Friendly Societies, State Action, and the Poor-law. 161 
necessaries of life. An illustration of the security of his posi- 
tion is afforded by his lot being in no respects the worse, and 
in some degree improved, during a decade, the greater part of 
which has been disastrous to English agriculture. 
The class of labourers ^1Kihin range of the Poor-law is 
constantly receivinsr its accessions and sustaining its secessions, 
the effect of which is to keep it pretty much at a uniform level 
of intelligence and ability. Owing to the recklessness and 
profligacy of some who belong to a higher social grade, there is 
a gravitation downwards in the community which sooner or 
later settles in the lees of the peasantry, not much to the ad- 
vantage of any one concerned. On the other hand, the labourers 
are constantly losing their best men, who make their way to 
positions in life according to their ability, and the " time and 
chance which happeneth to all men." Emigration, the proper 
outlet for surplus population, draws away from the old country 
a few of the best of them. One could wish that emigration 
would rid it of more of the indolent and dishonest, who, how- 
ever, are chary about leaving their native land. Those who 
compose the bulk of the class are men who are fully entitled to 
a comfortable home and their own fireside as long as they live. 
That adversity may come, and the distress exceed the ability 
for self-extrication, gives them a claim for the help sufficient for 
their need from poor rate and charity, and assistance thus 
rendered cannot degrade the object of it. There are also many 
who, from infirmity of mind, or body, or illness, require the 
care of the Asylum or Union-hospital, and will need help from 
the rate, being persons who under no circumstances could insure 
for sickness-pay and burial-money. But, more than this, the 
labouring classes of this country, principally agricultural, are 
not, and probably never will be, able to dispense with assistance 
of a different kind to that which is drawn from charity or the 
rate. They want protection and care to enable them to secure 
that which of themselves they cannot obtain, and which "State 
action " should put in their way. And my plea on their part is, 
that they, having sufficient means to maintain the undisturbed 
occupation of their homes so long as the breath remains in their 
bodies, are, for want of such assistance, unable to secure their 
undoubted and just claims. I take the efforts which the labourer 
makes to secure his welfare by means of the principle which, 
next to religion, seems to be the most powerful and vigorous in 
this country, self-provision by mutual help, and record their 
failure. He joins a benefit club lor relief in sickness, for pro- 
vision in old age (sufficient to keep him out of the workhouse), 
and a sum to pay the funeral expenses, and the small outstand- 
ing accounts which he may owe in addition to the debt of 
VOL. XVIII. — S. S. M 
