I, of course, know too little of
local facts, or of the temper of the people of Southsea. But I am bound
to believe it to be the same as I have found it elsewhere. And I
therefore shall confine myself to general questions, and shall treat this
case of Portsea, as what it is, alas! one among a hundred similar ones,
and say to you simply what I have said for twenty-five years, wherever
and whenever I can get a hearing. And therefore if I seem here and there
to speak sharply and sternly, recollect that I pay you a compliment in so
doing--first, that I speak not to you, but to all English men and women;
and next, that I speak as to those who have noble instincts, if they will
be only true to them:--as to English people, who are not afraid of being
told the truth; to English people who do wrong rather from forgetfulness
and luxury, than from meanness and cruelty aforethought; who, as far as I
have seen, need, for the most part, only to be reminded that they are
doing wrong, to reawaken them to their better selves, and set them trying
honestly and bravely to do right.
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