The Great Unwashed Author:Thomas Wright Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: WORKING MEN AND POLITICS. FOR many years past the working classes have, politically speaking, been the most important of the three great sections into which s... more »ociety is usually divided. Hitherto, however, their importance has been of what may be called a cricket-ball order. They have been necessary to the great game of politics, as played in the Houses of Parliament and elsewhere; but only as an instrument of the game, not as players. They have been the object bandied about between the two great political parties, no matter which side was having its innings; and though (notwithstanding that they were always told that the game was for their benefit) they were disposed to regard themselves as being very much in the position of the frogs in the fable, they were practically unable to help themselves, having no effective voice in electing the players. But thisstate of things need no longer exist; the game has taken a turn which—to conclude the cricket-ball illustration—will enable them to send some of their own men to the wickets. Eecent legislation has given political power as well as importance to the working classes; and while others are asking, What will they do with it ? it will be well for them to ask themselves what they can and ought to do with it. For though at the first glance seeming only good, this newly-acquired power is really a two-edged weapon, and will prove a good or evil thing to its possessors according as they use it wisely or otherwise. Both by reason of their numbers, and as a class now holding the " balance of power," working men are undoubtedly the " new masters" of the political situation. Rightly considered, their position is one of grave responsibility; and it lies entirely with themselves to turn it to beneficial account. That they have the desire t...« less