the ragged trousered philanthropists-第114章

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At　such　times　these　people　forgot　all　about　unemployment　and　starvation；　and　became　enthusiastic　about　‘Grand　old　Flags'。　　Their　devotion　to　this　flag　was　so　great　that　so　long　as　they　were　able　to　carry　it　to　victory；　they　did　not　mind　being　poverty　stricken　and　hungry　and　ragged；　all　that　mattered　was　to　score　off　their　hated　‘enemies'　their　fellow　countrymen　the　Tories；　and　carry　the　grand　old　flag　to　victory。　　The　fact　that　they　had　carried　the　flag　to　victory　so　often　in　the　past　without　obtaining　any　of　the　spoils；　did　not　seem　to　damp　their　ardour　in　the　least。　　Being　philanthropists；　they　were　content　…　after　winning　the　victory　…　that　their　masters　should　always　do　the　looting。

At　the　conclusion　of　Sweater's　remarks　the　philanthropists　gave　three　frantic　cheers　and　then　someone　in　the　crowd　shouted　‘What's　the　colour？'　　After　a　hasty　consultation　with　Rushton；　who　being　a　‘master'　decorator；　was　thought　to　be　an　authority　on　colours　…　green　…　grass　green　…　was　decided　upon；　and　the　information　was　shouted　down　to　the　crowd；　who　cheered　again。　　Then　a　rush　was　made　to　Sweater's　Emporium　and　several　yards　of　cheap　green　ribbon　were　bought；　and　divided　up　into　little　pieces；　which　they　tied　into　their　buttonholes；　and　thus　appropriately　decorated；　formed　themselves　into　military　order；　four　deep；　and　marched　through　all　the　principal　streets；　up　and　down　the　Grand　Parade；　round　and　round　the　Fountain；　and　finally　over　the　hill　to　Windley；　singing　to　the　tune　of　‘Tramp；　tramp；　tramp；　the　Boys　are　marching'：

　　　　　　　　‘Vote；　Vote；　Vote　for　Adam　Sweater！　　　　　　　　　Hang　old　Closeland　on　a　tree！　　　　　　　　　Adam　Sweater　is　our　man；　　　　　　　　　And　we'll　have　him　if　we　can；　　　　　　　　　Then　we'll　always　have　the　biggest　loaf　for　tea。'

The　spectacle　presented　by　these　men　…　some　of　them　with　grey　heads　and　beards　…　as　they　marked　time　or　tramped　along　singing　this　childish　twaddle；　would　have　been　amusing　if　it　had　not　been　disgusting。

By　way　of　variety　they　sang　several　other　things；　including：

　　　　　　　　‘We'll　hang　ole　Closeland　　　　　　　　　On　a　sour　apple　tree；'

and

　　　　　　　　‘Rally；　Rally；　men　of　Windley　　　　　　　　　For　Sweater's　sure　to　win。'

As　they　passed　the　big　church　in　Quality　Street；　the　clock　began　to　strike。　　It　was　one　of　those　that　strike　four　chimes　at　each　quarter　of　the　hour。　　It　was　now　ten　o'clock　so　there　were　sixteen　musical　chimes：

　　　　　　　　Ding；　dong！　Ding　Dong！　　　　　　　　　Ding　dong！　Ding　dong！　　　　　　　　　Ding　dong！　Ding　dong！　　　　　　　　　Ding　dong！　Ding　dong！

They　all　chanted　A…dam　Sweat…er'　in　time　with　the　striking　clock。　　In　the　same　way　the　Tories　would　chant：　　　　　　　　　‘Grab　…　all　Close　…　land！　　　　　　　　　Grab　…　all　Close　…　land！　　　　　　　　　Grab　…　all　Close　…　land！　　　　　　　　　Grab　…　all　Close　…　land！'

The　town　was　soon　deluged　with　mendacious　literature　and　smothered　with　huge　posters：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘Vote　for　Adam　Sweater！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Working…man's　Friend！'　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘Vote　for　Sweater　and　Temperance　Reform。'　　　　　　　　　　　　‘Vote　for　Sweater　…　Free　Trade　and　Cheap　Food。'

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　or

　　　　　　‘Vote　for　D'Encloseland：　Tariff　Reform　and　Plenty　of　Work！'

This　beautiful　idea　…　‘Plenty　of　Work'　…　appealed　strongly　to　the　Tory　workmen。　　They　seemed　to　regard　themselves　and　their　children　as　a　sort　of　machines　or　beasts　of　burden；　created　for　the　purpose　of　working　for　the　benefit　of　other　people。　　They　did　not　think　it　right　that　they　should　Live；　and　enjoy　the　benefits　of　civilization。　　All　they　desired　for　themselves　and　their　children　was　‘Plenty　of　Work'。

