THE HUMANITARIANS AND ROBERT OWEN 747 
there were signs of a determination to treat human welfare, AD Je 
in all its aspects, physical and moral, as an object of which 
definite and direct account should be taken by Parliament in 
the work of legislation. : 
The elements of which human welfare consists are very an Yarn 
various, and there have been and are very different views afiera 
current of the relative importance of the factors which con- pio 
tribute towards it. Material conditions, and personal faculties ife, 
and character, react on one another; there may be great 
diversity of opinion as to the best starting-point to take in 
trying to introduce improvement. Even greater difficulties 
arise in regard to the means to be adopted; the habits and 
character of the individual are to a large extent formed by 
the society in which he lives; while it is also true that the 
tone and institutions of society can be modified by the 
individuals of whom it is composed. Wide divergences in 
regard to social questions of every sort are likely to follow 
from differences of opinion, or inability to form opinions, on 
the relations of Man and his environment, and on the mutual 
connections between human society and individual lives. 
But those who disagree on fundamental principles may yet 
chance to find themselves, from time to time, in the same 
camp They may agree that a step should be taken in some 
definite direction, possibly for incompatible reasons, and 
because they cherish opposite anticipations as to the results 
to be expected. The advocates of any movement for social 
amelioration may have very different views as to the precise 
importance of the object which they desire; and there may 
also be casual conjunction among the opponents of a proposed 
change. Even those who are most closely agreed, in their 
aims and objects, may be much divided on questions of 
expediency, and have very different views as to the wisest 
course to pursue at particular junctures. As the force of the “Ei work 
laissez faire movement was dissipated, a fusion of conflicting conditions 
principles and views occurred, and a new body of legislation 
on social and industrial topics eventually emerged; but it is 
difficult to assess the precise influence of each of the distinct 
parties, and groups, in shaping the course that was actually 
taken. The intervention of the Legislature was experimental