THE ENGLISH CONCEPTION OF WELFARE 881 
been able to protect himself against the degrading influence of 
reckless competition, and to secure that a measure of the 
increasing wealth of the realm shall be diffused so as to give 
better opportunities of welfare to the masses of the people. 
284. A comeideration of the course of recent legislation The 
and the working of English institutions seems to show that on 
the conception of welfare, as it presents itself to the English &f 2elfare 
mind now-a-days, is not identical with the views that are from that 
cherished in other communities. The differences come into peoples 
clearer light when we turn from questions connected with the Tes 
diffusion of material wealth, to the moral elements which are 
involved in the idea of well-being. In all economic concep- 
tions there is relativity; while on one side there are material 
objects, on the other we have the human beings by whom 
these objects are used ; varieties of disposition and tempera- 
ment must introduce considerable differences in the aims 
they cherish. These are perhaps of greater importance with 
respect to the influence exercised on subject peoples, than in 
connection with the condition of the citizens themselves. 
There are two points in the mental attitude of English- a deep 
men which are at least less noticeable in other communities. gard fy 
There is, for one thing, a remarkably strong historic sense, treditios 
and regard for tradition. We have long prized our own, we 
have more lately learned to be respectful in our attitude to- 
wards those of other races. The sentiments of other peoples, as 
embodied in their literature and institutions, have been treated 
with marked tenderness, during the greater part of the nine- 
teenth century. So far are we from trying to stamp them out, 
and force English ways and habits of thought upon other 
peoples, that we are sedulous in the effort to exercise our 
influence to preserve and foster rather than to supersede. 
There was no similar feeling among English statesmen of the 
seventeenth century; the aim of James L and of Strafford and 
Laud was to assimilate the institutions and habits of thought 
of the realm of Great Britain and Ireland to one model, by 
recasting the ecclesiastical system of Scotland and bringing 
about thorough changes in the social conditions of Ireland. 
In Ireland that effort for assimilation has gone on, though in 
recent years there has been a reaction, and more attempt has 
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