Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 75

Make the Working Man Independent

Make the Working Man Independent,

their sole desire is to render him absolutely dependent, and to put him in a position where he must go to the Government for the means of existence, which he will only get if he belongs to "the party" and will vote to keep them in power.

Where the Government have made their failure, is in the fact that their legislation has been class legislation. There has been no thought of the country, but only of the "Great Liberal Party." They appear to be unaware that the co-operation of all classes is necessary for the public good, and they are now-, by costly "experimental legislation," gaining the knowledge which they should have acquired in their schooldays.

No class will suffer so much as the class they profess to serve, as against all the rest. Statesmen might be expected to have known that such Acts as "The Workmen's and Contractors' Liens Act," and "The Factories Act," especially, play directly into the hands of the capitalists and monopolists. The only chance the wage-earner has of rising is by becoming a small contractor or a small manufacturer, but these Acts are directly against these classes, and the tables given above clearly prove that they are already fast going out of existence. None but men of considerable capital can comply with the provisions of the "Labour Legislation." and therefore it really works in the interests of the capitalists and not of the workers.

This is so apparent to all who are accustomed to study these subjects, that it is difficult to believe in the sincerity of the Ministry, and it raises the question whether their real object is not to foster monopolies and introduce the Tammany system. If they are sincere, then they exhibit such a deplorable want of knowledge that it is to be hoped the country will never again entrust them with office.

The surface appearance of prosperity during the past few years has been brought about by the expenditure of over £6,000,000 of borrowed money. When that is over we shall find out where we are.

Summary of what we have gained in six years by the "Progressive Legislation" of the