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we find it to be the basis of what Maurice and Kingsley called Christian socialism. 1
Lord Ashley, afterwards the Earl of Shaftesbury, from his first entrance into parliament devoted himself to the suffering people. He succeeded in stopping many of the abuses in lunatic asylums, which were formerly exclusively private institutions. He gave himself to the chimney sweeps, to ragged schools, to the victims from the opium trade in China, but his life work was the improvement of the factory operatives' life. He came into prominence in connection with the Ten Hours' Bill, which was being advocated as a result of the report of the commissioners of 1833. From that time to 1850, when the Ten Hours' Bill became law, Lord Ashley gave up every opportunity for prefer- ment and personal enjoyment in his untiring devotion to the extension of the protective functions of the state. One need not ignore the services of Owen, Oastler, Hobhouse, Sadler and others in crediting the lion's share in the early development of factory legislation to the Earl of Shaftesbury. The importance of this act of 1850 was the establishment of the right and wis- dom of the government in interfering with the manufacturers in the interest of their operatives. Although the act, as worded, provided only for a ten hours' day for women and young persons, it was clearly understood throughout the debate, as is indicated by the speeches of the opposition, that this restriction would also necessitate the limitation of the hours of adult males, and the battle was fought on that ground. Ten years later an almost unanimous expression of parliament endorsed the action. By this act one of the most favorable steps to socialism was taken. Henceforth the question of state interference is one of expediency, not of principle.*
1 References. COLERIDGE, Complete Works, 7 vols., New York, 1884; The Table Talk, Bohn's Library, 1884; The Friend, Bohn's Library, 1866; Letters, Conversations, etc., London, 1864. CAINE, HALL, Life of Coleridge (excellent bibliography), 1887. TRAILL, H. D., Life of Coleridge, 1884.
3 References. PLENER, English Factory Legislation, London, 1873. SEELEY, Memoirs of M. T. Sadler, London, 1842. HODDER, Life of Lord Shaftesbury, London, 1892. JEVONS, The State in Relation to Labor, London, 1889.
