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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Result
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"If the Factory Act passes, it will throw the economy into chaos…"
"It won't."
"The factories will face a crisis…"
"They won't."
If regulating child labor had truly been so detrimental to the national economy, would a series of other labor laws have been proposed afterward?
Besides, this wasn't even a ban, but a bill to regulate excessively harsh labor.
Even for simple tasks, there's a significant difference in productivity between those who have received at least a minimal education and those who haven't.
In the grand scheme of things, this bill was destined to pass anyway, and it was bound to be evaluated as quite effective.
"Lord Wellesley, I say this lest you misunderstand, but the members of the Tory Party who are partially siding with the Whigs are not doing so because they share their ideals."
"What?"
"Think carefully about who within the party is calling for a committee. Aren't most of them from traditional landowning families?"
"Ah, I see what you're getting at."
Wellesley was not a slow-witted man. Just this much was enough for him to grasp the situation.
"Yes. Landowners aren't as fond of capitalists as you might think. They probably believe this reform bill can temper the rapid pace of industrialization. Ironically, the outcome won't be what they expect."
"...You truly seem to believe this bill will help the economy."
"Of course. The desperate times when we had to hire children just to have enough hands are already past. What's happening now is nothing more than grinding up future resources for a pittance of extra profit. Just you watch. The capitalists who use state-of-the-art machinery to run their factories on a mass scale will actually come out in support of this bill."
"What? Why is that?"
"Because their reliance on child labor has relatively decreased. They'll see it as a good opportunity to push out the small and medium-sized factories that still depend heavily on it."
Of course, this wasn't my personal opinion but information I'd gleaned from reading about the history of labor law development.
And that meant it was the future that was destined to unfold.
"It would be a tough fight even if our party opposed it with all its might, but with this kind of division, we won't be able to stop the bill. So you're saying I should take the lead proactively?"
"Yes. You can secure two images at once: the warmth of a duke's second son who cares for the children of commoners, and the intellectual who considers the nation's economy from a true macroeconomic perspective, not a shortsighted one. It will also help dispel the impression that the Tory Party ignores the common people."
"But the party elders will despise it…"
"That very fact will translate into public favor for you, Lord Wellesley. The current Tory elders are branded as unlikable by many. That's why they won so few seats in the general election. You need to draw a line between yourself and them and give the impression that you are somehow different."
That way, when I enter Parliament, I can ride Wellesley and Disraeli's coattails and rise to prominence in one fell swoop.
If they flounder, I might get lumped in with them and be treated as a nobody.
"When this commotion is over, you will be remembered by everyone not as the Duke of Wellington's second son, but by the name Charles Wellesley. Just trust me."
"...Alright. Your advice has never failed me so far, so I'll just close my eyes and do it this time as well. And since you're arranging for people to side with me, I won't be taking the heat all alone."
"Then I'll be counting on you for a brilliant speech. Don't worry, I'll write it for you."
After nearly thirty minutes of reassurance, Wellesley finally relaxed and returned to his home.
If even he, who trusted me completely, was this anxious, I could well imagine how others would react when the Factory Act was announced.
And that meant a massive money-making opportunity was shimmering right before my eyes.
"James, I want to make an investment. Could you gather some information for me?"
"Yes. What should I look into?"
"Focus on machinery manufacturers and companies that provide education or training. I think we can make a handsome profit."
James didn't ask for further explanation and simply nodded his head.
"I will see to it at once."
"Good. We spent a bit of money on the election, so let's make it back this time."
I could earn that pittance by running the gambling house for a month, but that cash cow would eventually have to be shut down by 1840.
So I had to squeeze as much out of it as I could while I still could.
Getting angry because a bill you oppose gets passed is for third-rate players.
Accepting it because you can't do anything about it is what a second-rate player would do.
No matter what bill or system is implemented, digging in and extracting profit from it.
That was the mark of a first-rate player.
* * *
If there was one truly commendable aspect of the British Parliament of this era, it was that the public could easily find out what members said during debates.
