THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 59 



And as he felt so ought we to feel. Bitter disappointment, pro- 

 found dissatisfaction and keen distress are ever with us. 



Let us ask why ? 



We have much to gratify us. The pauper of to-day can see 

 sights of beauty in art ; can enjoy comforts and luxuries impossible 

 to a Tudor prince. Asphalt pavements, electric lights, etc., are free 

 to the pauper ; the prince of the olden time waded in darkness through 

 mud. But with all our advance something vital is lacking in our 

 progress, the chalice of civilization has bitterness in its aftertaste. 



Political freedom, education, invention, schemes for enjoyment 

 to the full, abundance of things to delight the eye and please the ear ; 

 with all such blessings to the full, we despond; our hearts sink with 

 fears at evils yet to come. We are disappointed, dissatisfied, 

 distressed. 



We ask why ; do we really care to know ? A sick child loathes 

 physic, and we sick children of an unhealthy civilization shrink from 

 knowledge of our malady and put away from us any suggestion of 

 real remedy. 



We would charge with insanity the occupants of a house if they 

 refused to regard evidences of fatal defect in the foundation ; if they 

 were so intent on decorating the reception rooms, the living rooms, 

 the library and the picture gallery, that they bestowed no attention 

 on the critical condition of the foundation walls, and the soil on 

 which they rested. Tapestries and works of art may conceal cracks 

 in the walls they cover, but they do not repair them, much less affect 

 their cause. And we vainly hope to uplift society by arts and occu- 

 pation that do not recognize the depths to which we are surely 

 sinking. 



What shall be our first task ? Sink our social foundation walls 

 to the bed-rock of justice ? or shall we go on geologising, photograph- 

 ing, studying ancient history or gravely collecting relics ? All these 

 are excellent in their place, but their proper place is in a society 

 securely planted on justice. They are the decorations of our earthly 

 home. The firmness, security and stability of that home is our first 

 consideration. 



Planted on justice ! Is our civilization thus happily situated ? 

 Are man's rights recognized, asserted and secured by our social 

 organization ? 



