1)4 W. CUNNINGHAM, D.D., ARCHDEACON OP ELY, ON 



impoverishment has followed, and that instead of being the centre 

 of manufacturing industries as was the case half a century ago, we 

 have fallen back to a minor position as compared with neighbouring 

 •states Let us adopt the policy of Germany's great statesman and 

 we shall recover our position. 



Dr. Cunningham then expressed his thanks to the Council of 

 the Victoria Institute for having given him this opportunity of 

 setting down his views on this important subject, and all those 

 present for their reception of what he had had to say. 



He had been extremely interested in the discussion, particularly 

 in the remarks of Mr. Spencer. He thought there was on the one 

 band a duty to deal with existing distress, and on the other to try 

 to introduce improvements in the economic system of the country. 

 It was because he believed that a change in the fiscal system of the 

 •country would do much to give better conditions and increase the 

 opportunities of welfare — in a way that he did not think Socialism 

 would ever do — that he felt it to be his Christian duty to take an 

 active part on behalf of Tariff Reform. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



Chancellor Lias writes : — No one can help being struck with 

 the pitiable condition of many a worker, as described so forcibly by 

 my friend Mr. Spencer, nor can one dispute for a moment the 

 ■correctness of his view that as long as things are in the condition 

 he has described so long will Socialists continue to gain a hearing 

 for their theories. If one were disposed to criticise what he said, 

 it would be in the direction of contending that it is not Christianity, 

 but Christians, who are responsible for the condition of many a 

 worker at the present time. Christianity has unquestionably 

 improved the whole condition of the world in thousands of ways. 

 But that improvement has gone on, and is destined to go on, very 

 .slowly ; God's ways are not our ways. He has eternity to work in, 

 and He takes care to make up to mankind in another world for 

 their sufferings here. But Mr. Spencer is doubtless right in his 

 contention that every Christian will have a heavy account to give 

 in the next world if he does not do all that in him lies to do away 

 ivith the hardships his poorer brethren are compelled to sufi'er here. 



