Mr. Cobbett spoke frankly: The poor endure periodic famine just to line the pockets of landlords! In my view, the real aim of the new English Poor Laws is to reduce the living standards of the English to Irish conditions, where they can survive on potatoes.
You see, Mr. Cobbett is already a renowned progressive in Britain, once imprisoned for two years for slander and exiled to the United States due to political persecution at home.
Yet, even such a man, in his speech, can't help but unconsciously convey disdain for the Irish.
The interests of the Irish are hardly cared for, let alone the slaves.
In short, simply categorizing a person's political inclination as liberal or conservative is indeed a bit simplistic.
It's just like how both Disraeli and Gladstone opposed the abolition of slavery, but their reasons differed greatly.
Just as Dickens was about to continue speaking, Disraeli interrupted him by raising his hand.
