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labourer； and a beneficence towards him； when in need； such as no other
nation on earth has ever shown； have done much to abolish the moral
division。 But the social division has surely been increased during the last
half century； by the inevitable tendency； both in commerce and agriculture；
to employ one large capital； where several small ones would have been
employed a century ago。 The large manufactory； the large shop； the large
estate； the large farm； swallows up the small ones。 The yeoman； the
thrifty squatter who could work at two or three trades as well as till his
patch of moor； the hand…loom weaver； the skilled village craftsman； have
all but disappeared。 The handworker； finding it more and more difficult
to invest his savings； has been more and more tempted to squander them。
To rise to the dignity of a capitalist； however small； was growing
impossible to him； till the rise of that co…operative movement； which will
do more than any social or political impulse in our day for the safety of
English society； and the loyalty of the English working classes。 And
meanwhileere that movement shall have spread throughout the length
and breadth of the land； and have been applied； as it surely will be some
day； not only to distribution； not only to manufacture； but to agriculture
likewisetill then； the best judges of the working men's worth must be
their employers； and especially the employers of the northern
manufacturing population。 What their judgment is； is sufficiently
notorious。 Those who depend most on the working men； who have the
best opportunities of knowing them； trust them most thoroughly。 As long
as great manufacturers stand forward as the political sponsors of their own
workmen； it behoves those who cannot have had their experience； to
consider their opinion as conclusive。 As for that 〃influence of the higher
classes〃 which is said to be endangered just now； it will exist； just as much
as it deserves to exist。 Any man who is superior to the many； whether in
talents； education； refinement； wealth； or anything else； will always be
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able to influence a number of menand if he thinks it worth his while； of
votesby just and lawful means。 And as for unjust and unlawful means；
let those who prefer them keep up heart。 The world will go on much as it
did before； and be always quite bad enough to allow bribery and
corruption； jobbery and nepotism； quackery and arrogance； their full
influence over our home and foreign policy。 An extension of the suffrage；
however wide； will not bring about the millennium。 It will merely make
a large number of Englishmen contented and loyal； instead of discontented
and disloyal。 It may make； too； the educated and wealthy classes wiser
by awakening a wholesome fearperhaps； it may be； by awakening a
chivalrous emulation。 It may put the younger men of the present
aristocracy upon their mettle； and stir them up to prove that they are not in
the same effete condition as was the French noblesse in 1789。 It may
lead them to take the warnings which have been addressed to them； for the
last thirty years； by their truest friendsoften by kinsmen of their own。 It
may lead them to ask themselves why； in a world which is governed by a
just God； such great power as is palpably theirs at present is entrusted to
them； save that they may do more work； and not less； than other men；
under the penalties pronounced against those to whom much is given； and
of whom much is required。 It may lead them to discover that they are in
a world where it is not safe to sit under the tree； and let the ripe fruit drop
into your mouth； where the 〃competition of species〃 works with ruthless
energy among all ranks of being； from kings upon their thrones to the
weeds upon the waste； where 〃he that is not hammer； is sure to be anvil；〃
and he who will not work； neither shall he eat。 It may lead them to
devote that energy （in which they surpass so far the continental
aristocracies） to something better than outdoor amusements or indoor
dilettantisms。 There are those among them who； like one section of the
old French noblesse； content themselves with mere complaints of 〃the
revolutionary tendencies of the age。〃 Let them beware in time； for when
the many are on the march； the few who stand still are certain to be walked
over。 There are those among them who； like another section of the
French noblesse； are ready； more generously than wisely； to throw away
their own social and political advantages； and play （for it will never be
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really more than playing） at democracy。 Let them； too； beware。 The
penknife and the axe should respect each other； for they were wrought
from the same steel： but the penknife will not be wise in trying to fell
trees。 Let them accept their own position； not in conceit and arrogance；
but in fear and trembling； and see if they cannot play the man therein； and
save their own class； and with it； much which it has needed many
centuries to accumulate and to organise； and without which no nation has
yet existed for a single century。 They are no more like the old French
noblesse； than are the commercial class like the old French bourgeoisie； or
the labouring like the old French peasantry。 Let them prove that fact by
their deeds during the next generation； or sink into the condition of mere
rich men； exciting； by their luxury and laziness； nothing but envy and
contempt。
Meanwhile； behind all classes and social forcesI had almost said；
above them allstands a fourth estate； which will； ultimately； decide the
form which English society is to take： a Press as different from the
literary class of the Ancien Regime as is everything else English； and
different in thisthat it is free。
The French Revolution； like every revolution （it seems to me） which
has convulsed the nations of Europe for the last eighty years； was caused
immediatelywhatever may have been its more remote causes by the
suppression of thought； or； at least； by a sense of wrong among those who
thought。 A country where every man； be he fool or wise； is free to speak
that which is in him； can never suffer a revolution。 The folly blows itself
off like steam； in harmless noise； the wisdom becomes part of the general
intellectual stock of the nation； and prepares men for gradual； and
therefore for harmless； change。
As long as the press is free； a nation is guaranteed against sudden and
capricious folly； either from above or from below。 As long as the press is
free； a nation is guaranteed against the worse evil of persistent and
obstinate folly； cloaking itself under the venerable shapes of tradition and
authority。 For under a free press； a nation must ultimately be guided not
by a caste； not by a class； not by mere wealth； not by the passions of a mob：
but by mind； by the net result of all the common…sense of its members； and
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in the present default of genius； which is un…common sense； common…
sense seems to be the only； if not the best； safeguard for poor humanity。
1867
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LECTURE ICASTE
＇Delivered at the Royal Institution； London； 1867。＇
These Lectures are meant to be comments on the state of France
before the French Revolution。 To English society； past or present； I do
not refer。 For re