The result of sloth and self-indulgence.

We had the Government we deserved ...

I need not quote further.

You can imagine a fine old fox-hunting Tory gentleman, with England filling all the spaces of his soul, blowing off the steam of his indignation.
When he had ended, "What," said I, "is to be done ?" "I'll lay my horsewhip across the young beggar's shoulders the next time I meet him." "Capital," said I."If I were you I should never ride abroad except in my mayor's gown and chain, so that you can give an official character to the thrashing." He glanced swiftly at me in his bird-like fashion, his brow creased into a thousand tiny horizontal lines--it always took him a fraction of a second to get clear of the literal significance of words--and then he laughed.

Personal violence was out of the question.