Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Artisans
- 2 Radicalisms
- 3 Trade unionism
- 4 Work and radicalism
- 5 Socialism
- 6 Co-operation
- 7 Class and radicalism
- 8 Political action and organisation
- 9 Education and civilisation
- 10 Religions and philosophy
- 11 The culture of radical clubs
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
Conclusion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 November 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Artisans
- 2 Radicalisms
- 3 Trade unionism
- 4 Work and radicalism
- 5 Socialism
- 6 Co-operation
- 7 Class and radicalism
- 8 Political action and organisation
- 9 Education and civilisation
- 10 Religions and philosophy
- 11 The culture of radical clubs
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
Summary
Plebeian radicals often admired Switzerland, where, a Chartist explained, the working classes had the vote and
there are no legalised monopolies – no protecting duties – trade is free as the winds of heaven, her revenue scarcely amounts to four shillings a year to each of her population, while the taxes, direct and indirect, amount to nearly as many pounds. Switzerland has no National Debt – no bloated, tithe-gorging, state church; – she prosecutes no wars but those of self defence and in these the spirit of her noble Tell has been exhibited to the preservation of her unimpaired liberty for five hundred years. Her population mingle the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and manufacture in their mountain-homes, while the sweet stream of plenty rolls down her sequestered vales, diffusing health, morality, content and gladsomeness round the Swiss cottagerapos;s fireside: – what a contrast to Coventry-Bastille Murders! Aye, and all this without a Queen! – because the sovereign people maintain their legitimate ascendancy in the Swiss government.
This was in many ways a classic idealised vision of a Paineite decentralised democracy, an artisan republic of independent men, that would have been familiar and attractive to urban artisans everywhere, although to see it as a specifically artisan ideal is to miss its appeal to a wide range of the poor, and this study of urban artisans who were involved in radical political activity confirms the great similarities in popular aspirations and ideals in European plebeian movements.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Radical Artisans in England and France, 1830–1870 , pp. 312 - 317Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997