Manchester in 1844 by W. H. Chaloner

Author:W. H. Chaloner [Chaloner, W. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General
ISBN: 9781135782054
Google: jpCHeci7PCMC
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2005-06-28T15:52:20+00:00

PART II.

MANCHESTER IN 1844.

THE wide-spread physical and moral degradation of the labouring classes, which is such a lamentable feature, not only in Manchester, but in all the great manufacturing towns, is a fact which engages in an especial manner, the anxious solicitude of benevolent minds in England. They feel that it is a reproach upon the public conscience, and that in a country like England, where evils of such magnitude are permitted to exist, the men who have the direction of public affairs, cannot escape from all responsibility. Whatever may be the form of its political institutions, whether aristocratic or democratic, it governs itself, and belongs entirely to itself. Its destinies are not in the hands of any foreign power; and no artificial influences constrain or limit public opinion. The middle classes, which the natural progress of society has elevated to political power, exercise that power freely; and they are accountable to Providence, as well as to the world, not only for the evil which they have not prevented, but for the good which they have not effected.

This wide-spread misery is moreover a reproach to the self-love of the nation. It aspires to a renown for wealth, power, and morality; and yet, beholds itself marked out by the nations of Europe, as a subject of reproach on the one hand, and an object of pity on the other. It gratuitously assumes superiority over every other people. It vaunts itself as a model for surrounding nations, when it cannot govern itself. The world, dazzled by the prestige of its brilliant military and naval successes, has for a long time taken it at its word; but the tales of misery which continually resound in its parliament, have at length dissolved the charm. There is not now a child in Europe, who does not know that, side by side of its colossal grandeur, there exists misery of equal magnitude; and history has only to recount the details of it, and to probe the ulcers which eat into the vitals of the colossus.

England at length, perceives that its future prospects are menaced. A people so profoundly attached to the development of the Material, should place Physical health and strength in the first rank of the elements essential to its power, and should take the alarm as soon as ever the influence of intemperance and privations, combined with excess of labour, undermines the constitution of its labourers. Talk with the English, and you will find that they attribute their military achievements much less to any superiority of tactics, than to the physical strength of their soldiers, which enables them to maintain their position a longer time. Read the parliamentary documents, and you will see with what care they endeavour to prove that the English labourer is superior in strength to the labourer of every other nation; and that this superiority is the real foundation of its pre-eminence.

The English profess to be an athletic people. With the same attention which Rome paid to the games of

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.