It is unmanly thus for giants to gird at pigmies! I would advise all the clerks in the various Government offices to form a "union," in order to obtain redress for their wrongs; and to "strike," if needs be--you know, that strikes are all the rage now! You demur to my argument?
It would be a conspiracy, you say?
Dear me! You are quite wrong, I assure you.

A conspiracy is only a conspiracy so long as it is unsuccessful.

When it is triumphant, it is known no longer by that term! Then, it is styled a "Revolution," or a "Restoration," or a "Grand Party Triumph," as the case may be.

Just in the same way, is a man a "traitor," or a "patriot," who tries to serve his country, according to his lights, as he is either defeated in his purpose, or victorious.
Besides, when men thus work together in a body, their words and deeds, although identically the same, are regarded in a different light to the words and deeds of mere individuals.

In the one case they may be grand and glorious; in the other, they are stigmatised, perhaps, as insignificant, and, indeed, often criminal.
Witness, how a robber on a large scale, such as a privateersman confiscating the goods of an innocent merchant, or a chancellor of the exchequer putting his hand into a poor taxpayer's pocket, is held up in history to the admiration and honour of posterity; while, a petty thief, who may steal the watch of Dives, or a starving wretch, who snatches a loaf out of a baker's shop, gets sent to the treadmill--_their_ actions being only chronicled in the police news of the day.
Or, again, look at your colossal murderer, like the Kaiser "Thanks to Providence," when he prosecuted the invasion of a neighbouring country the other day, in defiance of his kingly word--as published in a public proclamation, bearing his signature.
He sacrificed thousands of lives in furtherance of his own ambition; but, he is a "conqueror," bless you! A hero, to whom men bow the knee and cry, "Ave, Caesar!"-- Your puny villain, on the other hand, who only cuts one unfortunate throat, is hung! "Circumstances alter cases," runs the saying:--it should more properly be, the light in which we view them--_that_ makes all the difference, my dear sir, or madam! Let the Government clerks strike, I say.