
influence.
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