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 it was nomination day tomorrow he would not be able to have the honour of addressing them again during the election; but even if he had wished to make a long speech, it would be very difficult after the brilliant and eloquent address they had just listened to from Mr Sweater, for it seemed to him (Ammenegg) that Adam Sweater had left nothing for anyone else to say.But he would like to tell them of a Thought that had occurred to him that evening.They read in the Bible that the Wise Men came from the East.Windley, as they all knew, was the East end of the town.They were the men of the East, and he was sure that next Monday they would prove that they were the Wise Men of the East, by voting for Adam Sweater and putting him at the top of the poll with a `Thumping Majority'.
The Wise Men of the East greeted Ammenegg's remarks with prolonged, imbecile cheers, and amid the tumult his Lordship and Sweater got into the motor car and cleared off without giving the man with the red tie or anyone else who desired to ask questions any opportunity of doing so.Rushton and the other leaders got into another motor car, and followed the first to take part in another meeting down-town, which was to be addressed by the great Sir Featherstone Blood.
The crowd now resolved itself into military order, headed by the men with torches and a large white banner on which was written in huge black letters, `Our man is Adam Sweater'.
They marched down the hill singing, and when they reached the Fountain on the Grand Parade they saw another crowd holding a meeting there.
These were Tories and they became so infuriated at the sound of the Liberal songs and by the sight of the banner, that they abandoned their meeting and charged the processionists.A free fight ensued.
Both sides fought like savages, but as the Liberals were outnumbered by about three to one, they were driven off the field with great slaughter; most of the torch poles were taken from them, and the banner was torn to ribbons.Then the Tories went back to the Fountain carrying the captured torches, and singing to the tune of `Has anyone seen a German Band?'
`Has anyone seen a Lib'ral Flag, Lib'ral Flag, Lib'ral Flag?'
While the Tories resumed their meeting at the Fountain, the Liberals rallied in one of the back streets.Messengers were sent in various directions for reinforcements, and about half an hour afterwards they emerged from their retreat and swooped down upon the Tory meeting.
They overturned the platform, recaptured their torches, tore the enemy's banner to tatters and drove them from their position.Then the Liberals in their turn paraded the streets singing `Has anyone seen a Tory Flag?' and proceeded to the hall where Sir Featherstone was speaking, arriving as the audience left.
The crowd that came pouring out of the hall was worked up to a frenzy of enthusiasm, for the speech they had just listened to had been a sort of manifesto to the country.
