Who said: "are there no prisons? are there no workhouses?" Why did they say it?

Ebenezer Scrooge (in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" ) is credited with this gem. He was speaking to a couple of businessmen who were trying to collect money for the poor at Christmas. Scrooge declined, and uttered this quote to make the point that the poor were undeserving of any more than the prisons and workhouses provided at the time.

He was what we call "a mean man" :) But he was visited by 4 ghosts that night (including his ex business partner Jacob Marley) who scared the mean out of him.

Scrouge (Sp???) said it in "A Christmas Carol" originally to someone soliciting for charity. He suggested that the poor be sent to debtors prison... Later when he asked about Tiny Tim's welfare one of the Ghost quoted his own words back to him.

" "At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge", said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
"Are there no prisons?", asked Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons", said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?", demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still", returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?", said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course", said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude", returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when want is keenly felt, and abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing!", Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone", said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned—they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
"If they would rather die", said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides—excuse me—I don't know that."
"But you might know it", observed the gentleman.
"It's not my business", Scrooge returned. "It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!"
Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol/Stave_1

Ebenezer Scrooge. Fiction by Charles Dickens, but one thing was real: The UK was only good for the king/queen and the rich at that time. The UK had poorhouses, also called workhouses in the 1700's and early 1800's. Those who lived there had to work there, but many were old, sick and disabled, and could not. The workhouses were like Nazi Germany concentration camps, 100 years earlier, or like USSR labor camps in the 20th century. The UK state almost tried to kill off the poor by splitting up sexes and families, abusing them, torturing them and sending them into what almost was slavery and starvation. The workhouses were supposed to be bad so poor people should ned seek help from the UK state. The workhouses were said to be "voluntary", but today they would be considered a crime against humanity. Only the starving went there to starve.

Prisons were not better at that time, with hard penal labor. The prisoners had to work hard with and breaking rocks and running on treadwheels pumping water. Some were even sent to Australia for penal labor.

Conditions became much better during the late 1800's in both prisons and workhouses, with social liberal reforms, progressing democracy with expanded voting rights, more human value and that stuff.

It's interesting because the UK at that time threatened some humans in a way that in the 20th century only existed in totalitarian states.

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich

Every Libertarian. Ever.