CHAPTER V
OUR INDUSTRIAL FUTURE
It seems, then, that since there are active movements among our working classes for the abrogation of the existing industrial system, it will be well to inspect that system in order to see, first, whether it will stand the test of time and the hostility of competing projects, and secondly, whether, in that event, it does not, at some points, need amendment in the future in order to make it more adequate and secure than it is to-day.
For such a task as this, we have at present certain advantages of observation. At the period when we started manufactures upon modern lines, all the industries, not of this country alone, but of the world, had been, up till then, hand industries. From about 1770 until about 1850, thanks to our new energies, and in spite of the terrible evils in our social system, we drew clearly ahead, having almost a monopoly in manufactures. During the thirty years after the latter date, the world was busy imitating us, using our capital to erect factories, and modelling their machinery and methods upon our own. It was, however, not till the early 'eighties that the public definitely learnt
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