LAISSEZ FAIRE 
ee 264. The anomalies of the system of representation at 
The wor. UD beginning of last century were a discouragement to the 
ing classes artisans in seeking for redress on conservative lines. The 
Fated bn operatives and labourers had reason to be embittered at the 
Glam rer, failure of the government to administer the law of the land 
fie esisting a3 contained in the Statute book, and to enforce reasonable 
rates of wages by authority. It was a still greater grievance 
that they were prevented from trying to do their best for 
themselves, and that all attempts on their part at collective 
bargaining were treated as criminal. The measures which 
had been devised in old days for the protection of the work- 
man were allowed to become a dead letter, while those which 
hs suffered limited his powers of self-defence against capitalist oppression 
passing of Were re-enacted! in a more stringent form. The passing of 
Combine. the Combination Act of 17992 which was amended and re- 
Hom det firmed in 18003, was on the face of it a piece of gross injustice ; 
and the information regarding the history of the measure is 
so slight, that there is great difficulty in understanding the 
reason for inflicting it. There was much distress in the 
country, and long debates took place in both houses in 1800 
on the best methods of alleviating the general suffering; but 
there were no special features in the economic conditions of 
the day which render the introduction of such a drastic 
measure at all intelligible. 
It seems reasonable to suppose that the motives, which 
weighed with the Government of the day in 1799, were political 
ee lime ,and not merely economic. This bill gave an additional 
panic, ~~ weapon to deal with those who were concerned in any out- 
breaks which might arise in a period of scarcity, and ib 
provided an engine for suppressing seditious societies, which 
might cloak themselves under a pretence of trade objects®. 
! See Vol. 1., also S. and B. Webb, 7'rade Unionism, 63. 
2 39 Geo. IIL. c. 81. An Act to prevent unlawful combinations of workmen. 
3 39 and 40 Geo. III. ¢. 106. The principal modification was the addition of 
§§ 18 to 22 which gave greater facilities for arbitration between masters and men 
on any trade disputes, and § 17 which rendered combinations among masters 
illegal. 
This view is confirmed by the fact that a very severe measure against 
debating societies passed in the same year. 89 Geo. ITI. ¢. 79. The only 
suggestion I have come across of a connection between workmen's societies and 
seditious gatherings occurs in April 1801. before the Combination Acts had rendered 
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