If the question comes to be fought out at
the polls, I don't see how your party could do better
than go in for a wide scheme of reciprocity with the
Americans--in raw products, of course with a tariff to
match theirs on manufactured goods. That would shut a
pretty tight door on British connection though."
"They'll not get my vote if they do," said the squire,
thrusting his hands fiercely into his breeches pockets.
"As you say, it's most important to put up a man who will
show the constituency all the credit and benefit there
is in it, anyhow," Farquharson observed. "I've had a
letter this morning," he added, laughing, "from a
fellow--one of the bosses, too--who wants us to nominate
young Murchison."
"The lawyer?"
"That's the man. He's too young, of course--not thirty.
But he's well known in the country districts; I don't
know a man of his age with a more useful service record.
He's got a lot of friends, and he's come a good deal to
the front lately through that inter-imperial communications
business--we might do worse. And upon my word, we're in
such a hole--"
"Farquharson," said old Squire Ormiston, the red creeping
over features that had not lost in three generations the
lines of the old breed, "I've voted in the Conservative
interest for forty years, and my father before me.
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