612 LAISSEZ FAIRE 
that machinery would confer on England a monopoly of in- 
dustrial power so that she would be able to dictate her own 
terms to foreign purchasers, and to rear up a new exclusive 
system. 
The old ideas, which had given rise to the trade institu- 
in the tions of the Middle Ages, and which had continued to be 
vineteenh dominant in the seventeenth century, were not dead at the 
Parliament opening of the nineteenth century, but they no longer 
a. appealed either to the capitalist classes or to the intelligence 
with them, of Parliament. No authoritative attempt was made to recast 
the existing regulations so as to suit the changing conditions. 
To do so was not really practicable; only two courses lay 
open to the legislators. They could either forbid the intro- 
duction of machinery, as Charles I. had done, for fear that 
people would be thrown out of work, or they could smooth 
the way for the introduction of the new methods by removing 
the existing barriers. The House of Commons chose the 
latter alternative, since the members had come to regard ali 
efforts to prevent the use of mechanical appliances as alike 
futile and inexpedient. In the absence of any enforcement 
of the old restrictions, in regard to the hours and terms of 
employment, the difficulties of the transition were intensified; 
and the labourers, who had never been subjected to such 
misery under the old régime, agitated for the thorough 
ough enforcement of the Elizabethan laws. The working classes, 
the working ” v4 
dasses for the most part? took their stand on the opinions as to 
we industrial policy which had been traditional in this country, 
for comer, and were embodied in existing legislation. To the demand 
Zgislation of the capitalist for perfect freedom for industrial progress, 
the labourers were inclined to reply by taking an attitude of 
impracticable conservatism; it was not till many years had 
elapsed, and freedom for economic enterprise had been secured, 
that serious attempts were made, from an entirely different 
point of view, to control the new industrial system so that 
‘ts proved evils should be reduced to a minimum. The 
artisans were so much attached to the traditional methods of 
i See above, p. 295. 
2 Ag an exception it may be noticed that Francis Place, who did so much to 
pring the evidence of working men to the front on particular issues, such as the 
Jombination Laws, had no sympathy with the views of the class from which he 
had risen on the general policy which should be pursued. 
A.D. 1776 
—1850.