Tobringthesehordesofoutcastcaptainlesssoldiersunderduecaptaincy？Thisisreallythequestionofquestions；ontheanswertowhichturns，amongotherthings，thefateofallGovernments，constitutionalandother，——thepossibilityoftheircontinuingtoexist，ortheimpossibility。Captainless，uncommanded，thesewretchedoutcast“soldiers，“sincetheycannotstarve，mustneedsbecomebanditti，street-barricaders，——destroyersofeveryGovernmentthat_cannot_
　　putthemundercaptains，andsendthemuponenterprises，andinshortrenderlifehumantothem。OurEnglishplanofPoorLaws，whichweoncepiquedourselvesuponassovereign，isevidentlyfastbreakingdown。Ireland，nowadmittedintotheIdleWorkhouse，israpidlyburstingitinpieces。Thatneverwasa“human“destinyforanyhonestsonofAdam；nowherebutinEnglandcouldithavelastedatall；andnow，withIrelandsharerinit，andthefulnessoftimecome，itisasgoodasended。
　　Alas，yes。HereinConnemara，yourcrazyShipoftheState，otherwisedreadfullyrotteninmanyofitstimbersIbelieve，hassprungaleak：spiteofallhandsatthepump，thewaterisrising；theShip，Iperceive，willfounder，ifyoucannotstopthisleak！
　　TobringtheseCaptainlessunderduecaptaincy？Theanxiousthoughtsofallmenthatdothinkareturneduponthatquestion；
　　andtheirefforts，thoughasyetblindlyandtonopurpose，underthemultifariousimpedimentsandobscurations，allpointthitherward。Isolatedmen，andtheirvagueefforts，cannotdoit。Governmenteverywhereiscalledupon，——inEnglandasloudlyaselsewhere，——togivetheinitiative。Anewstrangetaskofthesenewepochs；whichnoGovernment，neverso“constitutional，“canescapefromundertaking。ForitisvitallynecessarytotheexistenceofSocietyitself；itmustbeundertaken，andsucceededintoo，orworsewillfollow，——and，aswealreadyseeinIrishConnaughtandsomeotherplaces，willfollowsoon。TowhateverthingstillcallsitselfbythenameofGovernment，wereitneversoconstitutionalandimpededbyofficialimpossibilities，allmenwillnaturallylookforhelp，anddirectionwhattodo，inthisextremity。Ifhelpordirectionisnotgiven；ifthethingcalledGovernmentmerelydriftandtumbletoandfro，no-whither，onthepopularvortexes，likesomecarcassofadrownedass，constitutionallyput“atthetopofaffairs，“popularindignationwillinfalliblyaccumulateuponit；oneday，thepopularlightning，descendingforkedandhorriblefromtheblackair，willannihilatesaidsupremecarcass，andsmiteithometoitsnativeoozeagain！——YourLordship，thisistootrue，thoughirreverentlyspoken：indeedoneknowsnothowtospeakofit；andtomeitisinfinitelysadandmiserable，spokenornot！——UnlessperhapstheVoluntaryPrinciplewillstillhelpusthrough？PerhapsthisIrishleak，insucharottendistressedconditionoftheShip，withallthecrewsoanxiousaboutit，willbekindenoughtostopofitself？——
　　Dismissthathope，yourLordship！LetallrealandimaginaryGovernorsofEngland，atthepasswehavearrivedat，dismissforeverthatfallaciousfatalsolacetotheirdo-nothingism：ofitself，tooclearly，theleakwillneverstop；byhumanskillandenergyitmustbestopped，orthereisnothingbutthesea-bottomforusall！AChiefGovernorofEnglandreallyoughttorecognizehissituation；todiscernthat，doingnothing，andmerelydriftingtoandfro，inhoweverconstitutionalamanner，heisasquandererofpreciousmoments，momentsthatperhapsarepriceless；atrulyalarmingChiefGovernor。Surely，toaChiefGovernorofEngland，worthyofthathighname，——surelytohim，astoeverylivingman，ineveryconceivablesituationshortoftheKingdomoftheDead——thereis_something_possible；someplanofactionotherthanthatofstandingmildly，withcrossedarms，tillheandwe——sink？Complexashissituationis，he，ofallGovernorsnowextantamongthesedistractedNations，has，asI
　　compute，byfarthegreatestpossibilities。TheCaptains，actualorpotential，arethere，andthemillionCaptainless：andsuchresourcesforbringingthemtogetherasnootherhas。Totheseoutcastsoldiersofhis，unregimentedrovingbandittiforthepresent，orunworkingworkhouseprisonerswhoarealmostuglierthanbanditti；tothesefloodsofIrishBeggars，Able-bodiedPaupers，andnomadicLackalls，nowstagnatingorroamingeverywhere，drowningthefaceoftheworldtootrulyintoanuntenantableswampandStygianquagmire，hastheChiefGovernorofthiscountrynowordwhatevertosay？Nothingbut“Rateinaid，““Timewillmendit，““NecessarybusinessoftheSession；“
