The alacrity with which Arthur Knight accepted Mr. Whitwell’s invitation to spend the night after the Scourby political meeting at Hornby Hall, and the readiness which he exhibited to prolong his visit, puzzled his friend, John Dallington, exceedingly. It was as if Knight, one of the busiest men in the land, had nothing whatever to occupy him, so entirely did he yield himself to the passing pleasure of the time. John could not guess what the circumstances were which gave to the incident an irresistible charm, but Arthur felt as if he had found unexpectedly a mine of treasure for which he had been willing to search the world over. And Dallington was forced to acknowledge to himself that from some reason or other his cousin Tom was more delightful, and his friend Knight more happy than he had ever seen them.
Naturally the talk at the supper-table was of Scourby and its troubles, and of the other places where bye-elections had resulted in similar returns.
“It will be a lesson to us,” said Mr. Whitwell, “and I hope that in time politics may assume a new aspect. After all, both parties are agreed upon main points, for Conservatives and Liberals alike have, or are supposed to have, the best interests of the nation at heart. Our divisions are caused by our divergence of opinion as to the means by which the same ends are to be secured.”
“Exactly; and this may be said of our religious differences. We all, or nearly all, believe that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, and that to be a Christian is to be a believer in and a follower of Him. We believe, too, that the peace and well-being of peoples is to be secured through allegiance to Him. Is it not wonderful, then, that both in Christianity and politics we often seem as far apart as the poles?”
“Not at all wonderful,” said Tom, “seeing that man is always a combative and disagreeable creature, and that the more civilised he is the more stubborn is the animosity which he cherishes towards every one but himself. Did you ever know a body of men in committee who did not waste the time in discussion and disagreement?”
“Yes, I have frequently observed the phenomenon, Miss Grace; and are not most things the better for being threshed out in discussion? Many men means many minds; and in ‘the multitude of counsellors there is safety.’ There is not necessarily antagonism because there is difference of method; but no one more regrets than I that these differences should be accentuated until they actually create a division among those who ought to be heart and soul together.”
“What names do you propose to give the new parties, Mr. Knight?” asked Miss Whitwell.
“No names at all. We will try and get the things and name them afterward. We want the party of righteousness to oppose the party of wrong, that is all.”
“But, of course, that is exactly what we have now,” said Dallington. “Every man believes that his own party is for the right and the other is not. It is a question of standpoint.”
“Yes; but making allowances for that sort of thing, there is some common ground upon which we can all meet, and men who have consciences ought to occupy it while they make one grand united effort on behalf of those whose existence is little more than a struggle.”