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Middle Age have been sinking downward； often to the rank of mere day…
labourers； and carrying downward with themsometimes in a very tragical
and pathetic fashionsomewhat of the dignity and the refinement which
they had learnt from their ancestors。
Thus has the English nation （and as far as I can see； the Scotch
likewise） become more homogeneous than any nation of the Continent； if
we except France since the extermination of the Frankish nobility。 And
for that very reason； as it seems to me； it is more fitted than any other
European nation for the exercise of equal political rights； and not to be
debarred of them by arguments drawn from countries which have been
governedas England has not beenby a caste。
The civilisation； not of mere book…learning； but of the heart； all that
was once meant by 〃manners〃good breeding； high feeling； respect for
self and respect for othersare just as common （as far as I have seen）
among the hand…workers of England and Scotland； as among any other
class； the only difference is； that these qualities develop more early in the
richer classes； owing to that severe discipline of our public schools； which
makes mere lads often fit to govern； because they have learnt to obey：
while they develop later… …generally not till middle agein the classes who
have not gone through in their youth that Spartan training； and who indeed
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
（from a mistaken conception of liberty） would not endure it for a day。
This and other social drawbacks which are but too patent； retard the
manhood of the working classes。 That it should be so； is a wrong。 For if
a citizen have one right above all others to demand anything of his country；
it is that he should be educated； that whatever capabilities he may have in
him； however small； should have their fair and full chance of development。
But the cause of the wrong is not the existence of a caste； or a privileged
class； or of anything save the plain fact； that some men will be always able
to pay more for their children's education than others； and that those
children will； inevitably； win in the struggle of life。
Meanwhile； in this fact is to be found the most weighty； if not the only
argument against manhood suffrage； which would admit manybut too
many； alas！who are still mere boys in mind。 To a reasonable household
suffrage it cannot apply。 The man who （being almost certainly married；
and having children） can afford to rent a 5 pound tenement in a town； or in
the country either； has seen quite enough of life； and learnt quite enough of
it； to form a very fair judgment of the man who offers to represent him in
Parliament； because he has learnt； not merely something of his own
interest； or that of his class； butwhat is infinitely more importantthe
difference between the pretender and the honest man。
The causes of this state of society； which is peculiar to Britain； must be
sought far back in the ages。 It would seem that the distinction between
〃earl and churl〃 （the noble and the non…noble freeman） was crushed out in
this island by the two Norman conquests… …that of the Anglo…Saxon
nobility by Sweyn and Canute； and that of the Anglo…Danish nobility by
William and his Frenchmen。 Those two terrible calamities； following
each other in the short space of fifty years； seem to have welded together；
by a community of suffering； all ranks and races； at least south of the
Tweed； and when the English rose after the storm； they rose as one
homogeneous people； never to be governed again by an originally alien
race。 The English nobility were； from the time of Magna Charta； rather
an official nobility； than； as in most continental countries； a separate caste；
and whatever caste tendencies had developed themselves before the Wars
of the Roses （as such are certain to do during centuries of continued
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
wealth and power）； were crushed out by the great revolutionary events of
the next hundred years。 Especially did the discovery of the New World；
the maritime struggle with Spain； the outburst of commerce and
colonisation during the reigns of Elizabeth and James； help toward this
good result。 It was in vain for the Lord Oxford of the day； sneering at
Raleigh's sudden elevation； to complain that as on the virginals； so in the
State； 〃Jacks went up； and heads went down。〃 The proudest noblemen
were not ashamed to have their ventures on the high seas； and to send their
younger sons trading； or buccaneering； under the conduct of low…born men
like Drake； who 〃would like to see the gentleman that would not set his
hand to a rope； and hale and draw with the mariners。〃 Thus sprang up
that respect for； even fondness for； severe bodily labour； which the
educated class of no nation save our own has ever felt； and which has
stood them in such good stead； whether at home or abroad。 Thus； too；
sprang up the system of society by which （as the ballad sets forth） the
squire's son might be a 〃'prentice good；〃 and marry
〃The bailiff's daughter dear That dwelt at Islington；〃
without tarnishing； as he would have done on the Continent； the
scutcheon of his ancestors。 That which has saved England from a central
despotism； such as crushed； during the eighteenth century； every nation on
the Continent； is the very same peculiarity which makes the advent of the
masses to a share in political power safe and harmless； namely； the
absence of caste； or rather （for there is sure to be a moral fact underlying
and causing every political fact） the absence of that wicked pride which
perpetuates caste； forbidding those to intermarry whom nature and fact
pronounce to be fit mates before God and man。
These views are not mine only。 They have been already set forth so
much more forcibly by M。 de Tocqueville； that I should have thought it
unnecessary to talk about them； were not the