This was thanks to a recording policy called Hansard, where reporters attended sessions, took shorthand notes, and then printed and published them.
Unlike in modern times, it had not yet been designated as the official record of Parliament, but the name Hansard was already considered synonymous with it.
Hansard was easily accessible in books or newspapers, so rumors about which member said what about which bill spread throughout London with great ease.
Sometimes, impatient people couldn't even wait for the printed version and would camp out near Parliament.
They would slip money to people coming out of the session to get information immediately.
For this reason, members of Parliament tried to be as cautious as possible when they spoke.
Wellesley, the second son of the Duke of Wellington and hailed as the future hope of the Tory Party, was no exception.
In fact, unlike his father and brother who were in the House of Lords, he was aiming for the Prime Ministership, which meant he had to be even more careful.
'…But is this really the right thing to do?'
Even now, just before his speech, his mouth was bone dry, but there was no turning back.
After the Whig Party's speech calling for the establishment of a committee to investigate the working conditions of child laborers concluded, Wellesley took his turn.
In a situation where not only his fellow Tories but even the Whigs expected him to object.
Wellesley squeezed his eyes shut and began to speak in a resolute tone.
"I wholeheartedly agree with the Whig Party's statement that we must form a committee."
"...?"
"What did he just say…"
"Does this mean the Duke of Wellington will also support this bill?"
"What? Is he mad? This is betrayal, isn't it?"
"Order! Order! The speech is not over!"
In an instant, the chamber descended into chaos, and he could see the stenographers' arms moving frantically.
With a powerful conviction that tomorrow's newspapers and Hansard's front page would undoubtedly be his, Wellesley continued.
"The investigation of this committee and the ensuing bill will not be about taking jobs away from children altogether. It's about giving them proper rest and the opportunity to receive an education even while they work. And in the long run, this will by no means be detrimental to the economy."
"Hmph! Did you not learn in university that government intervention in the market can distort the balance?"
"One moment, I am not finished. You are concerned about market distortion, but strictly speaking, the market is already distorted as it is. And from an economic standpoint, the rational actions of individuals do not necessarily lead to the best outcome for society. There are times when society must guide individuals toward a better result."
Killian had used the term "prisoner's dilemma" to explain this, a term Wellesley had never heard before in his life.
But even though the term was new, he understood it immediately once it was explained with formulas.
At the same time, the fog in his mind cleared, and a wave of realization washed over him.
Where on earth did he come up with a theory that he, an Oxford entrant and Cambridge graduate, had never even heard of?
Wellesley had even suggested that perhaps Killian should have pursued economics, but he had vehemently denied it.
In any case, Wellesley actively refuted the counterarguments from his own party members, passionately arguing for the necessity of establishing the committee.
The Whigs, wondering what on earth he had gotten into, took a spectator's stance, which, as a result, turned the floor into Wellesley's one-man show.
"Our British Empire is a nation that will lead the world, the most advanced nation in the world! We must not look only at the present with a shortsighted view but plan our policies with a broader perspective, looking toward the future. I have no doubt that all the esteemed members present here are true patriots who are concerned for the future of this country.
Is our British Empire truly in a situation where we must rob the children who will lead our nation's future of their health and time for education and push them into factories? I earnestly ask you to think on this once more."
When a rising young politician, and the son of the former party leader no less, voiced his opinion with such fervor, the Tory Party's position became ambiguous.
To make matters worse, when the newly joined Disraeli also came out in support of Wellesley, talk of reconsidering began to surface even within the Tory Party.
Seizing the opportunity, the Whig Party immediately put the establishment of the committee to a vote, and contrary to everyone's expectations, the result was decided in a single day.
* * *
While Wellesley was in the midst of his impassioned speech in Parliament, I, too, was curious about the outcome of the session. I convinced Robert to join me, and as soon as our morning classes were over, we took a carriage straight to Westminster.
"What do you think, senior? Will this bill pass smoothly?"
