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    October 8, 1853.] THE LEADEB. flfti

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    THE STATE SETS A "MORAL EXAMPLE" IN JAIL...

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    The Governing Classes. No. V. The Earl O...

    t endency to be ashamed of the shams of the civilization he helps to sustain . But one is inclined to exclaim with Sir Peter Teazle , after an oration from the Goughs and Carlisles , "Oh , d—— n your sentiments , sir !"„ Lord Carlisle , as lecturer , preaches pure principles ; and as peer and statesman he serves as the frightful example to his text . The inconsistency with which he acts , and of which very likely he is ashamed , is the punishment for not contenting himself with the scutcheon of the Howards .

    What has Lord Carlisle ever done ? Nothing ! That is so startling an answer to such a question about so popular and so amiable a man , that it is necessary , with the deliberateness which may provoke inquiry , to repeat—Nothing . For Lord Carlisle has been a Whig , as well as a Philanthropist : has been a subordinate Whig ; and has gone in and out , up and down , with his party , —which , for twenty years , his time , has been a party without principles , without a policy , without a result . A man of talent would not , during this time , have been a

    subordinate Whig ; if a Whig at all , he would have annihilated Whiggery . More ; a noble honest man , acting his speeches , would not have been a subordinate Whig during this time . As tirailleurs thrown out to skirmish , Lord Carlisle was not bound to be artilleiy too ; but no man would serve in the light companies for ever , if he found the heavy companies never came up to fight . Lord Carlisle should not consent to talk his magnificent generalities if he found that his party would never allow him to work them out in practical government . The matter may be put this

    way : no candid English politician would talk Liberalism , because England holds an empire together by the principles of despotism ; and no rightminded "English nobleman would talk poetic speeches because English noblemen are individuals inaclass ^ conspiracy ito delude , degrade , and plunder a generous people . Yet , as said before , Lord Carlisle has such fine tendencies , —has so clearly the volo , that he is only to be blamed or pitied , for the non valeo , —for the want of energy , which would give him something more than his popularity as an amiable man , —would constitute him

    a power , as a forcible man . It may be said , that every man avIio understood the Corn-law question , and was a Protectionist , was a grossly dishonest man ; and that Lord Carlisle understood the question , and had weakly participated in the dishonour of continuing the Corn La \*< s , he evidenced when , in lfMG , he at last broke out in a half mournful , half indignant , confession of shame a ; id sorrow . He was only two or three days before the rest of the Whig party , but he was first . Whether his party would have permitted him

    or not , lie would , in 184 ( j , have renounced Protection : and that portion of his biography may be referred to , to show that he would , if he dare , act the sentiments he pours out at public dinners and " interesting occasions . " Various opportunities arc , at this moment , offered him to he bold and honest . Will lie tell us his convictions about Lord Aberdeen , —the convictions impressed upon him during his recent visit to Constantinople . Will ho , in due time , step out of and before his class , as in 1840 , to declare his " sentiments" on Parliamentary . lie-form ?

    Asa litterateur Lord Carlisle has not won the position which would justify his renunciation of the prestige of a Howard ; ' but there would still bo a beneficent career for him , would ho but attempt to reconcile Lord Carlisle , the statesman , with Lord Carlisle , the lecturer : in that way he you hi aharo the fame of the Howards by surpassing the . Silkies and the Grufls , who can only talk and cannot govern . For , his order is to be re-created powerful , —to be rendered something more than a caste of hereditary bureaucrats , clerks , and vtul tnpists — not by the nobles being small authors , and graceful lecturers , but by the- great nobles being great men—leaders , as the Borons ¦ were , of the people : like the Barons , keeping their places ^

    . That however may not bo of much use , if there ih a fate which , in modern timeH , seeniH to forbid the great noble ever turning out a great man . The tendency to small books and nice lectures may < ' > ci » t , . simply boeaufio the writers and the lecturers follow their instincts , and nro fit . for nothing olsc ; . Obtiervin ^ which , tlu » governed classes may consider well whether or iiot , in the coining electoral re" ' ¦ rangemon ( , H , the Governing Classen are worth tbo monopoly they will mile for . Non-Electou . i ,

    October 8, 1853.] The Leadeb. Flfti

    October 8 , 1853 . ] THE LEADEB . flfti

    The State Sets A "Moral Example" In Jail...