They　marched　about　the　streets　singing　their　Marseillaise；　‘Work；　Boys；　Work　and　be　contented'；　to　the　tune　of　‘Tramp；　tramp；　tramp　the　Boys　are　marching'；　and　at　intervals　as　they　tramped　along；　they　gave　three　cheers　for　Sir　Graball；　Tariff　Reform；　and　…　Plenty　of　Work。

Both　sides　imported　gangs　of　hired　orators　who　held　forth　every　night　at　the　corners　of　the　principal　streets；　and　on　the　open　spaces　from　portable　platforms；　and　from　motor　cars　and　lorries。　　The　Tories　said　that　the　Liberal　Party　in　the　House　of　Commons　was　composed　principally　of　scoundrels　and　fools；　the　Liberals　said　that　the　Tory　Party　were　fools　and　scoundrels。　　A　host　of　richly　dressed　canvassers　descended　upon　Windley　in　carriages　and　motor　cars；　and　begged　for　votes　from　the　poverty…stricken　working　men　who　lived　there。

One　evening　a　Liberal　demonstration　was　held　at　the　Cross　Roads　on　Windley　Hill。　　Notwithstanding　the　cold　weather；　there　was　a　great　crowd　of　shabbily　dressed　people；　many　of　whom　had　not　had　a　really　good　meal　for　months。　　It　was　a　clear　night。　　The　moon　was　at　the　full；　and　the　scene　was　further　illuminated　by　the　fitful　glare　of　several　torches；　stuck　on　the　end　of　twelve…foot　poles。　　The　platform　was　a　large　lorry；　and　there　were　several　speakers；　including　Adam　Sweater　himself　and　a　real　live　Liberal　Peer　…　Lord　Ammenegg。　　This　individual　had　made　a　considerable　fortune　in　the　grocery　and　provision　line；　and　had　been　elevated　to　the　Peerage　by　the　last　Liberal　Government　on　account　of　his　services　to　the　Party；　and　in　consideration　of　other　considerations。

Both　Sweater　and　Ammenegg　were　to　speak　at　two　other　meetings　that　night　and　were　not　expected　at　Windley　until　about　eight…thirty；　so　to　keep　the　ball　rolling　till　they　arrived；　several　other　gentlemen；　including　Rushton　…　who　presided　…　and　Didlum；　and　one　of　the　five　pounds　a　week　orators；　addressed　the　meeting。　　Mingled　with　the　crowd　were　about　twenty　rough…looking　men　…　strangers　to　the　town　…　who　wore　huge　green　rosettes　and　loudly　applauded　the　speakers。　　They　also　distributed　Sweater　literature　and　cards　with　lists　of　the　different　meetings　that　were　to　be　held　during　the　election。　　These　men　were　bullies　hired　by　Sweater's　agent。　　They　came　from　the　neighbourhood　of　Seven　Dials　in　London　and　were　paid　ten　shillings　a　day。　　One　of　their　duties　was　to　incite　the　crowd　to　bash　anyone　who　disturbed　the　meetings　or　tried　to　put　awkward　questions　to　the　speakers。

The　hired　orator　was　a　tall；　slight　man　with　dark　hair；　beard　and　moustache；　he　might　have　been　called　well…looking　if　it　had　not　been　for　a　ugly　scar　upon　his　forehead；　which　gave　him　a　rather　sinister　appearance。　　He　was　an　effective　speaker；　the　audience　punctuated　his　speech　with　cheers；　and　when　he　wound　up　with　an　earnest　appeal　to　them　…　as　working　men　…　to　vote　for　Adam　Sweater；　their　enthusiasm　knew　no　bounds。

‘I've　seen　him　somewhere　before；'　remarked　Barrington；　who　was　standing　in　the　crowd　with　Harlow；　Owen　and　Easton。

‘So　have　I；'　said　Owen；　with　a　puzzled　expression。　　‘But　for　the　life　of　me；　I　can't　remember　where。'

Harlow　and　Easton　also　thought　they　had　seen　the　man　before；　but　their　speculations　were　put　an　end　to　by　the　roar　of　cheering　that　heralded　the　arrival　of　the　motor　car；　containing　Adam　Sweater　and　his　friend；　Lord　Ammenegg。　　Unfortunately；　those　who　had　arranged　the　meeting　had　forgotten　to　provide　a　pair　of　steps；　so　Sweater　found　it　a　matter　of　considerable　difficulty　to　mount　the　platform。　　However；　while　his　friends　were　hoisting　and　pushing　him　up；　the　meeting　beguiled　the　time　by　singing：


　　　　　　　　‘Vote；　vote；　vote　for　Adam　Sweater。'

After　a　terrible　struggle　they　succeeded　in　getting　him　on　to　the　cart；　and　while　he　was　recovering　his　wind；　Rushton　made　a　few　remarks　to　the　crowd。　　Sweater　then　advanced　to　the　front；　but　in　consequence　of　the　cheering　and　singing；　he　was　unable　to　make　himself　heard　for　several　minutes。

