xxiv ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 439 



tion to the fact that, both throughout the country and to 

 a still greater extent in London, deaths in workhouses, 

 hospitals, and other public charitable institutions had 

 been steadily increasing since 1875. A reference to the 

 Annual Summaries of deaths in London shows the in- 

 crease to have been continuous from 1860 to 1890, the 

 five-year periods giving the following results : 



In 1860-65 of total deaths in London, 16 '2 per cent, occurred in 



charitable institutions. 

 1866-70 (110 material at hand). 

 1871-75 of total deaths in London, 17*4 

 1876-80 ,, ,, 18-6 



1881-85 ,, ,, 21-1 



1886-90 ,, ,, 23-4 



1891-95 ,, ,, 26-7 



When we add to this the admitted facts, that organized 

 charity has greatly increased during the same period, 

 while the press still teems with records of the most 

 terrible destitution, of suicides from the dread of starva- 

 tion, and deaths directly caused or indirectly due to want, 

 we are brought face to face with a mass of human 

 wretchedness that is absolutely appalling in its magnitude. 

 And all this time Royal and Parliamentary Commissions 

 have been inquiring and reporting, Mansion House and 

 other Committees have been collecting funds and relieving 

 distress at every exceptional period of trouble, emigration 

 has been actively at work, improved dwellings have been 

 provided, and education has been systematically urged on, 

 with the final result that one-fourth of all the deaths in 

 the richest city in the world occur in workhouses, hospitals, 

 &c., and, in addition, unknown thousands die in their 

 miserable garrets and cellars from various forms of slow 

 or rapid starvation. 



Can a state of society which leads to this result be 

 called civilization ? Can a government which, after a 

 century of continuous reforms and gigantic labours and 

 struggles, is unable to organize society so that every willing 

 worker may earn a decent living, be called a successful 

 government? Is it beyond the wit of man to save a 

 large proportion of one of the most industrious people in 



