218 THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE v 



which our industrial population live, to amend the 

 drainage of densely jDeopled streets, to provide 

 baths, washhouses, and gymnasia, to facilitate 

 habits of thrift, to furnish some provision for 

 instruction and amusement in i^ublic libraries and 

 the like, is not only desirable from a philanthropic 

 point of view, but an essential condition of safe 

 industrial development, appears to me to be indis- 

 putable. It is by such means alone, so far as I 

 can see, that we can hope to check the constant 

 gravitation of industrial society towards la misere, 

 until the general progTess of intelligence and 

 morality leads men to grapple with the sources of 

 that tendency. If it is said that the carrying out 

 of such arrangements as those indicated must 

 enhance the cost of production, and thus handicap 

 the producer in the race of competition, I venture, 

 in the first place, to doubt the fact ; but if it be 

 so, it results that industrial society has to face 

 a dilemma, either alternative of which threatens 

 destruction. 



On the one hand, a population the labour of which 

 is sufficiently remunerated may be physically and 

 morally healthy and socially stable, but may fail 

 in industrial competition by reason of the dearness 

 of its produce. On the other hand, a population 

 the labour of which is insufficiently remunerated 

 must become physically and morally unhealthy, and 

 socially unstable ; and though it may succeed for 

 a while in industrial competition, by reason of the 



