第66部分(第1/7 页)

their　votes　could　be　legally　recorded。　I　remember　a　piteous　letter　from　a　gentleman　who　had　travelled　all　the　way　from　Cornwall；　reaching　Norwich　somewhere　about　7　P。M。；　only　to　discover　that　he　must　vote　at　Yarmouth　within　an　hour；　which　of　course　he　was　unable　to　do。　When　one　considers　how　paratively　small　was　the　number　of　votes　necessary　to　turn　the　scale　in　my　favour；　it　is　easy　to　understand　what　this　blundering　meant　to　me。　Still；　for　reasons　that　I　have　already　given；　I　do　honestly　believe　that　all　was　for　the　best。

Although　I　might　have　done　so　more　than　once；　never　again　have　I　stood　for　Parliament。　To　tell　the　truth；　the　whole　business　disgusts　me　with　its　atmosphere　of　falsehood；　or　at　the　least　of　prevarication；　and　its　humiliating　quest　of　support。　In　such　struggles　in　Britain　there　is；　it　is　true；　little　actual　corruption；　but　of　indirect　corruption　there　is　still　a　great　deal。　From　the　moment　a　candidate　appears　on　the　field　he　is　fair　game；　and　every　man’s　hand　is　in　his　pocket。　Demands　for　“your　patronage　and　support”　fall　on　him；　thick　as　leaves　in　Vallombrosa。　I　remember　that　I　was　even　pestered　to　supply　voters　with　wooden　legs！　Why　should　an　election　in　a　county　division　cost；　as　this　one　did；　something　over　2000　pounds　in　all？

Some　years　before　this　time　my　brother　Alfred　conceived　the　plan　of　obtaining　some　great　concession　of　land　and　minerals　from　Lobengula。　He　was；　I　recollect；　angry　with　me　because　I　would　not　enter　into　his　scheme　with　enthusiasm；　and　I　think　has　never　quite　forgiven　me　my　backwardness。　But　I　knew　a　good　deal　about　the　Matabele；　also　I　held　that　Lobengula　would　never　grant　him　what　he　wanted　unless　it　was　wrung　from　him　by　force　of　arms。　Indeed　I　am　convinced　to　this　day　that　no　one　except　Cecil　Rhodes；　wit