136 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



The following paper was read by W. A. Douglas, B.A., on 

 "The Antagonism of Social Forces." 



Wlien Adam Smith pointed out what a vast advantage accrues to 

 mankind from tlie division of labour, he first gave a clear indication 

 of the grand harmonies existing in society. Other writers have 

 followed in the same direction, and with much beauty and eloquence 

 have pointed out what an inestimaVjle blessing society is to itself. 

 This department of economics has received very am])le treatment. 

 Indeed, so much has the attention of writers been fixed on these 

 harmonies that a very large majority teach either explicitly or by 

 implication that harmony prevails throughout all our social organi- 

 zation, for they make no mention of antagonisms. 



Some writers, indeed, go so far,as to deny that there ai-e antagon- 

 isms, and the few who liave noticed and pointed out their existence 

 have done so in a manner much more brief and meagre than their 

 importance deserves. 



In his celebrated illustration of the pin-makers. Smith showed that 

 by the sub-division of labour the product was increased between two 

 and three hundred-fold. In the same way the nail-makers' product 

 is also increased. When, therefore, the pin-maker exchanges with 

 the nail-maker each gives more and each receives moi e, each enriches 

 and each is enriched—the benefit is mutual. This is harmonious 

 trade — toil for toil, burden for Ijunlen, service for service, rewai'd 

 for reward, eniichment for enrichment. 



I shall endeavour to show (first) that there exists another kind of 

 trade, not harmonious — mutually enriching, but antagonistic — eni'ich- 

 ing one by the impoverishment of another ; and (second) that this 

 antagonistic trade is one of the most important factors in determin- 

 ing the condition of the bulk of humanity. 



To prove the existence of such antagonism I ask attention to the 

 following question : 



In what length of time could society, by the utmost exertion of 

 industr}^ and frugality, accumulate sufficient supplies to maintain all 

 succeeding generations fi-ee from toil ? Obviously never. Each sea- 

 soxi brings its share of toil, and each year we consume the bulk of 

 the jn'oduct. Wonderful as have been the applications of steam and 

 electricity, we have no indication that humanity will ever be 

 exempted from toil. The physical law is inexorable : " By the sweat 



