Welsh Journals

The Background to Welsh Political Thought in the 19th Century. By T. Evans. ii "A T 0 age can ever hope to understand its own mind and temper except through a study of the past from which it has sprung." This is particularly true of Welsh Political Thought of the last Century, for if one is to grasp the significant ideas underlying Welsh politics of the century, a background to reflect it is clearly essential. Political thought in Wales has ramifications beyond the comprehension of the uninitiated, for it is very closely connected with other spheres of activity in the preceding century. In Welsh History two great principles are outstanding; there is continuity; there is also unity, a fact that can be adequately proved by a study of the relations between the four great movements of the 18th Century. These move- ments are:- (1) The Classical Movement in Literature. (2) Educational Movement. (3) The democratic movement as illustrated by the ballads and interludes. (4) The religious revival. These are the movements from which emerge Welsh political ideas these are the activities that prepared the people for the political agitation of the next century and made them susceptible to the influence of the French Revolution. The first two movements provided the masses with light, while the last two supplied the heat; the first two appealed more to the reason while the ballads and sermons appealed to the emotions. All these movements were essential; each had its contribution to make. The Welsh minds had to be enlightened and Welsh hearts had to be set on fire with a passion for better things. The first two movements rendered the last two more effective, and the Genesis of Welsh Political Thought should be sought not in the publication of the first newspapers in the first decade of the 19th century, but in the religious magazines of the last decade of the eighteenth century, and one should look for the beginning of Welsh politics not to the political platform but to the religious pulpit. It was not by accident that the leading political thinkers of the 19th century were also the leading Welsh divines, their political compass was relied upon because it had been tempered in the heat of the religious revival, and it is very significant that most of the periodicals published in the 1790's were closely connected with religious organisations, and that most of the editors were eminent preachers. Closely connected with the literary movement was the antiquarian movement led by men like Morgan Lloyd and Ellis Wyn. There was a passion for everything Welsh and an enthusiasm for further- ing Welsh interests. Welsh relics were collected and Welsh manuscripts restored. At this time the Eisteddfod was established on a recognised footing through the influence of the Welsh societies in London. The classical movement was continued by men like Owen Myfyr, Owen Pugh, and lolo Morganwg, who also spent a consider- able time in the metropolis. This fact is very significant, as it provides a key to the English and French influence on Wales during the French Revolution. Wales was now emerging from her state of isolation, and at this time proved more susceptible to foreign influence than has been generally recognised. It has long been the fashion to claim originality for Welsh movements of this time as though it were derogatory to Welsh genius to adapt English movements to the needs of Wales. Original thinkers are few, but leadership does not necessarily demand origin- ality. It rather demands courage and insight in applying old ideas to current problems or current ideas to new problems. This was done in Wales, for the best thought of England, Scotland, and France was then robed in Welsh garb by men like Morgan John Rhys, lolo, Dr. Price, David Williams, and many others. In the sphere of Education, 1730-1779, the names of Griffith Jones and Madame Bevan will ever remain outstanding. The political significance of the circulating schools of this period lies in the fact that their administration rested in the hands of the church, as the parish clergymen had the right to veto any itinerant schoolmaster. The schools aimed at making loyal citizens, and with this end in view prayers for the King and Royal Family formed part of the daily routine. The moral effects were seen in the growth of humane ideas, which pre- pared the ground for successful agitation for humanitarian legislation. When the educational movement lapsed in 1780, the Sundav School movement introduced bv Morgan John Rhys and Thomas Charles in 1785, to a certain extent con- tinued the good work of the circulating schools. The importance of the Sunday School has not yet been fully recognised. The fact that it was introduced from England and not originated in Wales, has, by some, been deemed enough of an excuse to under-rate its importance. These schools roused the suspicion of the loyal Tories of the time, who denounced them as the centres of Jacobinical machinations." They were also regarded as the seedplots of anarchy, for reli- gious free thinking was synonymous with revolu- tionary designs. To be a religious enthusiast, or, in other words, to be anything but an Anglican was to be a Jacobin in embryo. More important than either of these in their influence on Welsh Political Thought was the Religious Revival, 1735-1780, for Wales in the heat of the religious controversies and midst the