I
know that you had rather, or affect you had rather, talk about Catullus,
but I also know that you think upon serious subjects sometimes. These
matters cannot now be put aside. We live in a world in which certain
problems are forced upon us and we are compelled to come to some
conclusion upon them. I cannot shut myself up and determine that I will
have no opinion upon Education or Socialism or Women's Rights. The fact
that these questions are here is plain proof that it is my duty not to
ignore them. You hate large generalisations, but how can we exist
without them? They may never be entirely true, but they are
indispensable, and, if you never commit yourself to any, you are much
more likely to be practically wrong than if you use them.
Take, for example, the Local Veto. I admitted in my speech that there
is much to be urged against it. It might act harshly, and it is quite
true that poor men in large towns cannot spend their evenings in their
filthy homes; but I MUST be for it or against it, and I am
enthusiastically for it, because on the whole it will do good.
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