The 'mechanic corpuscular theory';the consequent decay of philosophy,illustrated by such phrases as an excellent 'idea'of cooking;'the ourang-outang theology of the origin of the human species substituted for the first ten chapters of the book of Genesis;rights of nature for the duties and privileges of citizens;idealess facts,misnamed proofs from history,for principles and the insight derived from them;all these and other calamitous results of modern philosophy are connected with a neglect of the well-being of the people,the mistaking of a large revenue for prosperity,and the consumption of gin by paupers to the 'value of eighteen millions yearly.'He appeals pathetically to the leaders of the Utilitarians.They will scorn him for pronouncing that a 'natural clerisy'is 'an essential element of a rightly constituted nation.'All their tract societies and mechanics'institutes and 'lecture bazaars under the absurd name of universities'are 'empiric specifics'which feed the disease,Science will be plebified,not popularised,the morality necessary for a state,can only exist for the people in the form of religion.But the existence of a true philosophy,or the power and habit of contemplating particulars in the unity and fontal mirror of the idea,--this in the rulers and teachers of a nation is indispensable to a sound state of religion in all classes.In fact,religion,true or false,is and ever has been the centre of gravity in a realm to which all other things must and will accommodate themselves.'
The existence of the eighteenth century always remained a hopeless puzzle for Coleridge and his followers.
Why at that period everything went wrong in the higher regions of thought remained a mystery.'God is above,'says Sir Thomas More to Southey,99'but the devil is below;evil principles are in their nature more active than good.'The devil seemed to have got into the upper air,and was working with his allies,Bentham and Mill and Paine and Cobbett,with remarkable success.But,whatever the theories of conservatives in church and state,the fact that the theories were held is important.The diametrical opposition between two schools,one of which regarded the church as a simple abuse,and its doctrines as effete superstitions,while the other looked to the church and its creed as giving the sole hope for suppressing the evil principle,was a critical point in later movements,political as well as religious.
IV.SOCIALISM
I have spoken of Southey's sympathy for Robert Owen.Owen (1771-1858)is one of the characteristic figures of the time,He was the son of a village tradesman in Wales,and had risen to prosperity by the qualities of the virtuous apprentice.Industry,patience,an imperturbably good temper,and sagacity in business matters had raised him to high position as a manufacturer at the time of the rapid advance of the cotton trade.Many poor men have followed the same path to wealth.Owen's peculiarity was that while he became a capitalist he preserved his sympathy with the working.classes.While improving machinery,he complained that the 'living machinery'was neglected.One great step in his career was his marriage to the daughter of David Dale of New Lanark,a religious and worthy manufacturer.100Dale had employed a number of pauper children who were in that day to be disposed of by their parishes;and had done his best to make their position more tolerable.
Owen took up this scheme,and carried it out more systematically.New Lanark,in his hands,became a model village;he provided in various ways for the encouragement of sobriety,industry,and honesty among his workmen,set up stores to supply cheap and good provisions,and especially provided infant schools and a systematic education.The children,'he declares,'were the happiest human beings he ever saw.'When his partners interfered with his plans,Owen bought them out and started the company to which Bentham and Allen belonged.New Lanark rapidly became famous.It was visited by all the philanthropists of the day.The royal dukes not only of England but of Russia were interested;and Owen even believed that he had converted Napoleon at Elba.So far,Owen was a benevolent capitalist,exercising a paternal sway over his people.He became convinced,however,that he had discovered the key to the great social problems of the day.When the distresses followed the peace,he was prepared to propound his remedy,and found many willing hearers in all classes.Liverpool and Sidmouth listened to him with favour,and the duke of Kent became president of a committee started to carry out his views.He gave the impetus to the movement by which the Factory Act of 1819was carried,although it was far from embodying his proposals in their completeness.
