When a lad he had been in England with his father, Lewis McLane, then American Minister to the Court of St.James, during the excitement over the Reform Bill of 1832.

He had witnessed the popular demonstrations and had been impressed by the direct force of public opinion upon law-making and law-makers.

An analogous situation had arrived in America.

The Republican Senate was as the Tory House of Lords.

We must organize a movement such as had been so effectual in England.