The sun., 1894-03-25
Tho Relation OF Machinery to CONNER.
oial aud Industrial Depression.

The benefits derived from the use o, ma
chinery have thus far outnumbered the dis
advantages. and there has been sufficient
employment In most countries for the
major part OF the people; yet there have
, beon serious industrial dislocations con-
sequent upon the adoption OF new proc
esses by which the industrial and
commercial interests OF great popula-
tions have been revolutionized. and in
tense suffering brought to displaced arti-
sans and laborers. A notable example Of
thi. is found in the effect OF Euro
pean machinery upon the hand-loom indus
try OF India, whereby millions OF handi-
craftsmen were forced into the already con-
Eested ranks of agricultural labor. Thus.
closing the present account. balance may
appear to the credit Of machinery: but what
OF the future2 Indeed. what OF the pres
ent ? And what part has machinery played
In bringing about the Industrial worlds
present unsatisfactory condition 2
Under the old Industrial regime. exchanges
were slow aud Of small volume, nearly
every country providing the food It's people
consumed. the greater part OF the textiles
worn. and the metals used. It was not until
feudalism died and industrialism found
home In tho free clties. that mans inventive
faculties were brought into constant use
other than as an aid TO the armed hand of
the ruler. The decay OF feudalism was
colncident with the development OF in-
dustrialism. with the birth OF civic freedom.
and with an enormous increase OF mechan-
ical aids to labor.
Estimating the power of steam, and
exhibiting its bene1cence. by showing the
numbers Of men and horses to which its
applications are equivalent. haS been. and
still Is. favorite employment with those
who ever prate OF +" the progress OF the race
and the march OF improvement" Few
think 1t worth their while to attempt TO
measure either the present. proximate, or
ultimate effect OF such tremendous forces
upon individual and national welfare, and
what must be the inevitable result II this
"march OF improvement continues with
out a commensurate increase OF the indi-
Vidual power to consume. on the part OF the
great mass OF the populations. That mass Is
made up OF wage earners and eultiyators,
and constitutes at least four-fifths, and
probably nlne-tenths. of the worlds con-
sumers OF the products OF manufacture.
Nor do these optimists ever stop to inquire
II such an increase Of consumptiVe power
Is probable or even possible.
Fortunately for those living In the nine
tssnth century, they came upon the stage
at time when great part OF eaFth's most
productive areas. such as temperate Nor tn
and South America, Australia. and a part
OF South Africa. was being subdued;
when new regions were sffording ample
scope for enterprise and homes. and employ
ment for the immense swarIns yearly leav-
Ing the European hive; when countries
were being developed exceptionally produe-
tive OF all the precious and useful metals,
and. more important than all else. assuring,
by their ability TO grow great surplus OF
food and fibre. the comfort Of the new pop
ulations and those remaining In the anees-
tral lands. That Is. conditions have been
the most favorable possible for q great and
uhOliy Gne1Ampled increase Of Agricultural.