388 I HE REIGN OF LAW. 



measure of restriction, he added, that unless the 

 Legislature extended to these children the same 

 protection which it had intended to afford to the 

 Apprentice class, it had come to this — that the 

 great mechanical inventions which were the glory 

 of the age would be a curse rather than a bless- 

 ing to the country. These were strong words 

 from a master manufacturer ; but they were not 

 more strong than true. * 



Thus began that great debate which in principle 

 may be said to be not ended yet: — the debate, 

 how far it is legitimate or wise in Positive Insti- 

 tution to interfere for moral ends with the free- 

 dom of the individual Will ? Cobbett denounced 

 the opposition to restrictive measures as a con- 

 test of " Mammon against Mercy." No doubt 

 personal interests were strong in the forming 

 of opinion, and some indignation was natural 

 against those who seemed to regard the abso- 

 lute neglect of a whole generation, and the total 

 abandonment of them to the debasing effects 

 of excessive toil, as nothing compared with the 



* Hansard Pari. Deli., Vols. xxxi. and xxxiii. — Sir Robert's 

 Speech on Motion for a Committee, April 3, iSi6. 



