2. From that mass of pauperism which I have described, which lives on the rates and seems to have such a horrible mystery of propagation.

3. From the terrible, unparalleled power of degradation which, with increasing tyranny, is wielded by strong drink. And,

4. From the deficiency of incitements, moral and material, to thrift and ambition among the working classes.

FIRST DANGER: THE RELATION OF THE
WORKING MAN TO POLITICS AND CAPITAL.

danger

tion of the

man to

and

The first danger, you will observe, is both First political and social. Of this I might say the relaenough to occupy a whole lecture. It has workingmany branches. There is, for instance, the politics agricultural labourer question. The resurrec- capital. tion of hinds-living half on the rates and half on a pittance the bare mention of which stirs your compassion, the slaves without being the property of their masters, ought

Effects of

the agricultural labourers'

resurrec

tion.

now to be a familiar story to you. I have never seen anything that has so moved me as I have been moved when I have stood by and watched these hopeless sons of toil, long blinded to their rights and possibilities of improvement, opening their eyes to the blessed dawn of a better day under the stirring eloquence of Joseph Arch. When they began to gather from him the encouraging assurance that there were privileges of manhood which they might assert, and opportunities to win a better future for their children, it was infinitely pitiful, yet, O how gladdening!-to hear them blurting out their awakening ideas and half-timid yet invincible resolves.

This movement must lead to important changes in English agriculture. It will alter the system of tenancy-it may cause the conversion of a great deal of arable land into pasturage; it will quicken emigration. Above all, it is a Radical movement when the agricultural labourer gets the franchise, and must give impetus to the political and social changes impending in Great Britain.

XXXIV.

THE TRADES UNIONS.

Trades

Hand-in-glove with the Agricultural The Unions are the great Trades Unions in Unions. the towns, numbering hundreds of thousands of members, with incomes of many thousands of pounds. In their contest with capital these Unions are very powerful-in their political combination they have been, as yet, weak and unsuccessful. They have wanted clear political aims-sound political judgment -trust in their leaders—and too often leaders whom they could trust. Hence they have readily exposed themselves to the gibes of the satirical journals of the privileged classes, or to the wanton and savage needle-thrusts of social cynics like Mr. W. R. Greg. But they are gradually emerging from the valley of shadows, they can already discern the antiquated giants of privilege, trembling and biting their nails with futile anger; and they will go on, prepared by experience and enlightened by education, to victorious contests and a better life.

The battle

between

labour.

XXXV.

THE BATTLE BETWEEN CAPITAL AND
LABOUR.

Capitalist and Unionist are cutting each

capital and other's throats in England, as they are the world over. The former has not yet learned that the conditions of contract are changed for ever, and that slavery at a low price can no longer be had for love or money. The Unionist, pressing for his rights, and too often ignorant of the real limits of those rights, asks too much or grasps it too eagerly, and threatens to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Every allowance must be made for men who after centuries of injustice and of ignorance are made suddenly alive to their opportunities, but I, who sympathise with them and work with them, warn them not to go too fast and too far. So surely as they do, the reaction will come, with fatal retribution. Those who, from other classes, take part with them in this great struggle, spite of

their occasional wrong-doing, their blindness, and their suspicions, are truer conservatives than the men who with sharp, cruel, and bitter words make light of their complaints, laugh at their claims, abuse their ignorance, and attempt to vindicate the arrogant and untenable claims of privilege and money.

On both sides we need firmness and moderation. The old conditions, the old relations of capital and labour, are to be changed, are now changing. Some better methods of apportioning their respective profits must inevitably be devised.

tion and

partner

Large establishments are now successfully Co-operaconducted in England on the principle of co- Industria operation or of Industrial Partnerships. I ships. understand that the great steel works in course of erection at Glasgow, under the supervision of Mr. Michael Scott, who has given to this subject considerable attention, and has also tested it in practice, are to be managed on the Industrial Partnership principle.

crisis.

Every capitalist at this crisis-nay, I The would say every friend of humanity,—should