THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF WELFARE 877 
the people. There has been a conscious effort to preserve is concen- 
the welfare of the community, in all its various aspects, and the Welfare 
a tendency to disparage the ambition for national power jf the 
this finds its fullest expression in Socialism, but it has 
influenced publid opinion in many ways, and affected govern- 
mental action. There has at least been a noticeable change 
in the stress laid on these different objects. In 1850 
England had consciously discarded the old scheme for foster- 
ing the various factors of national power, but assiduous 
thought has been constantly given to the elements which 
go to constitute human welfare, and to the best means of 
attaining them either by State action or associated effort. It 
has been possible to trace the influence of philanthropic 
sentiment in checking abuses of many kinds, but it is not 
easy to delineate with any precision the positive conception 
of welfare on which it has been based. We are forced to 
separate it from the ideals of religion altogether, though 
these may do much to mould the personal attitude towards 
social duty’. Religious motives have done and may do much 
to stimulate to philanthropic action; but the aims which are 
comprised in the current ideals of welfare are purely mundane. 
They cannot be universal, similar for all human beings alike, 
but must be adapted to the temperament and conditions of 
different races; they cannot be eternal, since they concentrate 
attention on earthly existence. They offer a practical aim, andthe 
which is attractive to many whose enthusiasm is not kindled for real- 
by ideal objects. Among the conditions of welfare in human sng. 
life, a supply of the comforts and conveniences of life occupies 
a large place; the increase of material goods affords the 
possibility of leisure, and freedom from constant drudgery; 
these are conditions without which high national attainment 
in literature or science or art do not seem to be possible. 
Hence the classical political economy of Adam Smith and 
his successors has a permanent importance ; the causes of the 
wealth of nations, the increase of physical resources, and of 
1 On the different attitude taken to work-—as a matter of expediency or of 
duty—see Cunningham, Gospel of Work, p. 54. The influence of religiin is treated 
more generally by Professor Nicholson in his excellent chapter on the Relation of 
Political Economy to Morality and Christianity, in Principles, mm. 427. See also 
Cunningham, Modern Civilisation, 189.