Oh, Ross. (spoilers for those who haven't seen S03 E02)
I can't believe he let that position go to George.
When he turned it down, I don't think he realised that George would be next in line. If he had known, I wonder if he would have agreed to stand, just to stop George from doing so?
He lives by his principles, and he didn't believe that he was the right man for the job. Would his moral compass have allowed him to take a position he didn't want and didn't think he was up to, just to stop someone who would be undoubtedly worse?
We'll never know. But it is darned frustrating to see George strutting it up now he's an MP.
I was actually referring to the first offer, of magistrate, to replace Ray Penvenen, of which Reverend Halse did warn Ross that if he declined, the position would go to George. But yes, now there are two positions he's all but handed to George! The MP position I can understand more, he didn't want to be a puppet. But Demelza was right in saying Ross has influence and could do a lot of good. To me he seems more stubborn than upstanding. So worried about his "soul" when he can have the chance to do so much for others. Sometimes you have to let go of your ideals somewhat for the greater good. He was probably kicking himself when the trouble with young Drake came about because of George's magistrate standing.
Ah - of course. The magistrate job. Yes, you're right. He could have kept George out of that post if he'd wanted to.
It just goes to show that being a man of principle does not mean you're always right.