The Revolution in Tanner's LaneWhite, William Hale
General
The Revolution in Tanner's Lane
White, William Hale
England -- Fiction; Religious fiction
The last meeting had been unusually exciting. Differences of opinion had
arisen as to future procedure, many of the members, the Secretary
included, advocating action; but what they understood by it is very
difficult to say. A special call had been made for that night, and
Zachariah was in a difficulty. His native sternness and detestation of
kings and their ministers would have led him almost to any length; but he
had a sober head on his shoulders. So had the Major, and so had
Caillaud. Consequently they held back, and insisted, before stirring a
step towards actual revolution, that there should be some fair chance of
support and success. The Major in particular warned them of the
necessity of drill; and plainly told them also that, not only were the
middle classes all against them, but their own class was hostile. This
was perfectly true, although it was a truth so unpleasant that he had to
endure some very strong language, and even hints of treason. No wonder:
for it is undoubtedly very bitter to be obliged to believe that the men
whom we want to help do not themselves wish to be helped. To work hard
for those who will thank us, to head a majority against oppressors, is a
brave thing; but far more honour is due to the Maitlands, Caillauds,
Colemans, and others of that stamp who strove for thirty years from the
outbreak of the French revolution onwards, not merely to rend the chains
of the prisoners, but had to achieve the more difficult task of
convincing them that they would be happier if they were free. These
heroes are forgotten, or nearly so. Who remembers the poor creatures who
met in the early mornings on the Lancashire moors or were shot by the
yeomanry? They sleep in graves over which stands no tombstone, or
probably their bodies have been carted away to make room for a railway
which has been driven through their resting-place. They saw the truth
before those whom the world delights to honour as its political
redeemers; but they have perished utterly from our recollection, and will
never be mentioned in history. Will there ever be a great Day of Assize
when a just judgment shall be pronounced; when all the impostors who have
been crowned for what they did not deserve will be stripped, and the
Divine word will be heard calling upon the faithful to inherit the
kingdom,—who, when “I was an hungered gave me meat, when I was thirsty
gave me drink; when I was a stranger took me in; when I was naked visited
me; when I was in prison came unto me?” Never! It was a dream of an
enthusiastic Galilean youth, and let us not desire that it may ever come
true. Let us rather gladly consent to be crushed into indistinguishable
dust, with no hope of record: rejoicing only if some infinitesimal
portion of the good work may be achieved by our obliteration, and content
to be remembered only in that anthem which in the future it will be
ordained shall be sung in our religious services in honour of all holy
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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