    THE STATE SETS A " MORAL EXAMPLE " IN JAIL-SQUARE , GLASGOW . [ Talk of the credulity of the multitude , of the dreams of Utopians , and the infatuation of sects , what credulity is there like that of our philosophical , progress-prating , civilization-pretending English Government , who get up hanging spectacles in the open day , in the nineteenth century , in the firm belief that they carry a moral example with them ? We turn from Dublin Exhibitions , j from self-made King Dargans , and the general emblazonment of science , to stare at the stark I fatuity of Spirit-Rapping , and the progress of |

    Mormonism : but why this affected astonishment at what casual and neglected men will believe , when we see what special , official , and well-informed men do believe ? Why should not philosophy have its aberrations , and science its stupor , and the mob its hobby , while the Parliament of England believes in the morality of public strangulation ? Why should not the Yankee backwoodsman , or the English farmer , believe in Joe Smith , while Lord Palmerston believes in Jack Ketch ? The Book of Mormon is at least as true as the Gallows , and the prophet of Nauvoo quite as respectable a public instructor as the professor of the Noose .

    The old dame opens her school—the scrap of paper in the window or the bellman in the street announces the fact—but right tardily come the scholars in . The schoolmaster sends his enticing circular round , or tries an advertisement in the newspaper ; the number of his pupils , however , seldom raises him to the dignity of being noted for the Income-tax . The popular lecturer draws up his elaborate syllabus ; he proposes to talk up everything at once , and to make men wise in one night ; still the audience are scarcely numerous enough to pay the bill-sticker . The Professor has iven

    stands up in the University Hall—he g his own health for his rare erudition , and he is ready to lead the noble youth of our land into the kingly realms of learning . Judging from the small number who attend his lecture , you come to the conclusion that the said " noble youth " would rather not go . But set Calcraft on the scaffold , with orders to lecture on Death—give him a Murderer for an experiment , and he can summon an audience which outnumbers all that the wit , or dignity , or seduction of learninghood can elsewhere gather together . When the Government keep School , the whole town attends . How is it , while anxious emulation and the

    natural thirst for knowledge can send no crowd to the Tutor ' s desk , that crime rushes up to its morning lesson ? What can be the moral charm of the rope over the pen ? How does it . happen that Ketch is the king of teachers ? " Moral examples " are always dull ; " salutary influences " are commonly found tedious , even to the bestregulated minds . The success does not He in the Pedagogue . We have the secret . It is in the docility and aptness of villany for the acquisition of virtue—a docility only known to Government . The gallows touches the heart of the hulks—the Sheriffs have witnessed the melting of that susceptible organ , and have reported the fact to the Home Secretary , who advises the continuance of

    executions . An execution is a " moral example" peculiar efficacy over the soul of Larceny—that is why the Government continue it . It teaches a moral lesson which Burglary is apt to take . The Government are astute men , and they know it is so . An execution has a " salutary influence " over Assault . The Government are practical men—they have ascertained the fact . When Helen Blackwood and Hans Smith Macfarlane were executed in Glasgow , lately , I took the trouble , as before intimated , * to walk into the Salt-market and round Jail-square , to witness the magnificent

    public and moral lecture delivered by Professor Calcraft , and the lawful authorities that morning . The wynds disgorged their livid inmates—the purlieus gave up their rascals—the dens for n few hours parted with their latent convicts—Crime , panting for improvement , rushed forth for its moral matin edification . The scoundrel who hud struck his parent—the apprentice who had robbed Inh master—the husband who had maimed his wife — tho mother who had prostituted her daughters—pressed forward to receive the instruction of the great teacher . Tho drunkard , with his scorched liver—tho bully , with hu * blear eyes—* Vide nrticlu " J ' ublio Killing in Glttogow , " Le . < ukr , No . 178 .

