Table 1. Luddite messages/expressions... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1.

Luddite messages/expressions

Critique	Frq	Example
Uselessness of government	12	“…long and tedious oppression that you are labouring under, and the prospect before you only tends to embitter yr days, yr existence will be shortened and yr many children will become fatherless if you tamely submit much longer to wear the yoke and to Bear that Burden which is intollerable for human nature to endure frequently you have uselessly applied to Government, to Magistrates and to Manufacturers, but all to no purpose” (pp. 243–244)
Grievance against the current set of arrangements	11	“We know that every machine for the abridgement of human labour is a blessing to the great family of which we are a part. We mean to begin at the Source of our grievances as it is of no use to petition, We mean to demand and command a redress of our grievances. We have both the will and the power. What? must the industrious artisans or the humble cultivators of the soil, be always robb'ed of the rewards of their labours? must they be forever doom'd to behold their helpless infants unfed, uncloathed, untaught, in short deprived of every comfort that makes existance worth holding must see the Vultures of Oppressions legally robbing them…” (pp. 184–185)
The need for revolution	11	“You are requested to come forward with arms and help the redressers to redress their Wrongs and shake off the hateful Yorke of a Silly Old Man, and his Son more silly and their Rogueish Ministers, all Noble Example of the brave Citizens of Paris who in the Sight of 30,000 Tyrant Redcoats brought A Tyrant to the Ground. By so doing you will be best aiming at your own Interest. Above 40,000 Heroes are ready to break out, to crush the old Government, and establish a new one” (pp 207–208)
Current arrangement causes misery	9	“You will then do right to express your Detestation of the Conduct of those Men who have brought this Country to its present distressed State, and are entailing Misery on Thousands of its industrious Mechanics” (pp. 169–171)
Tyranny/tyrants currently in power	9	“…[you] will you still calmly submit to endure that Arrogance Tyranny and Oppression that hath so long been exercised over you …yourselves insolently degraded by those very men that are living in luxury and extravagance from the fruits of yr labour ,,,you will immediately see that nothing is justly a mans own but that he is in possession of, you will soon see that it is not right for him yo do what he pleaseth with it - admitting it doth no harm to any creature. But if it can be proved that his proceedings are injurious to Society, then Society hath an undoubted right to put a sudden stop to his Vile preceedings … not an inch of the habitable Globe is yours. Tyranny has deprived you of it. Nor have you time to behold the fair and Free Creation of heaven the wide realms of necessary Care before you…” (pp. 234–236)
A desire to shift towards reciprocal/fair trade	9	“As we have nothing in view but a reciprocal Advantage in the Trade, both for ourselves and you, and a mutual good understanding in all our actions…On account of the great rise of all the Necessaries of life, a Man that has full employ, with all his industry, and a Woman, with all her care and economy, can by no means support a Family with any degree of Comfort…still worse, what must the situation of those be that have none at all, which is the Case with INCALCULABLE NUMBERS at this time…We wish to live peaceably and honestly by our Labour, and to train up our Children in the paths of virtue and rectitude, but we cannot accomplish our wishes” (pp. 77–78)
Oppression by industrialists/parliament	6	“The poor cry aloud for bread, Prince Regent shall lose his head, And all the rich who oppress the poor, In a little time shall be no more, with deep regret, I write these things, They'll come to pass in spite of kinds” (p. 183)
A need for regulation	5	“were much rejoiced to hear that the Gentlemen Hosiers were taking into their consideration to redress the Grievances the Workmen labour under; and to establish a respectable, regular and permanent Price” (pp. 86–87)
France/America as parallel develop paths	5	“You say that Bonyparty he's been the spoil of all, And that we have got reason to pray for his downfall; Now Bonyparty's dead and gone, and it is plainly shown that we have bigger tyrants in Boneys of our own” (p. 195)
Liberty as a new basin of attraction	3	“…let me persuade you to quit your present post, lay by your sword and become a friend to the oppress'd- for curs'd his the man that even lifts a straw against the sacred cause of Liberty” (pp. 178–179)

