Thomas Babington Macaulay 1800-1859

Thomas Babington Macaulay was another writer, similar to Fanney Kemble, who welcomed the change that the Industrial era brought. He was very optimistic and believed that despite the high human cost due of rapid industrialization, things are getting better and better. In "A Review of Southey's Colloquies" The Natural Progress of Society, the author saw this new world as evidence of social progress. As long as the government stays out of its way, as indicated in the words "The natural progress of society" (page 491), the society will advance.

The words "History is full of the signs of this natural progress of society. We see in almost every part of the annals of mankind how the industry of individuals, struggling up against wars, taxes, famines, conflagrations, mischievous prohibitions, and more mischievous protections, creates faster than governments can squander, and repairs whatever invaders can destroy" (pages 491-492), shows that the writer has a positive view of the new world despite the many odds that these capitalist are encountering at the hands of the government. The writer argues that even though oppositions were present, whether it is through individuals who did not like the change or government regulations and taxes, the society was growing at a faster rate than all these oppositions. "In spite of the grossest corruption and the wildest profusion on the part of rulers" (page 492), in these words the writers wanted to stress his point that the government should not interfere in the progress of the society. However, in my opinion, I was a little disappointed with the writer because nothing was said about the rich who were taking advantage of the poor in advancing their own agendas, considering all the injustices that were going on at that time.

Even though the writer did not live to the early twentieth century he was prophetically prophesying in these words "In the year 1930 a population of fifty millions, better fed, clad, and lodged than the English of our time......, that machines constructed on principles yet undiscovered will be in every house...., that there will be no highways but railroads, no traveling but by steam......many people would think us insane" (page 492), which became a reality. Therefore, validating his point of a bright future. "Hence it is that, though in every age everybody knows that up to his own time progressive improvement has been taken place, nobody seems to reckon on any improvement during the next generation" (page 493), suggesting that even though there have been several advancements in their time, there are still much more coming in the future. This is so true in today's society, we may say that we have seen it all as it pertains to improvement, whether it is the Internet, medicine or other technological improvements but there are so many advancement and improvements that will be done in the future.

"It is not by the intermeddling of Mr. Southey's idol, the omniscient and omniscient State, but by the prudence and energy of the people.......and it is the same prudence and the same energy that we now look with comfort and good hope"(page 493). In the preceding words the writer is once again condemning the government from interfering in the affairs of society because the government has done more harm than good. Instead, the writer is suggesting that it is the people and through capitalism that the society had advanced, will advance and not through the government. The writer then further backs up his point by using these words, "Our rulers will best promote the improvement of the nation by strictly confining themselves to their own legitimate duties, by leaving capital to find its most lucrative course, commodities their fair price.......and by observing strict economy in every department of the State. Let the Government do this: the People will assuredly do the rest" (page 493)

I am going to disagree with the author a little because in today's society I do not think that this approach of the government staying out of society's way will work. We are living in a global economy and government intervention is necessary, such as the case with tariffs and quotas, in order to protect domestic industries and our society on a whole.