　　and“AftermetheDeluge“？AChiefGovernorthatcanfronthisIrishdifficulty，andsteadilycontemplatethehoroscopeofIrishandBritishPauperism，andwhitherwarditisleadinghimandus，inthishumor，mustbea——WhatshallwecallsuchaChiefGovernor？Alas，inspiteofolduseandwont，——littleotherthanatoleratedSolecism，growingdailymoreintolerable！Hedecidedlyoughttohavesomewordtosayonthismatter，——tobeincessantlyoccupiedingettingsomethingwhichhecouldpracticallysay！——Perhapstothefollowing，oramuchfinereffect？
　　_SpeechoftheBritishPrime-MinistertothefloodsofIrishandotherBeggars，theable-bodiedLackalls，nomadicorstationary，andthegeneralassembly，outdoorandindoor，ofthePauperPopulationsoftheseRealms_。
　　“VagrantLackalls，foolishmostofyou，criminalmanyofyou，miserableall；thesightofyoufillsmewithastonishmentanddespair。WhattodowithyouIknownot；longhaveIbeenmeditating，anditishardtotell。Herearesomethreemillionsofyou，asIcount：somanyofyoufallensheeroverintotheabyssesofopenBeggary；and，fearfultothink，everynewunitthatfallsis_loading_somuchmorethechainthatdragstheothersover。Ontheedgeoftheprecipicehanguncountedmillions；increasing，Iamtold，attherateof1200aday。Theyhangthereonthegiddyedge，poorsouls，crampingthemselvesdown，holdingonwithalltheirstrength；butfalling，fallingoneafteranother；andthechainisgetting_heavy_，sothatevermorefall；andwhoatlastwillstand？Whattodowithyou？Thequestion，Whattodowithyou？especiallysincethepotatodied，isliketobreakmyheart！
　　“Onething，aftermuchmeditating，Ihaveatlastdiscovered，andnowknowforsometimeback：Thatyoucannotbelefttoroamabroadinthisunguidedmanner，stumblingovertheprecipices，andloadingeverheavierthefatal_chain_uponthosewhomightbeabletostand；thatthisoflockingyouupintemporaryIdleWorkhouses，whenyoustumble，andsubsistingyouonIndianmeal，tillyoucansallyforthagainonfreshroamings，andfreshstumblings，andultimatedescenttothedevil；——thatthisis_not_theplan；andthatitneverwas，orcouldoutofEnglandhavebeensupposedtobe，muchasIhavepridedmyselfuponit！
　　“VagrantLackalls，Iatlastperceive，allthisthathasbeensungandspoken，foralongwhile，aboutenfranchisement，emancipation，freedom，suffrage，civilandreligiouslibertyovertheworld，islittleotherthansadtemporaryjargon，broughtuponusbyasternnecessity，——butnoworderedbyasternertotakeitselfawayagainalittle。Sadtemporaryjargon，Isay：
　　madeupofsenseandnonsense，——senseinsmallquantities，andnonsenseinverylarge；——and，iftakenforthewholeorpermanenttruthofhumanthings，itisnobetterthanfatalinfinitenonsenseeternally_untrue_。Allmen，Ithink，willsoonhavetoquitthis，toconsiderthisasathingprettywellachieved；andtolookouttowardsanotherthingmuchmoreneedingachievementatthetimethatnowis。
　　“Allmenwillhavetoquitit，Ibelieve。Buttoyou，myindigentfriends，thetimeforquittingithaspalpablyarrived！
　　Totalkofgloriousself-government，ofsuffragesandhustings，andthefightoffreedomandsuchlike，isavainthinginyourcase。Byallhumandefinitionsandconceptionsofthesaidfightoffreedom，youforyourparthavelostit，andcanfightnomore。Gloriousself-governmentisaglorynotforyou，notforHodge’semancipatedhorses，noryou。No；Isay，No。You，foryourpart，havetriedit，and_failed_。Lefttowalkyourownroad，thewill-o’-wispsbeguiledyou，yourshortsightcouldnotdescrythepitfalls；thedeadlytumultandpresshaswhirledyouhitherandthither，regardlessofyourstrugglesandyourshrieks；andhereatlastyoulie；fallenflatintotheditch，drowningthereanddying，unlesstheothersthatarestillstandingpleasetopickyouup。Theothersthatstillstandhavetheirowndifficulties，Icantellyou！——Butyou，byimperfectenergyandredundantappetite，bydoingtoolittleworkanddrinkingtoomuchbeer，youIbidyouobservehaveprovedthatyoucannotdoit！Youliethereplainlyintheditch。AndIamtopickyouupagain，onthesemadterms；helpyoueveragain，aswithourbestheart’s-blood，todowhat，onceforall，thegodshavemadeimpossible？Toloadthefatal_chain_withyourperpetualstaggeringsandsprawlings；andeveragainloadit，tillweallliesprawling？Myindigentincompetentfriends，I
　　willnot！Knowthat，whoevermaybe’sonsoffreedom，’youforyourpartarenotandcannotbesuch。Not’free’you，Ithink，whoevermaybefree。Youpalpablyarefallencaptive，——_caitiff_，astheyoncenamedit：——youdo，silentlybuteloquently，demand，inthenameofmercyitself，thatsomegenuinecommandbetakenofyou。
