Page:Eminent English liberals in and out of Parliament.djvu/300

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EMINENT LIBERALS OUT OF PARLIAMENT.

ternal pride, and begged the House, with a genuine ardor which aroused its sympathy, "to have compassion on creatures which were so entirely within their power." So true it is that—

"He prayeth well who loveth well
  Both man and bird and beast."

Since Herbert has been out of Parliament he has devoted himself to agricultural pm-suits; but no serious call to public duty has found him wanting. The Bulgarian atrocities filled his mind with horror. He came to London, and "lobbied" for weeks in order to put courage into the breasts of timid Liberal members. The St. James's Hall conferences owed him much for the success which attended them; and he gave a striking proof of his personal intrepidity by presiding at the second anti-Jingo meeting in Hyde Park, where the herculean strength of Mr. Bradlaugh with difficulty availed to save himself from a violent end.

As a politician Mr. Herbert has latterly adopted the ultra-individualist theories of Mr. Herbert Spencer, and started a "Personal Rights and Self-Help Association" as the outward manifestation of his new faith. The Personal Rights Association abhors socialism in every form. What is socialism? It exists whenever the state does for individuals what they might voluntarily achieve for themselves. They are the best laws which repeal laws. The church as by law established is a socialist institution,—down with it. National education is socialist,—down with it. The poor law is socialist,—repeal it. The liquor laws are socialist,—away with them. Factory legislation is socialist,—undo it. What is wanted is absolute free trade in