TOPICS OF THE DAY.
WHAT IS CHARTISM ?
IT is commonly said just now, that Chartism is dying down, and will soon be extinct. Chartism; which is the adoption by the bulk of the people of England :ind Scotland of a claiin to equal rights— Chartism, which is the latest 'movement of the democratic principle amongst the people in the world who have been most diatinguished for pertinacity and success in the pursuit of their objects—this Chartism, which is a natural and necessary result of having taught millions to read, whose social condition is expressed by the rate of their wages, namely eight shillings a week for common labour—this agitation of the masses, which is the fruit of a combination of causes that have steadily operated for forty years—this fearfill disturbance of the inferior classes, now Ihr the first time fully conscious of their own inferiority and of their own power—tins sure consequence of bestowing human knowledge on the brute creation and still treat- ing them as brutes—this, the most important fitct of our times, is, by some, spoken of with contempt and derision. And wherefore ? Fer one poor reason only ; simply becauee sonic foolish Chartists have done some foolish things, and stibinitted to a rap on their knuckles front the law. The weakness of the Chartist cause is in- fared from the folly and rashness of some of the Chartist leaders. Most vain delusion ! As if a great social revolution, such as that which, by fair or foul means, and with the moet happy or disastrous results, will in due time be accomplished in this case, unless the higher order manage to crush the common people down into a state of slavery—as if this "working out of a people's salvation " (for so they call it) could be even attempted without the com- mission of numerous errors and follies, to say nothing of crimes! Is it from the populace alone that we are to expect unerring wis- dom ? Is the end of Chartism the only one wiattainable save by absolute virtue ? And which is the great change that ever took place in human society, without actions that resulted from igno- rance, prejudice, and passion ? But the Chartist leaders, it is said, are such " animals," that the cause can never succeed. Two words with respect to this view of the case. First, there is no more remarkable indication of the power—or; let us say, probable power—of the Chartist millions, than the pains taken to lead or mislead them by means of flat- tery. The would-be -leaders resemble the parasites of a power- lid lord in bygone time, who, to curry favour with him, in order to serve their own base ends, told him that he MIS mere than half a god, and stuffed hint with the pride of the devil. Just so it is with the populer parasites; who vow that the working classes are the sole support of ;e:eiety, and move their passions to the con- templation of measures of universal ruin. The importance of the flattered is proved by the extravagance of the flattery. But, in the next place, the Chartist millions really have no leaders. They listen indeed, attunes, and in sonic places, to the empty ravings of FEARGUS O'CONNOR and Methodist STEPHENS; but confidence they have none in any set of men or any man. They ere human, and have been taught to read their knowledge, such as it is, or, if you please, their instinct, tells them, that the mighty social change which they have in view is yet but a principle. All revolutions have had two distinct stages—that of doctrine, and that of action. The time 1hr action is not yet come in this case ; • and this case differs from all others, inasmuch as the teachers of the revolutionary doctrine arc, not a small minority, as has usually happened, of whom some became leaders iu action, but the working classes themselves who compose the great majority of the nation. Being self-taught, they require no leaders in the doc- trinal stage. Theirs is a Lancasterian school of polities, in which the scholars teach each other, and can do without a master. The superficial observer would think more of the Chartists if they were led by a CORBETT or a 1;i- a Darr : those who have carefully watched the growth of Chartism, know that the absence of leaders at pre-
sent is only one of many proofs of the self-relying and therefore formidable character of Chartist agitation. For the first time in history, the bulk of a people not in slavery are hatching a revolu- tion without confidence in aught but their cause and themselves. There will be leaders °now when the shell breaks.
Nor can we admit, what some would fain believe, that the mil- lions—literally Chertists are generally represented by
such men as OASTLER, STEPHENS; O'CONNOR, and VINCENT. If tlme.
character of Chartism is to be inferred from that of these men, we must first assume that there is no Chartism in Scotland, where, perhaps, it has spread widest and taken the deepest root. The Scottish Chartists are better-informed, more cautious, more patient, as well as more resolute, and, we have reason to believe, though there is no open symptom of it, far more organized and more of one mind, than those of Eng,land. In the South of England, indeed, it can scarcely be said that Chartism exists ; though some, who know the peasantry well, assure us that a sullen and savage discontent is as prevalent amongst them as it is carefully concealed from ordinary observers. If they are not Chartists, they are worse; and also more dangerous adjuncts of Chartism in the second stage, than if they had fairly embraced the People's Charter. That People's Charter has been signed—let us take only half the alleged number of signa-
tures—by 600,000 male adults. And yet there are wiseacres who infer that Chartism is extinct, because the foolish so-called National Convention has melted into nothing, and one ViNeENT has got into scrape with the law. The greatest blunderer amongst the Chartists never fell into so gross an error. Chartism has no place in Ireland ; and this serves to indicate its character. The slavishsavages of Ireland, but lately mend pated, are incapable of imbibing the spirit of Chartism. 'They ase--- in action for another cause, and follow their leaders—priestsa s politicians—in the somewhat vulgar pursuit of equality for a pastill cular race and religion. They simulate democratic longings like the French Canadians, because, as Lord Denuars says of the latter,they happen to be the majority ; but their real object is only to lift their religion and race from aim a inferior position, as that of the French Canadians has been to maintain their nationality or sups: riority in French Canada. How cheerfully the Irish lately sub- mitted to extensive political disfranchisement—that of the forty. shilling freeholders—in order to gain a step for their religion aid their race ! This people has yet litany a step to gain before they will be ripe for Chartism. Chartism is the principle of universal political equality, without regard to race, religion, or station; anti in no country of Europe, except England and Scotland, is this prin- ciple so lunch as dreamt of by those alone who can ever give it effect. In the United States the principle of Chartism is triumphant and harinless. But then, in the United States, there prevails an economical state of things which admits of political equality with. out social convulsion. Not so ill Great Britain, Heaven knows. Chartism, then, in Great Britain, is founded on a combination of the principle of political equality with the greatest social h. quality. Fire and water mingled are not more explosive. The mix- ing process began with JOSEPH LANCASTEU S SC110018—MI5 much accelerated by the Queen's trial in 1820, when the people of Eng. land and Scotland began to read the newspapers—would probably have produced an explosion in 1831, but for the safety-valve of Re. form-Bill agitation—and is now going on at a great rate, while our Rulers are engaged with Court intrigues, and the Middle class is comforted with the doctrine of Finality preached by. a Lord! Is it possible to obliterate the causes .of Charnsm ?—Never: they will gain force every day we live. R hat then is to be done? Shall we try " a strong government" and suppression ?—The mere experiment would probably OCCSSI011 the dreaded evil. Bow then is Chartism to be dealt with ? We shall endeavour to answer this question next week.
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