The power 
of labour 
8 shown 
in the 
Wa 
nolicies of 
bingland 
her 
rolonies. 
md in the 
Tevelop- 
ment of 
Trade 
Tnions. 
Friendly. 
and Co- 
Iperative 
Nacactiee 
380 POSTSCRIPT 
generally thought that if attention is given to the interests 
of capital, those of labour will also be saved indirectly, but 
none the less really and in the best way. Unlike as Russia, 
Germany, and America are in many ways, they are similar to 
one another and distinguished from England by this common 
feature, that in all of them labour is still struggling for 
primary consideration at the hands of the government. It 
is not yet secure in the enjoyment of the power of association 
to attend to its own interest, and is apt, from a sense of 
official want of sympathy, to ally itself with the socialist and 
anarchist opposition to the established order. 
It is not a little curious to notice that, in the different 
rircumstances of the mother-country and the colonies, the 
same cause, the dominance of labour, has brought about an 
spposite influence to bear on economic policy. In England 
she working classes have become firmly attached to the free 
rade principles which tell in favour of cheap food to the con- 
sumer; in Victoria and some other colonies, they are more 
inclined to adopt a policy which favours producers. But the 
power of this factor in national life is shown, not only in the 
‘rend of legislation, but in the character and work of the asso- 
rations of English working men. In various ways they have 
sontributed to the maintenance of a high standard of comfort. 
This has been the direct object of Trade Unions, and whether 
*heir existence has been a contributing cause or not, there 
san be little doubt that the working classes generally, and 
the skilled artisans in particular, have attained to a much 
greater command over the comforts and conveniences of life 
shan they formerly enjoyed. Friendly Societies continue to 
Jourish and to guard their members against the risk of being 
submerged through the loss of health or other unforeseen 
occurrences. In addition, by means of the Co-operative 
movement, the poor consumer has been able to bring effective 
supervision to bear on the quality and price of the goods 
supplied to him. The guarantee which the Assize of Bread 
and Ale were supposed to afford can be much more completely 
brought gnto operation, and at far less cost, by the agency of 
these great trading bodies. On all these sides a remarkable 
system of self-help has been organised, and the labourer has