Critique	Frq	Example
Uselessness of government	12	“…long and tedious oppression that you are labouring under, and the prospect before you only tends to embitter yr days, yr existence will be shortened and yr many children will become fatherless if you tamely submit much longer to wear the yoke and to Bear that Burden which is intollerable for human nature to endure frequently you have uselessly applied to Government, to Magistrates and to Manufacturers, but all to no purpose” (pp. 243–244)
Grievance against the current set of arrangements	11	“We know that every machine for the abridgement of human labour is a blessing to the great family of which we are a part. We mean to begin at the Source of our grievances as it is of no use to petition, We mean to demand and command a redress of our grievances. We have both the will and the power. What? must the industrious artisans or the humble cultivators of the soil, be always robb'ed of the rewards of their labours? must they be forever doom'd to behold their helpless infants unfed, uncloathed, untaught, in short deprived of every comfort that makes existance worth holding must see the Vultures of Oppressions legally robbing them…” (pp. 184–185)
The need for revolution	11	“You are requested to come forward with arms and help the redressers to redress their Wrongs and shake off the hateful Yorke of a Silly Old Man, and his Son more silly and their Rogueish Ministers, all Noble Example of the brave Citizens of Paris who in the Sight of 30,000 Tyrant Redcoats brought A Tyrant to the Ground. By so doing you will be best aiming at your own Interest. Above 40,000 Heroes are ready to break out, to crush the old Government, and establish a new one” (pp 207–208)
Current arrangement causes misery	9	“You will then do right to express your Detestation of the Conduct of those Men who have brought this Country to its present distressed State, and are entailing Misery on Thousands of its industrious Mechanics” (pp. 169–171)
Tyranny/tyrants currently in power	9	“…[you] will you still calmly submit to endure that Arrogance Tyranny and Oppression that hath so long been exercised over you …yourselves insolently degraded by those very men that are living in luxury and extravagance from the fruits of yr labour ,,,you will immediately see that nothing is justly a mans own but that he is in possession of, you will soon see that it is not right for him yo do what he pleaseth with it - admitting it doth no harm to any creature. But if it can be proved that his proceedings are injurious to Society, then Society hath an undoubted right to put a sudden stop to his Vile preceedings … not an inch of the habitable Globe is yours. Tyranny has deprived you of it. Nor have you time to behold the fair and Free Creation of heaven the wide realms of necessary Care before you…” (pp. 234–236)
A desire to shift towards reciprocal/fair trade	9	“As we have nothing in view but a reciprocal Advantage in the Trade, both for ourselves and you, and a mutual good understanding in all our actions…On account of the great rise of all the Necessaries of life, a Man that has full employ, with all his industry, and a Woman, with all her care and economy, can by no means support a Family with any degree of Comfort…still worse, what must the situation of those be that have none at all, which is the Case with INCALCULABLE NUMBERS at this time…We wish to live peaceably and honestly by our Labour, and to train up our Children in the paths of virtue and rectitude, but we cannot accomplish our wishes” (pp. 77–78)
Oppression by industrialists/parliament	6	“The poor cry aloud for bread, Prince Regent shall lose his head, And all the rich who oppress the poor, In a little time shall be no more, with deep regret, I write these things, They'll come to pass in spite of kinds” (p. 183)
A need for regulation	5	“were much rejoiced to hear that the Gentlemen Hosiers were taking into their consideration to redress the Grievances the Workmen labour under; and to establish a respectable, regular and permanent Price” (pp. 86–87)
France/America as parallel develop paths	5	“You say that Bonyparty he's been the spoil of all, And that we have got reason to pray for his downfall; Now Bonyparty's dead and gone, and it is plainly shown that we have bigger tyrants in Boneys of our own” (p. 195)
Liberty as a new basin of attraction	3	“…let me persuade you to quit your present post, lay by your sword and become a friend to the oppress'd- for curs'd his the man that even lifts a straw against the sacred cause of Liberty” (pp. 178–179)