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…generally not till middle agein the classes who have not gone
through in their youth that Spartan training； and who indeed （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 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 rhetorical phrases；
〃Caste；〃 〃Privileged Classes；〃 〃Aristocratic Exclusiveness；〃 and
such…like； bandied about again just now； as if they represented
facts。 If there remain in this kingdom any facts which correspond
to those words； let them be abolished as speedily as possible： but
that such do remain was not the opinion of the master of modern
political philosophy； M。 de Tocqueville。
He expresses his surprise 〃that the fact which distinguishes England
from all other modern nations； and which alone can throw light on
her peculiarities； 。 。 。 has not attracted more attention； 。 。 。 and
that habit has rendered it； as it were； imperceptible to the English
themselvesthat England was the only country in which the system of
caste had been not only modified； but effectually destroyed。 The
nobility and the middle classes followed the same business； embraced
the same professions； and； what is far more significant；
intermarried with each other。 The daughter of the greatest
nobleman〃 （and this； if true of the eighteenth century； has become
far more true of the nineteenth） 〃could already； without disgrace；
marry a man of yesterday。〃 。 。 。
〃It has often been remarked that the English nobility has been more
prudent； more able； and less exclusive than any other。 It would
have been much nearer the truth to say； that in England； for a very
long time past； no nobility； properly so called； have existed； if we
take the word in the ancient and limited sense it has everywhere
else retained。〃 。 。 。
〃For several centuries the word 'gentleman'〃 （he might have added；
〃burgess〃） 〃has altogether changed its meaning in England； and the
word 'roturier' has ceased to exist。 In each succeeding century it
is applied to persons placed somewhat lower in the social scale〃 （as
the 〃bagman〃 of Pickwick has become； and has deserved to become； the
〃commercial gentleman〃 of our day）。 〃At length it travelled with
the English to America； where it is used to designate every citizen
indiscriminately。 Its history is that of democracy itself。〃 。 。 。
〃If the middle classes of England； instead of making war upon the
aristocracy； have remained so intimately connected with it； it is
not especially because the aristocracy is open to all； but rather；
because its outline was indistinct； and its limit unknown： not so
much because any man might be admitted into it； as