"Not a chance. The capitalists will be foaming at the mouth and throwing a fit. How could it possibly pass? Look over there, they're standing there glaring daggers."
I turned to where Robert was pointing and saw a group of people, faces livid, waving large signs.
[If the Children Don't Work, We Can't Survive!]
[Our Children Want to Work, Too!]
[Oppose Child Discrimination! Give Children the Freedom to Work!]
I tore my eyes away from the dizzying slogans and chuckled.
"Shall we make a bet then? I'll bet on 'it passes,' and you bet on 'it doesn't.' The loser has to grant the winner one request. We can refuse if it's too outrageous."
"Oh? Sure, why not. No matter if the Whigs are the ruling party, it's over if the House of Lords rejects it. What can they really do?"
"That rejection might not be so solid if opinions are divided within the Tory Party."
"No chance of that. Stop worrying about such things and practice your cricket. With your current skills, you'll be lucky not to embarrass yourself at the spring event."
Wondering why he was suddenly talking about cricket, I looked at him, only for Robert to let out a disbelieving laugh.
"What, you really don't know?"
"Don't know what?"
"Ah, so you haven't been practicing cricket. Haven't you noticed everyone at Eton is obsessed with it right now? I'm good enough that I don't need to practice, but you're a different story."
Come to think of it, on my way out today, I did see people gathered on the sports field, frantically throwing balls and swinging bats.
Eton always had a lot of cricket, so I had just passed by. Was there some major event planned?
Between the election work and the Factory Act issue, I'd had no time to interact with the other students, so I was completely out of the loop.
"What is it? What's this great reason that has every student at Eton swinging a bat?"
"Wow, in a way, that's amazing. You're going to be a big shot someday. How could you not know about this… Then again, I guess that's why you'd suggest a trip to Westminster at a time like this."
"Hey, you're making me nervous. Is His Majesty visiting Eton or something? I can't see any other reason for such a fuss."
"Close enough. Someone who might become the future queen is coming."
The words 'future queen' made my body freeze.
Simultaneously, the loud shouts of the factory owners outside were filtered out of my mind as if they had never been there.
"...Who's coming?"
"The current first in line to the throne, Princess Victoria, is coming. Of course, she's not coming alone, but with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and her governess, Baroness Lehzen. A visit to Eton College was scheduled as part of their tour of the Thames Valley, and the whole school was turned upside down two days ago. You must have missed it since you always dash off somewhere as soon as classes end."
"…"
"The top-performing students from each year will get to speak with the princess, however briefly, and Her Highness and the Duchess will be watching the students' cricket match, which is why everyone's gone crazy like this."
Right. It was worth going crazy over. At this point, anyone who wasn't going crazy would be the strange one.
Just as I was about to say something, a commotion erupted from the direction of Westminster, and I saw James running frantically toward our carriage.
I excused myself to Robert, got out of the carriage, and ran toward James.
"Young Master! It passed! The committee's establishment passed immediately! Just as you predicted! Young Master, you are truly…"
"Ah, is that so? James, you came at the perfect time. Go right now and prepare what I asked you to look into. Money is no object, so do it as quickly as possible!"
"Yes! The investment funds have already been placed. Or should I go and look for additional companies now…"
"Find me the best cricket trainer in London."
"...Pardon? A cricket company?"
A dumbfounded question escaped James's lips, who had been preparing a torrent of praise for my uncanny foresight.
"No. Not a cricket company, a trainer. I've already laid the groundwork for the Factory Act, so I'm leaving that to you and Lord Wellesley."
"...Yes? Ah, yes. Well… I suppose that's fine…"
Great. Having reliable subordinates is such a comfort.
I'll leave the money-making to them for a while.
Leaving behind James, who was scurrying away despite his confusion, I ran back to Robert.
For now, it was time to put aside money games and politics and swing a bat.
My cricket skills were still rudimentary at best?
It didn't matter if I was good.
What mattered was that in this very moment, a momentous plan had just been born.