There is big business for them
here, national business, and we propose to show it. The
subsidy we want will come back to the country four times
over in two years. Freights from Boston alone--"
"It's the patriotic, imperial argument you'll have to
press, I doubt," said John Murchison. "They're not business
people over there--the men in office are not. How should
they be? The system draws them from the wrong class.
They're gentlemen--noblemen, maybe--first, and they've
no practical education. There's only one way of getting
it, and that's to make your own living. How many of them
have ever made tuppence? There's where the Americans beat
them so badly--they've got the sixth sense, the business
sense. No; you'll not find them responding greatly to
what there is in it for trade--they'd like to well enough,
but they just won't see it; and, by George! what a fine
suspicion they'll have of ye! As to freights from Boston,"
he continued, as they all laughed, "I'm of opinion you'd
better not mention them. What! steal the trade of a
friendly power! Tut. tut!"
It was a long speech for John Murchison, but they were
all excited to a pitch beyond the usual. Henry Cruickshank
had brought with him an event of extraordinary importance.
It seemed to sit there with him, significant and propitious,
in the middle of the sofa; they all looked at it in the
pauses.
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