Nor did he seek to learn the result of his
ultimatum. It looked, they thought, as if he had assumed acceptance; and
was willing for Phillips to choose his own occasion. Meanwhile replies
to her articles reached Joan in weekly increasing numbers. There seemed
to be a wind arising, blowing towards Protection. Farm labourers,
especially, appeared to be enthusiastic for its coming. From their ill-
spelt, smeared epistles, one gathered that, after years of doubt and
hesitation, they had--however reluctantly--arrived at the conclusion that
without it there could be no hope for them. Factory workers, miners,
engineers--more fluent, less apologetic--wrote as strong supporters of
Phillips's scheme; but saw clearly how upon Protection its success
depended. Shopmen, clerks--only occasionally ungrammatical--felt sure
that Robert Phillips, the tried friend of the poor, would insist upon the
boon of Protection being no longer held back from the people. Wives and
mothers claimed it as their children's birthright. Similar views got
themselves at the same time, into the correspondence columns of
Carleton's other numerous papers.
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