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Article THE GENERAL ASSURANCE ADVOCATE. ← Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The General Assurance Advocate.
wages , and are exposed to the immediate consequences of every check of commerce , every fluctuation of the labour market . They have no surety against next week ' s or next month's utter destitution ancl ruin . They are at the best free and independent men—outside the walls of a prison or a workhouse , by the sufferance of circumstances which a breath of adversity may dispel . They have no ties which interest them
in the permanence of society as it is at present constituted . They have no permanent hold upon , or interest in , the growing wealth of the world , and but little to make them wish for its preservation or security . " Very true , " say those who recognize these facts , " but how is this monster evil to be overcome ? How is this giant difficulty to be conquered ? What are your materials for carrying on the struggle ? AA'here
is your machinery for bringing them into operation ? " And no sooner are these questions asked , than there arises around us the confused , jarring , discordant Babel of political , party war-cries , by which the vexed ear of the bewildered world is stunned and confused . The suffrage—the ballot—short parliaments—equal electoral districts—no property qualifications—equal rights—education—free
trade—employment of labour—protection to native industry—new churches , and all the other sounds round which parties and classes rally , are shouted at either ear . It is not within our province to discuss the positive or
comparative merits of any of these questions ; but of this we are assured , that with all of them , or none of them , whichever may triumph , or whichever succumb , the material prosperity , the intellectual advancement , and the social happiness of the people of this or any other country , will never be assured until they have a fixed hold upon—a real interest in—the property of the country .
That is the great object to he scientifically ancl peacefully accomplished . Until then every fresh accession of wealth will add to the weight pressing upon the people . Until then every advance in manufacturing knowledge , every augmentation of capital , will serve to create fresh competition , and that , in its turn , will depreciate labour . Not until then will the riches of the mass lighten the individual burdens of
the many , or add to the happiness and contentment of the workers . A celebrated mathematician once said , that if he had but a fixed independent atom as the fulcrum for his lever , he could move the world , without that he was powerless . That is the condition of the labourers they are struggling in the world of competition without an independent footing ; their strength is vast , their capabilities are immense , their
resources in their practical knowledge , energy , and industry , are almost unbounded . They are the creators of the world's wealth , the makers of all its luxury , and are able to double or treble their productiveness ; but without a fixed and definite claim to something tangible , to some-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The General Assurance Advocate.
wages , and are exposed to the immediate consequences of every check of commerce , every fluctuation of the labour market . They have no surety against next week ' s or next month's utter destitution ancl ruin . They are at the best free and independent men—outside the walls of a prison or a workhouse , by the sufferance of circumstances which a breath of adversity may dispel . They have no ties which interest them
in the permanence of society as it is at present constituted . They have no permanent hold upon , or interest in , the growing wealth of the world , and but little to make them wish for its preservation or security . " Very true , " say those who recognize these facts , " but how is this monster evil to be overcome ? How is this giant difficulty to be conquered ? What are your materials for carrying on the struggle ? AA'here
is your machinery for bringing them into operation ? " And no sooner are these questions asked , than there arises around us the confused , jarring , discordant Babel of political , party war-cries , by which the vexed ear of the bewildered world is stunned and confused . The suffrage—the ballot—short parliaments—equal electoral districts—no property qualifications—equal rights—education—free
trade—employment of labour—protection to native industry—new churches , and all the other sounds round which parties and classes rally , are shouted at either ear . It is not within our province to discuss the positive or
comparative merits of any of these questions ; but of this we are assured , that with all of them , or none of them , whichever may triumph , or whichever succumb , the material prosperity , the intellectual advancement , and the social happiness of the people of this or any other country , will never be assured until they have a fixed hold upon—a real interest in—the property of the country .
That is the great object to he scientifically ancl peacefully accomplished . Until then every fresh accession of wealth will add to the weight pressing upon the people . Until then every advance in manufacturing knowledge , every augmentation of capital , will serve to create fresh competition , and that , in its turn , will depreciate labour . Not until then will the riches of the mass lighten the individual burdens of
the many , or add to the happiness and contentment of the workers . A celebrated mathematician once said , that if he had but a fixed independent atom as the fulcrum for his lever , he could move the world , without that he was powerless . That is the condition of the labourers they are struggling in the world of competition without an independent footing ; their strength is vast , their capabilities are immense , their
resources in their practical knowledge , energy , and industry , are almost unbounded . They are the creators of the world's wealth , the makers of all its luxury , and are able to double or treble their productiveness ; but without a fixed and definite claim to something tangible , to some-