An Address to the Coal Miners - Pamphlet from the Enoch Wood Scrapbook

Move your pointing device over the image to zoom to detail. If using a mouse click on the image to toggle zoom.
When in zoom mode use + or - keys to adjust level of image zoom.

Date:1830 - 1834 (c.)

Description:An apparently neutral observer introduces himself in this pamphlet, claiming to weigh up the respective cases of the coal masters and miners' union during industrial unrest in 1831.

Claiming to wish either party well - "I would live and let live" - he offers the miners his initial sympathies.

However, an Address to the Coal Miners develops into a very zealous piece of propaganda.

Acts of violence

"The laws of your country have been daringly infringed," claims the author.

Some miners even await trial for their wrongdoing.

Cause for complaint

Admittedly, the author continues, there are valid grounds for complaint.

For example, wages differ from one colliery to the next, for the same work.

Also, so-called "Under working" colliers are still paid at the same levels as their colleagues.

"Return to your appointed duties..."

Miners are urged to return to work for their own sakes, "for the sake of your distressed families, and your own honest reputation."

"Remember that servants must not, cannot be masters..."

Taking a more forceful tone, the author condemns the union as "an enemy that would encompass your destruction."

Unionised miners face destitution if they try to strike, and the author argues that the union's funds cannot sustain industrial action for long.

The gift of the gab

Persuasive ranters and orators with "the gift of the gab" are also singled out for a scalding.

Colliers are urged to return to work, while pro-strike pamphlets from the "Hanley University" and "The Committee of Humbug and Folly" are rubbished in turn.

This item is now among the collections at Stoke-on-Trent Museums.

Share:

Link to this resource

Donor ref:(121/16467)

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.