[131a-013]

1818 March 22 +

Parl Reform. Answer to Antiballotists

2 o

12

12

In regard to this distinction of honour – in regard to the punishment that would be inflicted by it – what (it must be confessed) requires here to be considered, is – that the only persons to whom it applies are the Candidates themselves: the Candidates, by whom, or to or for whose benefit it would be exercised. – {the candidates themselves to wit such of them and no other as at the time in question will feel /concur/ themselves unpopular to such a degree its[?] thought of by the people /electors/ to such an extent – as to stand in need of the said tyranny then exercised.} But the Candidates themselves (it will be observed) {all Candidates popular and unpopular together} are but a minute portion of the whole number of persons, by whom, but for such preventive as the open mode does not present, and the secret mode does present, this tyranny would – for the benefit of Candidates or even without a view to such benefit – be exercised: exercised, perhaps without its being known to the Candidate, at any rate without its being known that he knows it. By how unlimited a multitude of persons – agents, private friends, or neither agents nor friends, but merely man of the same party, or in the same interest – in support of one and the same candidates – may not the tyranny be – for continually, and to a prodigious extent is it not – actually exercised?