66 POLITICAL ECONOMY 



absolutely no violence. These last unions comprise benefit 

 societies of great value. In all cases we find an intense 

 attachment of workmen to the union, joined with dislike of 

 those who cannot or will not join the society, a dislike which 

 in the better trades involves social discomfort, and in Sheffield 

 the risk of assassination. We find the cries about piece-work 

 and over-time to be founded on ignorance ; that the indolence 

 complained of arises not from unions, but from the natural 

 slackening which results from increased comfort and diminished 

 risk of want. We find the accusation of levelling unsupported 

 by the evidence of any levelled workman, and wholly denied by 

 the unions. We find that the government of unions does truly 

 represent the wishes of their members, that they do assure those 

 members against want, and that they do increase the wages of 

 the working classes. Let us not reason of an imaginary work- 

 ing man, ground down by the tyranny of a secretary, secretly 

 loathing his oppressor, losing the substance of wages while 

 grasping at the shadow, and using violence to coerce a majority 

 whom he cannot convince, and with whom he secretly agrees. 

 Let us not seek with middle-class complacency to patronize 

 the oppressed being, and deliver him from his thraldom. So 

 doing, we shall seem but wretched hypocrites to workmen 

 blindly unable to comprehend our blindness. No ; it is the 

 wearer who knows where the shoe pinches. Masters hate 

 unions; workmen love them. Let those who feel them to be 

 adversaries destroy them if they can; the workmen will fight 

 hard, but in the great trades they have used and will use no 

 foul weapons, and will feel little bitterness to open opponents. 



We prophesy no dismal revolution, no war of fustian with 

 broadcloth, no violence of any kind, if the attempt be made to 

 abolish unions ; we only expect then shortly to see candidates 

 of the highest respectability on the hustings swallowing un- 

 wholesome pledges to support the worst rules trade-unions have 

 yet devised. Now is our opportunity. If we show that we can 

 govern wisely, workmen may consent to be governed. If we 

 act with folly we must soon learn to follow our new masters. 

 Educated Englishmen have hitherto known how to lead, and we 

 therefore dismiss the question whether workmen shall still be 

 permitted to combine, and consider only what remedies shall be 



