The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-05-31

portant fact: the amount paid per indlyid-
S49.j0. 1t is evident that this difference
does not arise from any corresponding i'll
crease i'll the price of provisions; may we
not infer thlt it does arise from an increase
of the articles now regarded rs necessary to
human comfort? Mr.. Bonamy Price states
that it costs to maintain l 900 poor in Lon
don five times us much as it did in 1915
Political Economy. page 23D: that this
increase of cost is due, in part, to the popu-
lar estimate of what is needful for human
comfort. We see the same popular estimate
here i'll the cost of erecting and maintaining
our penal, reiormatory and charitable insti-
tutions. 1t is stated that by the use of MI
chinery men become povcrty-stricken, and
so are led into crime: but the Stati tics of
Great Britain show the reverse. In 1862 the
total commitments of criminals for trial in
the United Kingdom were 80, POI, while in
1876, with an increase of 4,365, 900 popula-
ton, the commitments were only ~ ,931
The decrease was nearly uniform in Eng
land, Ireland and Scotland What shall we
infer from this, that justice is not so vigi-
liant now as in 1862, or that from some cause
there is less crime? Manite,tly the latter
RESUME
From this review we arrive at the follow
ing conclusions
o. That the havings of to-day are far
greater than in the past.
CO. That the earnings of the present are
greater than in 1860
CD That the cost of articles that enter
to our earnings.
(l) That the mass of the people are bet
ter fed, clothed, housed, and in possession
of more Of the comforts of life, than at any
other period
o. That the change has been brought
about by the development OF the forces of
nature through discovery, invention, the
use of machinery, and the harmonious work
ing of capital and labor
Co., That capital and labor, instead of
being antagonistic, are naturally helpful,
and that any conflict between them is
brought about by elements beyond the con-
troll of either acting separately.
o. That there are three such clements
discovery, invention and fashion.
(S.) That the laws of progress will ever
require reimbursement of labor; that men
will ever be forced to abandon old and seek
new occupations.
o. That every advance in invention will
demand a higher degree of intelligence, re-
qniring a higher education.
(l0.) That men must accommodate them
selves to the laws of progress or he crushed
by them.
Let me not be misunderstood No legis-
lative enactment can alter or amend the
laws which underlie progress amy more than
they can protect the man who happens TO
stand i'll the path of the thunderbolt. as
Sert with emphasis that under those laws
labor will ever he compelled to seek new
occupation, while capital will ever be ami
hilated. They are beneficcnt laws. The
fire that burns up my hard earnings is The
fire that drives the engine that enables me
to accumulate earnings. The water that
turns my mill sweeps it away The power
that builds is the power that destroys, and
must accommodate myself to it,
Il.) That under those laws there has
been !, general diffusion OF wealth: that
while the rich may lie growing richer, the
poor are not necessarily growing poorer.
G2.) That commercial disaster may come
in the future as it has in the past.
OBJ Thlt the popular estimate of what
is neetlful for human comfort is higher to-
day than in the past.
(li.) That though under the Use of ma
chinery men may he compelled to seek
other occupations, each invention cnlarseS
he sphere of labor.
CJ) That pauperiSn and crime, instead
of being on the increase, are on the decrease.
(16) That the human race, through the
employment of the forces of nature, is NOV
ing ever on to a higher plane OF civilization.