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h； my friends； the down…trodden operatives of
Coketown！ Oh my friends and fellow…countrymen；
“O
the slaves of an iron…handed and a grinding
despotism！ Oh my friends and fellow…sufferers； and fellow…
workmen； and fellow…men！ I tell you that the hour is come； when
we must rally round one another as One united power； and
crumble into dust the oppressors that too long have battened upon
the plunder of our families； upon the sweat of our brows； upon the
labour of our hands； upon the strength of our sinews； upon the
God…created glorious rights of Humanity； and upon the holy and
eternal privileges of Brotherhood！”
“Good！” “Hear； hear； hear！” “Hurrah！” and other cries arose in
many voices from various parts of the densely crowded and
suffocatingly close Hall； in which the orator； perched on a stage；
delivered himself of this and what other froth and fume he had in
him。 He had declaimed himself into a violent heat； and was as
hoarse as he was hot。 By dint of roaring at the top of his voice
under a flaring gaslight； clenching his fists； knitting his brows；
setting his teeth； and pounding with his arms； he had taken so
much out of himself by this time； that he was brought to a stop and
called for a glass of water。
As he stood there； trying to quench his fiery face with his drink
of water； the comparison between the orator and the crowd of
attentive faces turned towards him； was extremely to his
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disadvantage。 Judging him by Nature’s evidence； he was above the
mass in very little but the stage on which he stood。 In many great
respects； he was essentially below them。 He was not so honest； he
was not so manly； he was not so good…humoured； he substituted
cunning for their simplicity； and passion for their safe solid sense。
An ill…made high…shouldered man； with lowering brows； and his
features crushed into an habitually sour expression； he contrasted
most unfavourably； even in his mongrel dress； with the great body
of his hearers in their plain working clothes。 Strange as it always
is to consider any assembly in the act of submissively resigning
itself to the dreariness of some complacent person； lord or
commoner； whom three…fourths of it could； by no human means；
raise out of the slough of inanity to their own intellectual level； it
was particularly strange； and it was even particularly affecting； to
see this crowd of earnest faces； whose honesty in the main no
competent observer free from bias could doubt； so agitated by
such a leader。
Good！ Hear； hear！ Hurrah！ The eagerness； both of attention and
intention； exhibited in all the countenances； made them a most
impressive sight。 There was no carelessness； no languor； no idle
curiosity； none of the many shades of indifference to be seen in all
other assemblies； visible for one moment there。 That every man
felt his condition to be； somehow or other； worse than it might be；
that every man considered it incumbent on him to join the rest；
towards the making of it better； that every man felt his only hope
to be in his allying himself to the comrades by whom he was
surrounded； and that in this belief； right or wrong （unhappily
wrong then）； the whole of that crowd were gravely； deeply；
faithfully in earnest； must have been as plain to any one who chose
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Hard Times 180
to see what was there； as the bare beams of the roof； and the
whitened brick walls。 Nor could any such spectator fail to know in
his own breast； that these men； through their very delusions；
showed great qualities； susceptible of being turned to the happiest
and best account； and that to pretend （on the strength of sweeping
axioms； howsoever cut and dried） that they went astray wholly
without cause； and of their own irrational wills； was to pretend
that there could be smoke without fire； death without birth；
harvest without seed； anything or everything produced from
nothing。
The orator having refreshed himself； wiped his corrugated
forehead from left to right several times with his handkerchief
folded into a pad； and concentrated all his revived forces in a sneer
of great disdain and bitterness。
“But； oh my friends and brothers！ Oh men and Englishmen； the
down…trodden operatives of Coketown！ What shall we say of that
man—that working…man； that I should find it necessary so to libel
the glorious name—who； being practically and well acquainted
with the grievances and wrongs of you； the injured pith and
marrow of this land； and having heard you； with a noble and
majestic unanimity that will make Tyrants tremble； resolve for to
subscribe to the funds of the United Aggregate Tribunal； and to
abide by the injunctions issued by that body for your benefit；
whatever they may be—what； I ask you； will you say of that
working…man； since such I must acknowledge him to be； who； at
such a time； deserts his post； and sells his flag； who； at such a time；
turns a traitor and a craven and a recreant； who； at such a time； is
not ashamed to make to you the dastardly and humiliating avowal
that he will hold himself aloof and will not be one of those
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associated in the gallant stand for Freedom and for Right？”
The assembly was divided at this point。 There were some
groans and hisses； but the general sense of honour was much too
strong for the condemnation of