　　“Yes，myindigentincompetentfriends；somegenuinepracticalcommand。Such，——ifIrightlyinterpretthosemadChartisms，RepealAgitations，RedRepublics，andotherdeliriousinarticulatehowlingsandbellowingswhichallthepopulationsoftheworldnowutter，evidentlycriesofpainontheirandyourpart，——isthedemandwhichyou，Captives，makeofallmenthatarenotCaptive，butarestillFree。Freemen，——alas，hadyoueveranynotionwhothefreemenwere，whothenot-free，theincapableoffreedom！Thefreemen，ifyoucouldhaveunderstoodit，theyarethewisemen；thepatient，self-denying，valiant；
　　theNoblesoftheWorld；whocandiscerntheLawofthisUniverse，whatitis，andpiously_obey_it；these，inlatesadtimes，havingcastyouloose，youarefallencaptivetogreedysonsofprofit-and-loss；tobadandevertoworse；andatlengthtoBeerandtheDevil。Algiers，BrazilorDahomeyholdnothinginthemsoauthentically_slave_asyouare，myindigentincompetentfriends！
　　“GoodHeavens，andIhavetoraisesomeeightorninemillionsannually，sixforEnglanditself，andtowreckthemoralsofmyworkingpopulationbeyondallmoney’sworth，tokeepthelifefromgoingoutofyou：asmallservicetoyou，asImanytimesbitterlyrepeat！Alas，yes；beforehighHeavenImustdeclareitsuch。IthinktheoldSpartans，whowouldhavekilledyouinstead，hadshownmore’humanity，’moreofmanhood，thanIthusdo！Morehumanity，Isay，moreofmanhood，andofsenseforwhatthedignityofmandemandsimperativelyofyouandofmeandofusall。Wecallitcharity，beneficence，andotherfinenames，thisbrutishWorkhouseSchemeofours；anditisbutsluggishheartlessness，andinsincerity，andcowardlylownessofsoul。
　　Not’humanity’ormanhood，Ithink；perhaps_ape_hoodrather，——paltryimitancy，fromtheteethoutward，ofwhatourheartneverfeltnorourunderstandingeversaw；dimindolentadherencetoextraneousandextincttraditions；traditionsnowreallyaboutextinct；notlivingnowtoalmostanyofus，andstillhauntingwiththeirspectralitiesandgibbering_ghosts_
　　inatrulybalefulmanneralmostallofus！Makingthisourstruggling’TwelfthHouroftheNight’inexpressiblyhideous！-
　　“Butasforyou，myindigentincompetentfriends，Ihavetorepeatwithsorrow，butwithperfectclearness，whatisplainlyundeniable，andisevenclamoroustogetitselfadmitted，thatyouareofthenatureofslaves，——orifyouprefertheword，of_nomadic，andnowevenvagrantandvagabond，servantsthatcanfindnomasteronthoseterms_；whichseemstomeamuchuglierword。Emancipation？Youhavebeen’emancipated’withavengeance！Foolishsouls，Isaythewholeworldcannotemancipateyou。FealtytoignorantUnruliness，togluttonoussluggishImprovidence，totheBeer-potandtheDevil，whoistherethatcanemancipateamaninthatpredicament？NotawholeReformBill，awholeFrenchRevolutionexecutedforhisbehoofalone：
　　nothingbutGodtheMakercanemancipatehim，bymakinghimanew。
　　“Toforwardwhichgloriousconsummation，willitnotbewell，O
　　indigentfriends，thatyou，fallenflatthere，shallhenceforthlearntotakeadviceofothersastothemethodsofstanding？
　　PlainlyIletyouknow，andalltheworldandtheworldsknow，thatIformypartmeanitso。Notasgloriousunfortunatesonsoffreedom，butasrecognizedcaptives，asunfortunatefallenbrothersrequiringthatIshouldcommandyou，andifneedwere，controlandcompelyou，cantherehenceforthbearelationbetweenus。AskmenotforIndianmeal；youshallbecompelledtoearnitfirst；knowthatonothertermsIwillnotgiveyouany。BeforeHeavenandEarth，andGodtheMakerofusall，I
　　declareitisascandaltosee_such_alifekeptinyou，bythesweatandheart’s-bloodofyourbrothers；andthat，ifwecannotmendit，deathwerepreferable！Goto，wemustgetoutofthis——unutterablecoilofnonsenses，constitutional，philanthropical，&c。，inwhichsurelywithoutmutualhatred，ifwithlessof’love’thanissupposedweareallstranglingoneanother！Yourwantofwants，Isay，isthatyoube_commanded_
　　inthisworld，notbeingabletocommandyourselves。Knowthereforethatitshallbesowithyou。Nomadism，Igiveyounotice，hasended；needfulpermanency，soldier-likeobedience，andtheopportunityandthenecessityofhardsteadylaborforyourliving，havebegun。KnowthattheIdleWorkhouseisshutagainstyouhenceforth；youcannotenterthereatwill，norleaveatwill；youshallenteraquiteotherRefuge，underconditionsstrictassoldiering，andnotleavetillIhavedonewithyou。