Many, perhaps most of the intelligent Conservatives, were fearful of the consequences of the proposal; but as it was made by the heads of their own party, they did not like to oppose it, and the discipline of party carried them with it.
Walter Bagehot: “Many, perhaps most of the intelligent Conservatives, were fearful of the consequences of the proposal; but as it was…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot discusses the internal conflict among Conservatives regarding the Reform Bill and their reluctance to oppose it.
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Now it is not conceivable that a race of beings with valuable instincts supporting their existence and supplying their wants would need these simple tools.
The work would be done so well that we should not want any one to look over or revise it.
If the above reasoning be sound, compulsory constituencies are necessary, voluntary constituencies destructive; the optional transferability of votes is not a salutary aid, but a ruinous innovation.
They say, We reject your Bill for this once or these twice, or even these thrice: but if you keep on sending it up, at last we won't reject it.