    I the glutton , with his congested head- —the miser I with his heart of ashes—Vice , with its putrid I limbs—flabby Licentiousness — infectious Dis-I ease — the reckless and the despairing the gamester , the knave , the harlot , and thje fool—were up betimes that morning , on vir-! tuous errand bent ! The fog was dense , the streets were muddy , the air was damp , the morning was chilly , but nothing deterred these ardent votaries of moral improvement . The Government had designed the exhibition for their instruction , and they were grateful for it . Some had sat up all night , in order to be ready when the drop fell ; some had walked all night to . reach the gallows in time . A vile imitation of Rob Roy had

    lamed himself for life by leaping from a Bank window , to evade the police , but he had hobbled into town , on this occasion . A northern Bill Sykes had lost one eye by an accidental blow from a life-preserver , in a recent highway robbery—but he had felt it his duty to embrace this opportuni ty ^ and to see what of the ethical spectacle he could , with what fragment of vision he had left . The " Artful Dodgers" of Glasgow filled up the interstices of the mob . The Old Fagins had considerately suspended their private lessons on this day , out of respect to-the public one provided iu Jail-square .

    A full grown thief has just come up . He has distended lips , which like a double sponge spread themselves over his face . He could , and he would , suck the piece out of you with his Judas kiss . A returned convict , with high cheek bones and sinister eyes , elbows past you . Burglary and Murder are imprinted on his soul . He feeds upon the recollection . This morning he strides hastily through the seething throng ; he has risen thus early out of anxiety for a " moral influence . " You are roughly jostled by a short thick-set felon , who has even now a garotte in

    his pocket for a victim . Returning home after fruitless watching , lie has heard that a " moral example is to be set ? ' at ii o ' clock , and he is anxious not to be too late . So ho hurries down , not even waiting to divest himself of the weapons of his profession . Such are the sacrifices men will make when happily and successfully inspired with a moral purpose . Calcraft has a mission to Scoumlreldom , and every felon is abroad . Happy English Government , to have divined and preserved the secret of inspiring by such popular means earnest influences in the chain-gang

    nature I Nothing happening before , at , or after the execution , disturbs the insane complacency or dense credulity of the Governmentas to the moral efficacy of these scaffold lectures . The audience await the appearance of the hangman , drinking , swearing , and blasp heming ; our Government knows that that is their way of receiving moral instruction . They pick pockets under 4 < moral influence "it is an evidence of their self-possession . ' Thomas Chalmers" was present . He lived in the New Vennel , whence Helen Blackwood and Hans Smith Macfarlane were taken . He was their

    neighbour . He might be a thief , but Assault had at least slept in his breast , till Calcraft called out the sullen demon . He went home under the influence of lawful " salutary example , " and struck his wife on the head with a heavy billet of wood . The blood flowed copiously . He had lately been treated to the sight of that in Jail Square . He took a knife and inflicted a gosh on the woman ' s ami . The experiment did not seem to him perfect . Under the auspices of the Lord Provost , Sheriff , and Clergyman , ho had enjoyed

    the advantage of instruction in the me of the rope . He took one and endeavoured to strangle his battered and bleeding wife with it . I quote from the details of a cam which a few day a after the execution was brought up at the Glasgow Contra ! Police Station , when Clmlmers was Benteneed to <> 0 days imprisonment . Tho topic of this article scarcely needs further illustration . If authority , high and low , well instructed in facts and moral experiences , Htill believe in

    tho moral influence of the Gallows—who can wonder tlmt tho contagion of credulity oxtenda to tho people ? Robert Owen may fltand excused for running after new and hanuletja follies , while Lord Palmcr . 4 ton runs after and clings to old and criminal ones . While tho illmtriouu moinhvia of the State bow down at the shrine of the Scaffold , let ua , for decency ' s « alce , coivsuro witfi bated breath , tho vagaries of Mediums mid Mormons . low .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 8, 1853, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_08101853/page/15/