Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-03-07
SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS
A Powerful Factor II National Life 81
England Largely Wanting In
United states.

tam aspccls OF socialism IN England, call
ing attention to the fact that England
though naturally very conservative In
temper, Is nevertheless the leader In So
cialistic thought and action. During the
last afty years a great change has come
over tho minds of tho English people in
regard to the relations Of tho social
classes. This is shown in the disposition
Of the government to take an active part
IN labor disputes and even to force a con-
cession or even q settlement.
A year ago he said ne witnessed the
great dock strike In London. involving 3d.
on worklncn. Among the significant feat
ures OF the strike were the absence of
lawlcsHness or violence Of any kind, ana
the perfect safety with which even girls
could push their way through great
crowds attending meetings nj 'rrafal-
gar square: the fact that the contest was
not primarily for an increase of wages
though that was involved; and the soil
dar.ty OF this vast mass Of people.
Tho mos; interesting and significant
feature % this strike was what happened
In connection with II sympathetic strike
on ono Of the railroads. which has trade
agreement with its men, which forbade a
strike at this time. The complaint of the
men was that the railroad was not living
up to its agreement which required a con-
ference between the representatives of the
railroad and the representatives Of the
men. The representatives of both parties
met in the same building but in different
rooms. the representatives of the railroads
insisting that negotiations must proceed
through n third party who should serve
as q go-bctween. The men objected to
this and insisted that they must he al
lowed to- sit at the same table with the
employers or their representatives The
deadlock was broken by tho Interference
of the prime minister who compelled the
railroads TO accept the mems interprcta-
ton Of the agreement, an act on the part
of that high official which would not have
been thought OF n generation ago.
Professor Emerson also spoke of the
great coal strike now in progress in Eng
land, involving Il million men. perhaps
more Attention was called to the enor-
nous quantities of coal mined in England
aud also in this country and the extent to
which our present day civilization de-
pendr upon this commodity, the depend
ence being such that a suspension of the
supply for even very short time would
cause disturbance along vnrious lines OF
activities and entail enormous LOSSES.
This strike again shows about the Same
features rs the one previously mentioned
the abs ence. thus far of lawessness,
surprising solidarity among the strikers.
the absence of any widespread grievance
in the matter of wages. and the action OF
the prime minister In summoning repre-
| sentatives of both parties for confer
ence. at first with view to averting a
strike and then to settlement.
These strikes and others reveal tho
presence of a very distinct social con-
seriousness which is powerful factor In
the national life. This. the professor said,
IS largely wanting in our own country.
though there has been developed among
us since the civil War we'll defined ma
tional consciousness.
Professor Thomas traced the move
ment of thought in England following the
collapse of tie Chartist agitation in 1StS,
| dwelling particularly upon the so-callcd
Christian socialism which had among its
leaders such men as the Rev. Frederick
Denison Maurier. the Rev. Charles Kings
ley and Thomas Hughes OF TON Brown
at Rugby" fame. This was not an at
| tempt at revolution nor even at social re-
construction, nor was 1t an attempt 10
! set up any Utopia. The primary interests
| OF these men were religious aAd philan
| thropic. They felt keenly the unhappy lot
OF the working man and sought to amelio-
rate his condition They We're theorists
| in go far that they condemned very Sc
verely the competitive system and held It
responsible for many of the evils from
| which a large portion Of the population
| suffered, Their chief aim however. was
not political. for they had little faith in
legislative action as a means OF social
regeneration. Nor Yet was it strictly
economic. II was rather to introduce
Christianity as an active factor. a con-
trolling force and II grinding principle in
! business life and especially in the rela-
| tons OF employers TO the workmen.
To accomplish these ends they published
q paper. which. however. was short lived
ISSUED many tracts, which were ably writ
| ten. and established cooperative stores
in many of the manufa curing districts
! throughout ENGLAND and Wales. or
rather tlcir teachings and influence led to
the establishment Of such stores. These.
| tor the mos' part. proved unsuccessful
| ventures.
| Although the iabors Of tho band OF the
devoted men named did not result In any
permanent organization these labors bore
fruit In many directions. The leaders
were men Of highest intelligence and
character. men educated in the universe
ties, and men of a high order Of literar"
talent. Through their writings, sermon.
and other dclivcrances they produced u
lasting impression upon English though:
and went far towards producing the pres
att t,1o ~ thl Rrt SN Ind Nc
social questions and la hor troubles, This
was perhaps more educative than imme-
diately amelorat!ve. The movement also
may be regarded as the forerunner Of the
Settlement Movement which arose a gen
Grafton later and kindred efforts 10 Gle
Sate the nlassrs
YINnDGA MTED IN OIIIAA