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relations with his men； the most care for their interests； and
the most value for their lives； will develop their effective
strength； through their affection for his own person； and trust
in his character； to a degree wholly unattainable by other means。
This law applies still more stringently as the numbers concerned
are larger： a charge may often be successful； though the men
dislike their officers； a battle has rarely been won； unless they
loved their general。
Passing from these simple examples to the more complicated
relations existing between a manufacturer and his workmen； we are
met first by certain curious difficulties； resulting； apparently；
from a harder and colder state of moral elements。 It is easy to
imagine an enthusiastic affection existing among soldiers for the
colonel。 Not so easy to imagine an enthusiastic affection among
cotton…spinners for the proprietor of the mill。 A body of men
associated for purposes of robbery （as a Highland clan in ancient
times） shall be animated by perfect affection； and every member
of it be ready to lay down his life for the life of his chief。
But a band of men associated for purposes of legal production and
accumulation is usually animated； it appears； by no such
emotions； and none of them are in any wise willing to give his
life for the life of his chief。 Not only are we met by this
apparent anomaly； in moral matters； but by others connected with
it； in administration of system。 For a servant or a soldier is
engaged at a definite rate of wages； for a definite period； but a
workman at a rate of wages variable according to the demand for
labour； and with the risk of being at any time thrown out of his
situation by chances of trade。 Now； as； under these
contingencies； no action of the affections can take place； but
only an explosive action of disaffections； two points offer
themselves for consideration in the matter。
The first How far the rate of wages may be so regulated as
not to vary with the demand for labour。
The second How far it is possible that bodies of workmen
may be engaged and maintained at such fixed rate of wages
（whatever the state of trade may be）； without enlarging or
diminishing their number； so as to give them permanent interest
in the establishment with which they are connected； like that of
the domestic servants in an old family； or an esprit de corps；
like that of the soldiers in a crack regiment。
The first question is； I say； how far it may be possible to
fix the rate of wages； irrespectively of the demand for labour。
Perhaps one of the most curious facts in the history of human
error is the denial by the common political economist of the
possibility of thus regulating wages； while； for all the
important； and much of the unimportant； labour； on the earth；
wages are already so regulated。
We do not sell our prime…ministership by Dutch auction； nor；
on the decease of a bishop； whatever may be the general
advantages of simony； do we （yet） offer his diocese to the
clergyman who will take the episcopacy at the lowest contract。 We
（with exquisite sagacity of political economy！） do indeed sell
commissions； but not openly； generalships： sick； we do not
inquire for a physician who takes less than a guinea； litigious；
we never think of reducing six…and…eight…pence to
four…and…sixpence； caught in a shower； we do not canvass the
cabmen； to find one who values his driving at less than sixpence
a mile。
It is true that in all these cases there is； and in every
conceivable case there must be； ultimate reference to the
presumed difficulty of the work； or number of candidates for the
office。 If it were thought that the labour necessary to make a
good physician would be gone through by a sufficient number of
students with the prospect of only half…guinea fees； public
consent would soon withdraw the unnecessary half…guinea。 In this
ultimate sense； the price of labour is indeed always regulated by
the demand for it； but； so far as the practical and immediate
administration of the matter is regarded； the best labour always
has been； and is； as all labour ought to be； paid by an
invariable standard。
〃What！〃 the reader perhaps answers amazedly： 〃pay good and
bad workmen alike？〃
Certainly。 The difference between one prelate's sermons and
his successor's or between one physician's opinion and
another's is far greater； as respects the qualities of mind
involved； and far more important in result to you personally；
than the difference between good and bad laying of bricks （though
that is greater than most people suppose）。 Yet you pay with equal
fee； contentedly； the good and bad workmen upon your soul； and
the good and bad workmen upon your body； much more may you pay；
contentedly； with equal fees； the good and bad workmen upon your
house。
〃Nay； but I choose my physician and （？） my clergyman； thus
indicating my sense of the quality of their work。〃 By all means；
also； choose your bricklayer； that is the proper reward of the
good workman； to be 〃chosen。〃 The natural and right system
respecting all labour is； that it should be paid at a fixed rate；
but the good workman employed； and the bad workman unemployed。
The false； unnatural； and destructive system is when the bad
workman is allowed to offer his work at half…price； and either
take the place of the good； or force him by his competition to
work for an inadequate sum。
This equality of wages； then； being the first object toward
which we have to discover the directest available road； the
second is； as above stated； that of maintaining constant numbers
of workmen in employment； whatever may be the accidental demand
for the article they produce。
I believe the sudden and extensive inequalities of demand；
which necessarily arise in the mercantile operations of an active
nation； constitute the only essential difficulty which has to be
overcome in a just organization of labour。 The subject opens into
too many branches to admit of being investigated in a paper of
this kind； but the following general facts bearing on it may be
noted。
The wages which enable any workman to live are necessarily
higher； if his work is liable to intermission； than if it is
assured and continuous； and however severe the struggle for work
may become； the general law will always hold； that men must get
more daily pay if； on the average； they can only calculate on
work three days a week than they would require if they were sure
of work six days a week。 Supposing