LAW IN POLITICS. 411 



portant illustrations of the Reign of Law which 

 these phenomena afford. 



A moment's consideration will convince us that 

 the same necessities of labour which were found to 

 determine so fatally the condition of women and 

 children, are necessities which apply without any 

 abatement to the labour of adult men. They must 

 be subject to the same pressure of inducements. 

 Nay more, it is only through them that this pres- 

 sure can reach the women who are their wives, 

 and the children who are their children. If over- 

 powering motives did not equally determine the 

 conduct and condition of adult men, no legislation 

 would have been required for the protection of their 

 families. If a man is placed under such conditions 

 that he cannot save his wife and child from exhaust- 

 ing labour, it is certain that the same conditions will 

 impose a like necessity upon himself. Nevertheless, 

 Parliament has resolutely and wisely refused to 

 interfere on his behalf. And why ? Because the 

 argument is that the adult man is able or ought 

 to be able to defend himself. And so he can, but 

 how ? Only by combination. The " law " which 

 results in excessive labour is the law of competi- 



