The Oxford Obserber. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY JUNE 29TH, 1895

Oxford Observer, Volume VI, Issue VI, 29 June 1895, Page 2

The Oxford Obserber. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY JUNE 29TH, 1895

'■ : solunons of the. Unemployed social probes '' Varidite tmters, ifeom^^lntei toi timeJ^---^^-'^ ■* '^■^^"i^^wsi^ m ■ The evolutionary stages of liberty, and the events of every

■ r day life pass so rapidly and produces such kaleidoscopic changes that, methdds > which maybe suitable for -ibo day are unsuitable for the morrow. „ The mosaic cosmogony whisli declared man created to rule the forces of nature naturally emancipated the mind from superstitious fefcfs of. such forces. ■-■■ '„, I. .. ' Ther\, m England, the agilatioj and successful issue of the right of every ones own personality, and carried on through^ the Reformation to the, middle of lastcentury whjch^eed ma^f from the superstitious regard for established ; institutions. Then the advent of machinery which, if interpreted m its true sense, means the deliverance of man from' the necessity of arduous toil iif order to attain the means of satisfying a rational existence, and it is capable of working this deliverance by bringing under man's direction the boundless forces of nature. But everything depends on the use fco which wealth-producing machinery is put. Let it be assumed that the inventor has obtained a power, as free as the light, to utilise the revolving shafts of industry for the amelioration of labour and to benefit mankind. Unfortunately, it is not now an open question whether or not this ; conquest over nature will i? gain freedom from labour. Judging from the use that has been made of wealth obtained, chiefly, through the instrumentality of machinery, it -/> seems doubtful if possessions and petty ambitions of men will permit wealth to fulfil the mission to which it is called by the logic of history, or the attributes of true Christianity. The material of our social structure is yet of a plastic nature and may be. moulded to fit various desires, y ; If labour saving machinery lie used so as to provide absolute leisure for the few rather 'than* to save labour for the % many, then," sooner orlater, the 'overthrow of our adopted methods of civilization will be the inevitable - \. Stagnatipn~in business, com)nefciai crises, commercial depressions, are simply the forerunners of such a direful collapse. _.; •:, /.,_ ... ,;., . . ; The?. fsii§e ipjpijiciple that . .labour aught ±o cgyer j ail.Jthe • ,wak■k g,houipaioMi|eiiwail^ inftime,itb come be u-nMi^takeably abolish - a led. 51 - .rj.^^o j± 1 - ... .--;'-i;i • :t<J The 'burden 1 of ' toils .whichn s (>f ten- fel tin 'llrei'lasjt of 'tfie worlviiig day will "liave^'to A will be made : is ir not"Worth making. Vai ' 1 WeaffcH will; 'never perform 'it^^e^fft^e.ti^^liiifnjSl'ifc"' is; "so fpi excessive 'tou .^Jjall • cnsap- . The great problem is, Sow ,is this better distribution to be "^> is evident ;that ;the desire of a pleasant ; life must be made to supplant the (passion of accumiuktion. "Work/ thenj must be made worthy for ■'. tbe, .. s^ake of the present time; as 1 much ' as any*thinc else^is the^ development l>f tfie aD^hitiei ancflbeal duties orlne tovar^lß*eaeh^ other. It would then t>e ; ike[ gospel of tbea^ty^wKT^^ould shine infiftitel^Btipdriot toli th&j present duty, and ; would fit the requirements of our times, and enable life to bo

made happier, so that business would be made an adjunct to living rather than living an adjunct to business. Then the slavery of the business man to the fascination of his business would be broken, and men no longer continue to horde their millions; when the requirements of national living were effected, and having sufficiently provided for themselves, would step aside and give": opportunity to others. Every member of the human family should have the of enjoying the'ordinary of life, according to state, " : before any should indulge m its dainties, or luxuriate on its delicacies- • If we consider the social aspect of humanity m its proper light, no member of the body politic should be clothed with silk and broadcloth till shivering humanity has its nakedness necessari Ivj an d satisfactorily ' cloth - cd. Our much abused Liberal Government are deserving of every commendation for considering those whoso needs are greatest, and who are least of all m a position to defend themselves. The Government are endeav-