ABSTRACT
In 1838 a rapid mobilisation of the working classes was the outcome of the preparation of the Charter and National Petition and of the foundation of the Chartist press. The working classes had hardly wakened into vigorous political existence than the first conflict arose with regard to party policy. The Scotch was convinced adherents of a peaceful policy, and considered every appeal to physical force to weaken the influence of moral power, and to be a vote of censure upon the invincible power of truth. Its policy continued to oscillate backwards and forwards, for owing to the obsolete Corresponding Act it was not possible for a movement to possess unity of action. There is no doubt that the silence observed as to the final aims, in addition to the dissensions and polemics between the Owenite Socialists and the Chartists were responsible for the social revolutionary character of Chartism being sometimes misunderstood.
