o_199m9vaui14ib1cnu10di10pocoj4h.pdf

344 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 1T97
on shore were watching the fortunes of the " floating
republic " with interest and sympathy.
All the obscure events that have been mentioned in this
chapter tend to the conclusion that many members of the
secret political societies were active, both in promoting
and in trying to maintain the Mutinies. Their motives
and their methods have been roughly shown already, but
it may be well to summarize them here.
The ultimate aim of the societies was to set up a
republican government in Britain. They did not expect
to achieve this object by peaceful means, and it would be
impossible for them to bring about a violent revolution if
the army and navy were against them. On the other
hand, if the defensive forces were republican in spirit,
nothing could save the government and the monarchy
from revolution. So that although the democrats wished
to win over all classes of the nation to their opinions,
it was particularly important that they should have the
goodwill of the soldiers and seamen. The need of such
support was appreciated by the republican leaders, and
they tried with diligence to turn the defences of the
country into an instrument of attack against the government.
The Secret Committee of the House of Commons found
abundant proof of the efforts of these conspirators, but it
may be doubted whether they were justified in reporting
that the political societies had made " systematic
attempts " to seduce the soldiers and sailors from their
allegiance. The evidence would rather lead to the conclusion
that sedition was sown broadcast, and that without
the help of accidental circumstances the outcome could
have been no more than a few scattered and ineffective
risings.
The methods of the revolutionaries point to the same
conclusion. Now a pamphlet was issued by one of the
societies and attempts were made to introduce it
secretly
into the garrisons on shore or into the ships when they