oble that are born to us； will not end； and which to us； of this 〃tremendous cheering〃 century； it were blessedness very great to see successfully begun。 Begun； tried by all manner of methods； if there is one wise Statesman or man left among us； it verily must be；begun； successfully or unsuccessfully； we do hope to see it！
In all European countries； especially in England； one class of Captains and commanders of men； recognizable as the beginning of a new real and not imaginary 〃Aristocracy；〃 has already in some measure developed itself： the Captains of Industry；happily the class who above all； or at least first of all； are wanted in this time。 In the doing of material work； we have already men among us that can command bodies of men。 And surely； on the other hand； there is no lack of men needing to be commanded： the sad class of brother…men whom we had to describe as 〃Hodge's emancipated horses；〃 reduced to roving famine；this too has in all countries developed itself； and； in fatal geometrical progression； is ever more developing itself； with a rapidity which alarms every one。 On this ground； if not on all manner of other grounds； it may be truly said； the 〃Organization of Labor〃 （_not_ organizable by the mad methods tried hitherto） is the universal vital Problem of the world。
To bring these hordes of outcast captainless soldiers under due captaincy？ This is really the question of questions； on the answer to which turns； among other things； the fate of all Governments； constitutional and other；the possibility of their continuing to exist； or the impossibility。 Captainless； uncommanded； these wretched outcast 〃soldiers；〃 since they cannot starve； must needs become banditti； street…barricaders；destroyers of every Government that _cannot_ put them under captains； and send them upon enterprises； and in short render life human to them。 Our English plan of Poor Laws； which we once piqued ourselves upon as sovereign； is evidently fast breaking down。 Ireland； now admitted into the Idle Workhouse； is rapidly bursting it in pieces。 That never was a 〃human〃 destiny for any honest son of Adam； nowhere but in England could it have lasted at all； and now； with Ireland sharer in it； and the fulness of time come； it is as good as ended。 Alas； yes。 Here in Connemara； your crazy Ship of the State； otherwise dreadfully rotten in many of its timbers I believe； has sprung a leak： spite of all hands at the pump； the water is rising； the Ship； I perceive； will founder； if you cannot stop this leak！
To bring these Captainless under due captaincy？ The anxious thoughts of all men that do think are turned upon that question； and their efforts； though as yet blindly and to no purpose； under the multifarious impediments and obscurations； all point thitherward。 Isolated men； and their vague efforts； cannot do it。 Government everywhere is called upon；in England as loudly as elsewhere；to give the initiative。 A new strange task of these new epochs； which no Government； never so 〃constitutional；〃 can escape from undertaking。 For it is vitally necessary to the existence of Society itself； it must be undertaken； and succeeded in too； or worse will follow；and； as we already see in Irish Connaught and some other places； will follow soon。 To whatever thing still calls itself by the name of Government； were it never so constitutional and impeded by official impossibilities； all men will naturally look for help； and direction what to do； in this extremity。 If help or direction is not given； if the thing called Government merely drift and tumble to and fro； no…whither； on the popular vortexes； like some carcass of a drowned ass； constitutionally put 〃at the top of affairs；〃 popular indignation will infallibly accumulate upon it； one day； the popular lightning； descending forked and horrible from the black air； will annihilate said supreme carcass； and smite it home to its native ooze again！Your Lordship； this is too true； though irreverently spoken： indeed one knows not how to speak of it； and to me it is infinitely sad and miserable； spoken or not！Unless perhaps the Voluntary Principle will still help us through？ Perhaps this Irish leak； in such a rotten distressed condition of the Ship； with all the crew so anxious about it； will be kind enough to stop of itself？
Dismiss that hope； your Lordship！ Let all real and imaginary Governors of England； at the pass we have arrived at； dismiss forever that fallacious fatal solace to their do…nothingism： of itself； too clearly； the leak will never stop； by human skill and energy it must be stopped； or there is nothing but the sea…bottom for us all！ A Chief Governor of England really ought to recognize his situation； to discern that； doing nothing； and merely drifting to and fro； in however constitutional a manner； he is a squanderer of precious moments； moments that perhaps are priceless； a truly alarming Chief Governor。 Surely； to a Chief Governor of England； worthy of that high name；surely to him； as to every living man； in every conceivable situation short of the Kingdom of the Deadthere is _something_ possible； some plan of action other than that of standing mildly； with crossed arms； till he and wesink？ Complex as his situation is； he； of all Governors now extant among these distracted Nations； has； as I compute； by far the greatest possibilities。 The Captains； actual or potential； are there； and the million Captainless： and such resources for bringing them together as no other has。 To these outcast soldiers of his； unregimented roving banditti for the present； or unworking workhouse prisoners who are almost uglier than banditti； to these floods of Irish Beggars； Able…bodied Paupers； and nomadic Lackalls； now stagnating or roaming everywhere； drowning the face of the world （too truly） into an untenantable swamp and Stygian quagmire； has the Chief Governor of this country no word whatever to say？ Nothing but 〃Rate in aid；〃 〃Time will mend it；〃 〃Necessary business of the Session；〃 and 〃After me the Deluge〃？ A Chief Governor that can front his Irish difficulty； and steadily contemplate the horoscope of Irish and British Pauperism； and whitherward it is leading him and us； in this humor； must be aWhat shall we call such a Chief Governor？ Alas； in spite of old use and wont；little other than a tolerated Solecism； growing daily more intolerable！ He decidedly ought to have some word to say on this matter；to be incessantly occupied in getting something which he could practically say！Perhaps to the following； or a much finer effect？
_Speech of the British Prime…Minister to the floods of Irish and other Beggars； the able…bodied Lackalls； nomadic or stationary； and the general assembly； outdoor and indoor； of the Pauper Populations of these Realms_。
〃Vagrant Lackalls； foolish most of you； criminal many of you； miserable all； the sight of you fills me with astonishment and despair。 What to do with you I know not； long have I been meditating； and it is hard to tell。 Here are some three millions of you； as I count： so many of you fallen sheer over into the abysses of open Beggary； and； fearful to think； every new unit that falls is _loading_ so much more the chain that drags the others over。 On the edge of the precipice hang uncounted millions； increasing； I am told； at the rate of 1200 a day。 They hang there on the giddy edge； poor souls； cramping themselves down； holding on with all their strength； but falling； falling one after another； and the chain is getting _heavy_； so that ever more fall； and who at last will stand？ What to do with you？ The question； What to do with you？ especially since the potato died； is like to break my heart！
〃One thing； after much meditating； I have at last discovered； and now know for some time back： That you cannot be left to roam abroad in this unguided manner； stumbling over the precipices； and loading ever heavier the fatal _chain_ upon those who might be able to stand； that this of locking you up in temporary Idle Workhouses； when you stumble； and subsisting you on Indian meal； till you can sally forth again on fresh roamings； and fresh stumblings； and ultimate descent to the devil；that this is _not_ the plan； and that it never was； or could out of England have been supposed to be； much as I have prided myself upon it！
〃Vagrant Lackalls； I at last perceive； all this that has been sung and spoken； for a long while； about enfranchisement； emancipation； freedom； suffrage； civil and religious liberty over the world； is little other than sad temporary jargon； brought upon us by a stern necessity；but now ordered by a sterner to take itself away again a little。 Sad temporary jargon； I say： made up of sense and nonsense；sense in small quantities； and nonsense in very large；and； if taken for the whole or permanent truth of human things； it is no better than fatal infinite nonsense eternally _untrue_。 All men； I think； will soon have to quit this； to consider this as a thing pretty well achieved； and to look out towards another thing much more needing achievement at the time that now is。
〃All men will have to quit it； I believe。 But to you； my indigent friends； the time for quitting it has palpably arrived！ To talk of glorious self…government； of suffrages and hustings； and the fight of freedom and such like； is a vain thing in your case。 By all human definitions and conceptions of the said fight of freedom； you for your part have lost it； and can fight no more。 Glorious self…government is a glory not for you； not for Hodge's emancipated horses； nor you。 No； I say； No。 You； for your part； have tried it； and _failed_。 Left to walk your own road； the will…o'…wisps beguiled you； your short sight could not descry the pitfalls； the deadly tumult and press has whirled you hither and thither； regardless of your struggles and your shrieks； and here at last you lie； fallen flat into the ditch； drowning there and dying； unless the others that are still standing please to pick you up。 The others that still stand have their own difficulties； I can tell you！But you； by imperfect energy and redundant appetite； by doing too little work and drinking too much beer； you （I bid you observe） have proved that you cannot do it！ You lie there plainly in the ditch。 An