(Andrew Ure (1778-1857) was
one of the chief liberal defenders of the factory system and a vigorous
opponent of factory legislation. Andrew Ure. The Philosophy of Manufactures,1835, pp. 277‑81, 300‑1; in J. T. Ward, ed., The Factory System, Vol..II, Birth and Growth (New York:
Barnes & Noble, 1970), pp.152-57.)
When
the wandering savage becomes a citizen, he renounces many of his dangerous
pleasures in return for tranquility and protection. He can no longer gratify at
his will a revengeful spirit upon his foes, nor seize with violence a neighbour's possessions. In like manner, when the
handicraftsman exchanges hard work with fluctuating employment and pay, for
continuous labour of a lighter kind with steady
wages, he must necessarily renounce his old prerogative of stopping when he
pleases, because he would thereby throw the whole establishment into disorder.
Of the amount of the injury resulting from the violation of tile rules of
automatic labour he can hardly ever be a proper
judge; just as mankind at large can never fully estimate the evils consequent
upon an infraction of God's moral law. Yet the factory operative, little
versant in the great operations of political economy, currency, and trade, and
actuated too often by an invidious feeling towards the capitalist who animates
his otherwise torpid talents, is easily persuaded by artful demagogues, that
his sacrifice of time and skill is beyond the portion of his recompense, or
that fewer hours of industry would be an ample equivalent for his wages. This
notion seems to have taken an early and inveterate hold of the factory mind,
and to have been riveted from time to time by the leaders of those secret
combinations, so readily formed among a peculiar class of men, concentrated in
masses within a narrow range of country.
Instead
of repining as they have done at the prosperity of their employers, and
concerting odious measures to blast it, they should, on every principle of
gratitude and self‑interest, have rejoiced at the success resulting from
their labours, and by regularity and skill have
recommended themselves to monied men desirous of
engaging in a profitable concern, and of procuring qualified hands to conduct
it. Thus good workmen would have advanced their condition to that of overlookers, managers, and partners in new mills, and have
increased at the same time the demand for their companions' labour
in the market. It is only by an undisturbed progression of this kind that the
rate of wages can be permanently raised or upheld. Had it not been for the
violent collisions and interruptions resulting from erroneous views among the
operatives, the factory system would have been developed still more rapidly and
beneficially for all concerned than it has been, and would have exhibited still
more frequently gratifying examples of skillful workmen becoming opulent
proprietors. Every misunderstanding either repels capital altogether, or
diverts it from flowing, for a time, in the channels of a trade liable to
strikes….
No
master would wish to have any wayward children to work within the walls of his
factory, who do not mind their business without beating, and he therefore
usually fines or turns away any spinners who are known to maltreat their
assistants. Hence, ill usage of any kind is a very rare occurrence. I have
visited many factories, both in Manchester and in the surrounding districts,
during a period of several months, entering the spinning rooms, unexpectedly,
and often alone, at different times of the day, and I never saw a single
instance of corporal chastisement inflicted on a child, nor indeed did I ever
see children in ill‑humour. They seemed to be
always cheerful and alert, taking pleasure in the light play of their muscles, ‑enjoying
the mobility natural to their age. The scene of industry, so far from exciting
sad emotions in my mind, was always exhilarating. It was delightful to observe
the nimbleness with which they pieced the broken ends, as the mule carriage
began to recede from the fixed roller‑beam, and to see them at leisure,
after a few seconds' exercise of their tiny fingers, to amuse themselves in any
attitude they chose, till the stretch and winding‑on were once more
completed. The work of these lively elves seemed to resemble a sport, in which
habit gave them a pleasing dexterity. Conscious of their skill, they were
delighted to show it off to any stranger. As to exhaustion by the day's work,
they evinced no trace of it on emerging from the mill in the evening; for they
immediately began to skip about any neighbouring play‑ground,
and to commence their little amusements with the same alacrity as boys issuing
from a school. It is moreover my firm conviction, that if children are not
ill-used by bad parents or guardians, but receive in food and raiment the full
benefit of what they earn, they would thrive better when employed in our modern
factories, than if left at home in apartments too often ill‑aired, damp,
and cold.