WHAT ONLOOKERS THINK OF FREE-TRADE 51 



to demand a change in our Corn Laws, only about seven 

 millions were raised in poor-rates, wliile the incidence per head 

 of population was only 5s. 9d. 



In 1895-96 the amount raised was over twenty-six millions, 

 and the incidence per head rose to 13.s. 5d. ; in 1901 it was 

 found necessary to raise as much as thirty millions with an 

 incidence of 14s, Sd. ; in 1904-5 nearly thirty-five millions 

 were required, with a still liiglier charge per head of population 

 of 16s. 2d. ; while in 1907 thirty-seven and a half millions wore 

 raised, with a charge per head of population of lis. 2d. 



And it is ever thus : growing pauperism, increased un- 

 employment, rising taxes, and no hope at the end of it all. 



How WE HAVE Blundered 



That we have gravely blundered in the management of our 

 affairs there is no doubt. That we are perpetuating the blunder 

 by continuing to hold on to a policy that has failed, is also clear. 

 That the strain will continue, the condition of the people 

 remain unimproved, and the tax-payers' millions be squandered 

 in vain, becomes a matter of certainty. Two things may inter- 

 vene to avert this undesirable and monstrously unjust state of 

 affairs — a recognition by Parliament of the necessities of the 

 situation, and a combination of the two great dominating parties 

 to relieve the position, or a general awakening of the great 

 Middle-Classes party to a becoming sense of their own power 

 and responsibilities and to the necessity of combined action in 

 self-defence. 



That the country will witness a coalition of political parties 

 in the House, or out of it, so that the people's interests might be 

 served, is as unlikely as that oil will mingle with water; and 

 any hope in that direction would, therefore, be futile. 



Middle-Classes to the Eescue 



That this vast Middle-Classes party may at length assert 

 itself is not so improbable. It has, it is true, hitherto been 

 wedged between the eternally opposed forces of Aristocracy and 

 Democracy, and has thus been a negligible quantity in national 

 politics, but there are many indications to-day of its awakening ; 

 and when this immense body changes its potentialities into a 

 mighty moving force, who shall say what may not happen ? 



This ]\Iiddle-Classes party has hitherto been a scattered mass, 

 lacking coherence, and as voiceless in the councils of State as a 

 deaf mute ; but bind the scattered parts together by aihnity of 

 interests, weld them into a whole by the mutual instinct of self- 

 defence ; drill, discipline, and train them to combined action in 



