It is a glorious era, the one when thousands of citizens can meet up freely.

John Bright, translated by Frédéric Bastiat
Complete Works, Volume 3, pages 474 to 485 (in French)
Manchester, January 25th, 1848

In this third speech in Manchester, John Bright is delighted to note that the repeal of the corn laws, as recent as it may be, allowed to ascertain the righteousness of the positions of the League. According to him, a famine has been avoided thanks to the sixteen million quarts of wheat that have been imported over the previous sixteen months. This seems very important to me because the food, energy or industrial independence remains an argument of the protectionists to justify their demands nowadays. No, autarky that would allow a country to be independent from others is not what creates its security. Free-trade that multiplies the number of suppliers is what helps to avoid shortages.

He then exposes some of the quirks of the aristocracy who considers work as infamous. It explains to a large extent the situation in which the kingdom finds itself, trying to secure places for the cadets – primarily within the army – and thus lead to colonialism as well as the belligerent attitude of a large part of them.

This meeting in Manchester is the opportunity to ascertain the beneficial effects of freedom of speech that allowed the country to evolve and will allow to pursue its transformation. This is the point made in today’s quote.

Pages 463 to 474 – Pages 474 to 485 – Pages 486 à 491