shadow of britain

Chapter 85 The King's Fate

Arthur walked freely on the streets of London. Because he was wearing plain clothes today, he could finally slow down and see the different scenery from the past.

According to the latest mission order issued by Sir Peel, in view of the intensified protests and large-scale gatherings across London, all police districts of Scotland Yard have selected some experienced police officers and assigned them plainclothes to enter various gathering places to perform secret duties.

It's no wonder Sir Peel's reaction was great, because it's not the first time that such activities as 'request for parliamentary reform and expansion of suffrage' have taken place.

The first time such a large-scale parliamentary reform movement broke out in Britain was during the French Revolution in 1789.

As Sir Peel emphasized in Home Office papers - every French Revolution had unintended consequences in England.

The French Revolution in 1789 aroused great political enthusiasm among the lower classes of the British people. It changed the inherent concepts of many British people since the Glorious Revolution, and made them realize that politics is not only the private affairs of the big men, but ordinary people are also eligible to participate.

Reverend Richard Price, an important member of the Sheffield Constitution Knowledge Association, was the first to attack the old ideas.

He delivered a sermon titled "On the Love of Our Country" at an event commemorating the 101st anniversary of the Glorious Revolution, in which he mentioned a point that was crucial to the subsequent reform movement-the most important legacy of the Glorious Revolution was the people. The right to choose its own government and can withdraw it at any time.

But this point of view immediately aroused fierce rebuttals from Edmund Burke, a writer of the Whig party. Burke published the book "Reflections on the French Revolution" and put forward his views in it.

——The principle of the Glorious Revolution is not to change, but to abide by tradition.Traditions sustain the existence of society and are therefore the cornerstone of society.The French Revolution led to France's collapse precisely because it destroyed traditions. Britain cannot follow in France's footsteps. It must maintain traditions and ensure national security.

When Burke gained the upper hand, Thomas Paine published "The Rights of Man" to confront Burke.

Paine emphasized in the book that each generation has the right to choose the political system it likes, and its predecessors have no right to decide.Choosing a political system is a natural human right of the British people, and the British should fight to the end to defend this right.

But under the present system, laborers are denied this right, thus contributing to their widespread poverty.Only by restoring their rights can they be rescued from poverty.

Once Paine's "Human Rights" was published, the sales volume exceeded 20 copies within a year.

In such a social atmosphere, a series of non-governmental organizations advocating reform were established, and groups like the "Sheffield Constitutional Knowledge Association" and the "London Correspondence Association" with a scale of [-] people sprung up.

All this terrified the British government, who saw the emergence of these organizations as a harbinger of revolution.

Therefore, in line with the principle of attacking the strong first and then attacking the strong, the British authorities quickly arrested important members of the London Correspondence Society and the Sheffield Constitution Knowledge Society and prosecuted them for treason.

Maglotte and Gerald, the presidents of the London Correspondence Association, were eventually sentenced to 14 years in exile, but most of the other members were acquitted by the jury for insufficient evidence.

With the failure of the French Revolution, the parliamentary reform movement also fell into a low period.

But the memories of the past still existed in the minds of the MPs, and Sir Peel couldn't help but deal with them carelessly.

After all, after decades of verification, the Tory Party has proved that purely using violence will only make things worse.

Although the Duke of Wellington and Sir Peel opposed parliamentary reform, they also firmly believed that the use of force as little as possible should be used to solve the problem.

Paradoxical though this view may seem, it was indeed the current policy of Wellington's cabinet.

They hope that the British public will forget about the reform of the parliament after a while, instead of resorting to violent means to suppress the assembly.

But judging from Arthur's observations in the past two days, the calculations of the Duke of Wellington and Sir Peel should have failed.

Because the people who got involved in the parliamentary reform this time were not only the workers who spoke lightly, but also the Whigs, a large number of priests, and the Tory Cannings and extremists.

Judging from the current situation observed by Arthur, almost all classes in London are advocating parliamentary reform.

Although their goals of reform may be different, at least their actions are the same.

