First Period of Independent Chartist Activity. 517 
would never have been attempted by the ancient guardians of 
the realm. ” The reforms inaugurated did not affect the eco¬ 
nomic life of the masses to their satisfaction. The Chartists 
had only to look about at home to see that the “knife and fork” 
•question had not been solved. Agitation and violence soon be¬ 
gan again. 
FIRST PERIOD OF INDEPENDENT CHARTIST ACTIVITY. 
After the Whigs completed in 1832 what they had to do in 
regard to the suffrage, Chartism for the first time became a dis¬ 
tinct movement. Chartists were dissatified with what had been 
done but, peculiarly enough, continued along precisely the same 
lines of agitation. They even refused to be drawn into com¬ 
bination with the Whigs for the repeal of the Corn Laws or to 
help push through the bill for a ten hour day. 
Throughout this whole history there can be distinguished two 
elements. There are two distinct sources of discontent, two 
classes of people, and two types of policy. On the one side was 
a movement for more liberal government, begun as a theory, de¬ 
veloped as a political movement in the hands of the Whigs, con¬ 
tinued as an unsatisfied agitation for universal suffrage, and 
ending in a gradual and natural evolution. On the other side 
the economic conditions aroused the massess to a revolt which was 
amorphic and spasmodic and attended with much violence. Its 
history embraces the activity of many mobs and rioters, of secret 
organizations of workingmen, and of a few radical clubs and so¬ 
cieties. Partaking of the nature of each of these was the 
“ Henry Hunt Movement ” which was active for fifteen years be¬ 
fore it became a part of Chartism in 1837. It is easy to see 
that there would be a lack of harmony between these two ele¬ 
ments. To one class political reform was an end, to the other 
a means. These factions worried along together for several 
years; but the differences in spirit and aim became too evident 
to ignore. A separation was inevitable. It came over the 
question of the means proper to employ in carrying on agita¬ 
tion. The Universal Suffragists desired a law abiding agitation 
of a political character and became " Moral Force ” chartists. 