When　at　length　he　was　able　to　proceed；　ho　made　a　very　clever　speech　…　it　had　been　specially　written　for　him　and　had　cost　ten　guineas。　　A　large　part　of　it　consisted　of　warnings　against　the　dangers　of　Socialism。　　Sweater　had　carefully　rehearsed　this　speech　and　he　delivered　it　very　effectively。　　Some　of　those　Socialists；　he　said；　were　well…meaning　but　mistaken　people；　who　did　not　realize　the　harm　that　would　result　if　their　extraordinary　ideas　were　ever　put　into　practice。　　He　lowered　his　voice　to　a　blood…curdling　stage　whisper　as　he　asked：

‘What　is　this　Socialism　that　we　hear　so　much　about；　but　which　so　few　understand？　What　is　it；　and　what　does　it　mean？'

Then；　raising　his　voice　till　it　rang　through　the　air　and　fell　upon　the　ears　of　the　assembled　multitude　like　the　clanging　of　a　funeral　bell；　he　continued：

‘It　is　madness！　　Chaos！　　Anarchy！　　It　means　Ruin！　　Black　Ruin　for　the　rich；　and　consequently；　of　course；　Blacker　Ruin　still　for　the　poor！'

As　Sweater　paused；　a　thrill　of　horror　ran　through　the　meeting。　　Men　wearing　broken　boots　and　with　patches　upon　the　seats　and　knees；　and　ragged　fringes　round　the　bottoms　of　the　legs　of　their　trousers；　grew　pale；　and　glanced　apprehensively　at　each　other。　　If　ever　Socialism　did　come　to　pass；　they　evidently　thought　it　very　probable　that　they　would　have　to　walk　about　in　a　sort　of　prehistoric　highland　costume；　without　any　trousers　or　boots　at　all。

Toil…worn　women；　most　of　them　dressed　in　other　women's　shabby　cast…off　clothing　…　weary；　tired…looking　mothers　who　fed　their　children　for　the　most　part　on　adulterated　tea；　tinned　skimmed　milk　and　bread　and　margarine；　grew　furious　as　they　thought　of　the　wicked　Socialists　who　were　trying　to　bring　Ruin　upon　them。

It　never　occurred　to　any　of　these　poor　people　that　they　were　in　a　condition　of　Ruin；　Black　Ruin；　already。　　But　if　Sweater　had　suddenly　found　himself　reduced　to　the　same　social　condition　as　the　majority　of　those　he　addressed；　there　is　not　much　doubt　that　he　would　have　thought　that　he　was　in　a　condition　of　Black　Ruin。

The　awful　silence　that　had　fallen　on　the　panic…stricken　crowd；　was　presently　broken　by　a　ragged…trousered　Philanthropist；　who　shouted　out：

‘We　knows　wot　they　are；　sir。　　Most　of　'em　is　chaps　wot's　got　tired　of　workin'　for　their　livin'；　so　they　wants　us　to　keep　'em。'

Encouraged　by　numerous　expressions　of　approval　from　the　other　Philanthropists；　the　man　continued：

‘But　we　ain't　such　fools　as　they　thinks；　and　so　they'll　find　out　next　Monday。　　Most　of　'em　wants　'angin'；　and　I　wouldn't　mind　lendin'　a　'and　with　the　rope　myself。'

Applause　and　laughter　greeted　these　noble　sentiments；　and　Sweater　resumed　his　address；　when　another　man　…　evidently　a　Socialist　…　for　he　was　accompanied　by　three　or　four　others　who　like　himself　wore　red　ties　…　interrupted　and　said　that　he　would　like　to　ask　him　a　question。　　No　notice　was　taken　of　this　request　either　by　Mr　Sweater　or　the　chairman；　but　a　few　angry　cries　of　‘Order！'　came　from　the　crowd。　　Sweater　continued；　but　the　man　again　interrupted　and　the　cries　of　the　crowd　became　more　threatening。　　Rushton　started　up　and　said　that　he　could　not　allow　the　speaker　to　be　interrupted；　but　if　the　gentleman　would　wait　till　the　end　of　the　meeting；　he　would　have　an　opportunity　of　asking　his　question　then。

The　man　said　he　would　wait　as　desired；　Sweater　resumed　his　oration；　and　presently　the　interrupter　and　his　friends　found　themselves　surrounded　by　the　gang　of　hired　bullies　who　wore　the　big　rosettes　and　who　glared　menacingly　at　them。

Sweater　concluded　his　speech　with　an　appeal　to　the　crowd　to　deal　a　‘Slashing　Bow　at　the　Enemy'　next　Monday；　and　then　amid　a　storm　of　applause；　Lord　Ammenegg　stepped　to　the　front。　　He　said　that　he　did　not　intend　to　inflict　a　long　speech　upon　them　that　evening；　and　as