“I don't see things at all as you do,” I said. “I don't see things in the same way.”
“Think of the poor,” said Margaret, going off at a tangent.
“Think of every one,” I said. “We Liberals have done more mischief through well-intentioned benevolence than all the selfishness in the world could have done. We built up the liquor interest.”
“WE!” cried Margaret. “How can you say that? It's against us.”
“Naturally. But we made it a monopoly in our clumsy efforts to prevent people drinking what they liked, because it interfered with industrial regularity—”
“Oh!” cried Margaret, stung; and I could see she thought I was talking mere wickedness.
“That's it,” I said.
“But would you have people drink whatever they pleased?”
“Certainly. What right have I to dictate to other men and women?”
“But think of the children!”