“For better or for worse, reforms can help!”

"We demand expanded suffrage!"

"Wellington down, he's an old impostor from Ireland!"

Arthur mixed in the demonstration team, while shouting demonstration slogans, he also did not forget to hold a sign for his partners beside him.

"Down with the Tories! Get rid of Wellington!"

Seeing this situation, Agares couldn't help staring and said, "Arthur, didn't you come to monitor them? Why are you still hanging out with them?"

Arthur raised his hand and touched the brim of his hat, and took a chance to get rid of the parade. It wasn't that he was tired from walking, but that he had followed the parade to the police station in Greenwich.

He came to an open space on the corner of the street, lit his pipe, and took a deep drag.

"Agares, you don't understand, the highest form of undercover is to join. At least I also understand that this team seems to be sponsored by the Whig Party, and their actions are just shouting slogans, and they have no intention of doing anything. Excessive behavior, which is good, saves me a lot of trouble."

Hearing this, the Red Devil squinted his eyes and said, "Arthur, what on earth are you thinking? You eat with the Tories Robert Peel, and at the same time you walk very close to the Whig Duke of Sussex." .

With all due respect, if you really plan to play politics, you'd better not step on two boats like this, it won't do you any good.You have to know that for those powerful politicians, not absolute loyalty equals absolute disloyalty. "

"Agares, this is your fault. I have never had two legs."

Arthur exhaled: "You know, I'm a Scotland Yard policeman, and according to the House Rules, I can't hold any political positions.

Just like the religious view I told you before, I don't choose God or the devil, both are walls that will blind my eyes.

In politics, I don't choose the Whigs, I don't choose the Tories, they are both the same, only when they are in opposition, they will act like the light of justice.

I just agree with them on some issues.

I admired the abolition of slavery by the Whigs, although most of them supported it only because most of them were factory owners, they didn't make money in it, and they needed free workers to come into the factories.

On the other hand, I also appreciate the conservative and restrained stance that the Tories are now promoting. They love peace, although this is also because their supporters include a considerable number of bankers. War is nothing to the stocks and bonds they hold in their hands. Good influence.

All in all, they each have their own advantages, Agares, times are changing, each party has its own advantages, we have to see the shining points in them. "

The Red Devil rubbed his hands and laughed, "Come on, Arthur, you little villain. Don't tell me you don't know. Sometimes not having a position is also a position, and it is also a position that is not flattering.

Do you know why the Duke of Wellington fell into the current situation where he was surrounded by enemies?It is precisely because he intends to take the middle line that he is not welcomed by the liberals and is expelled from the conservatives.

Just because he is Wellington, he can still hold on for a while.If someone else had been replaced as prime minister, it is estimated that he would have fallen by now.

Don't look at how loud these protesters are, they seem to love freedom, but in fact they just hate their masters.What they are angry about is not unfairness, but that they are in a subordinate position in the unfairness.

Don't be fooled by your petty conscience, parliamentary reform is a great opportunity and the choice is now yours.

You can take this opportunity to swear allegiance to Robert Peel, or you can use the Duke of Sussex's connection to vote for the Whig Party.

Come on, Arthur, have you decided which side to support?A young Scotland Yard police inspector who is in the limelight, although it may not look very impressive now, but if you make good use of the information at hand, you can immediately play a role for them.

For reform or against reform, for Whig or Tory?Don't take the middle route, and don't investigate that slave trade case, these two things will not do you any good. "

Arthur just glanced at him, he extinguished the pipe in his hand, and said, "Agares, haven't you been encouraging me to become their god? Looking back now, it's still too difficult to be a god or something. , why don't I be their king."

Upon hearing this, the Red Devil said in surprise, "Oh, my dear Arthur, have you figured it out?"

Arthur nodded, and he said, "Let me give you a word, do you know what the fate of the king is?"

"What is it?"

Arthur put the pipe in his pocket and stepped into the police station.

"The so-called destiny of a king is to do good and be badly reputed."

(End of this chapter)