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t on the fruits of their labour。 They were not rich as we understand wealth now； but they did not starve and they were not regarded with contempt； as are their successors of today。
‘The next great change came with the introduction of steam machinery。 That power came to the aid of mankind in their struggle for existence； enabling them to create easily and in abundance those things of which they had previously been able to produce only a bare sufficiency。 A wonderful power … equalling and surpassing the marvels that were imagined by the writers of fairy tales and Eastern stories … a power so vast … so marvellous； that it is difficult to find words to convey anything like an adequate conception of it。
‘We all remember the story； in The Arabian Nights； of Aladdin； who in his poverty became possessed of the Wonderful Lamp and … he was poor no longer。 He merely had to rub the Lamp … the Genie appeared； and at Aladdin's command he produced an abundance of everything that the youth could ask or dream of。 With the discovery of steam machinery； mankind became possessed of a similar power to that imagined by the Eastern writer。 At the command of its masters the Wonderful Lamp of Machinery produces an enormous； overwhelming； stupendous abundance and superfluity of every material thing necessary for human existence and happiness。 With less labour than was formerly required to cultivate acres； we can now cultivate miles of land。 In response to human industry； aided by science and machinery； the fruitful earth teems with such lavish abundance as was never known or deemed possible before。 If you go into the different factories and workshops you will see prodigious quantities of commodities of every kind pouring out of the wonderful machinery； literally like water from a tap。
‘One would naturally and reasonably suppose that the discovery or invention of such an aid to human industry would result in increased happiness and comfort for every one； but as you all know； the reverse is the case； and the reason of that extraordinary result； is the reason of all the poverty and unhappiness that we see around us and endure today … it is simply because … the machinery became the property of a comparatively few individuals and private companies； who use it not for the benefit of the community but to create profits for themselves。
‘As this labour…saving machinery became more extensively used； the prosperous class of skilled workers gradually disappeared。 Some of the wealthier of them became distributers instead of producers of wealth； that is to say； they became shopkeepers； retailing the commodities that were produced for the most part by machinery。 But the majority of them in course of time degenerated into a class of mere wage earners； having no property in the machines they used； and no property in the things they made。
‘They sold their labour for so much per hour； and when they could not find any employer to buy it from them； they were reduced to destitution。
‘Whilst the unemployed workers were starving and those in employment not much better off； the individuals and private companies who owned the machinery accumulated fortunes； but their profits were diminished and their working expenses increased by what led to the latest great change in the organization of the production of the necessaries of life … the formation of the Limited Companies and the Trusts； the decision of the private companies to combine and co…operate with each other in order to increase their profits and decrease their working expenses。 The results of these combines have been … an increase in the quantities of the things produced： a decrease in the number of wage earners employed … and enormously increased profits for the shareholders。
‘But it is not only the wage…earning class that is being hurt； for while they are being annihilated by the machinery and the efficient organization of industry by the trusts that control and are beginning to monopolize production； the shopkeeping classes are also being slowly but surely crushed out of existence by the huge companies that are able by the greater magnitude of their operations to buy and sell more cheaply than the small traders。
‘The consequence of all this is that the majority of the people are in a condition of more or less abject poverty … living from hand to mouth。 It is an admitted fact that about thirteen millions of our people are always on the verge of starvation。 The significant results of this poverty face us on every side。 The alarming and persistent increase of insanity。 The large number of would…be recruits for the army who have to be rejected because they are physically unfit； and the shameful condition of the children of the poor。 More than one…third of the children of the working classes in London have some sort of mental or physical defect； defects in development； defects of eyesight； abnormal nervousness； rickets； and mental dullness。 The difference in height and weight and general condition of the children in poor schools and the children of the so…called better classes； constitutes a crime that calls aloud to Heaven for vengeance upon those who are responsible for it。
‘It is childish to imagine that any measure of Tariff Reform or Political Reform such as a paltry tax on foreign…made goods or abolishing the House of Lords； or disestablishing the Church … or miserable Old Age Pensions； or a contemptible tax on land； can deal with such a state of affairs as this。 They have no House of Lords in America or France； and yet their condition is not materially different from ours。 You may be deceived into thinking that such measures as those are great things。 You may fight for them and vote for them； but after you have got them you will find that they will make no appreciable improvement in your condition。 You will still have to slave and drudge to gain a bare sufficiency of the necessaries of life。 You will still have to eat the same kind of food and wear the same kind of clothes and boots as now。 Your masters will still have you in their power to insult and sweat and drive。 Your general condition will be just the same as at present because such measures as those are not remedies but red herrings； intended by those who trail them to draw us away from the only remedy； which is to be found only in the Public Ownership of the Machinery； and the National Organization of Industry for the production and distribution of the necessaries of life； not for the profit of a few but for the benefit of all！
‘That is the next great change； not merely desirable； but imperatively necessary and inevitable！ That is Socialism！
‘It is not a wild dream of Superhuman Unselfishness。 No one will be asked to sacrifice himself for the benefit of others or to love his neighbours better than himself as is the case under the present system； which demands that the majority shall unselfishly be content to labour and live in wretchedness for the benefit of a few。 There is no such principle of Philanthropy in Socialism； which simply means that even as all industries are now owned by shareholders； and organized and directed by committees and officers elected by the shareholders； so shall they in future b