August 17th 1839: Day Six of the Grand National Holiday against the smooth faced men
On 12th August 1839 the Chartists called a Grand National Holiday, a month long general strike to bring down capitalism. It had a good deal of popular support, it did actually happen but ultimately could not be sustained.
A key populariser of the idea was the veteran radical William Benbow 1787-1864. He had toured industrial districts in 1838 and 1839 speaking at meetings.
The Northern Star for 1st June 1839 captured part of a ‘spirited and excellent speech’ he made at a packed meeting at the Stanley Arms Inn in Stockport.
Benbow directed his speech ‘exclusively to the industrious classes and not to those middle-men, those smooth faced..men who had sold the people to the Aristocracy and would sell God himself if he could be personified on earth’.
Clearly Benbow had in mind not just the exploitation of employers but also their appearance.
Appearance was important to the Chartists. Chartist leader Feargus O’Connor often addressed supporters as those wearing fustian jackets and having unshorn chins. Surviving drawings of Benbow suggest he as clean shaven but evidently not smooth faced.
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