"The only means which have been placed in my power of "raising the wages of colliers" has been by endeavouring to beat down all those restrictions upon trade which tend to reduce the price to be obtained for the product of their labour, & to lower as much as may be the taxes on the commodities which they may require for use or for consumption. Beyond this I look to the forethought not yet so widely diffused in this country as in Scotland, & in some foreign lands; & I need not remind you that in order to facilitate its exercise the Government have been empowered by Legislation to become through the Dept. of the P.O. the receivers & guardians of savings."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Prime Ministers of the United KingdomPoliticians from EnglandTheologians from EnglandAcademics from the United KingdomNon-fiction authors from England
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Letter to Daniel Jones, an unemployed collier who complained of unemployment and of low wages (20 October 1869) as quoted in The Gladstone Diaries: With Cabinet Minutes and Prime-ministerial Correspondence: 1869-June 1871 Vol. 7 (1982) by H. C. G. Matthew, p. lxxiv
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
William Ewart Gladstone
1868 – 1874
William Ewart Gladstone (29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British Liberal politician and Prime Minister (1868–1874, 1880–1885, 1886 and 1892–1894). He was a notable political reformer, known for his populist speeches, and was for many years the main political rival of Benjamin Disraeli.
298 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by William Ewart Gladstone →
Related Quotes
"Now is the time for the true friend of his country to remind the masses that their present political elevation is owi…"
"I am a Free Trader on moral no less than on economic grounds: for I think human greed and selfishness are interwoven …"
"George III in his private character shows to advantage when compared with Charles II or George II. But, if George III…"
"I am thankful to have borne a part in the emancipating labours of the last sixty years; but entirely uncertain how, h…"
"[W]hat I call the ‘mad and drunk’ scheme of my colleagues on the naval estimates. ... [T]hat scheme (the most wanton …"
"In 1880, Midlothian leading the way, the nation nobly answered to the call of justice and [br]oadly recognised the br…"
"I am vexed to see portions of the labouring class beginning to be corrupted by the semblance of power as the other cl…"
"I cannot help regretting that the hon. and gallant Gentleman has felt it his duty to put the question. It is put unde…"
"I agree with you that a grave calamity overhangs the Liberal party in connection with the plan which I described to y…"
"This means war!"