Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 edition. Excerpt: ... shall not drop into nothing, and leave no vacancy. Over his grave he hopes to deserve the epitaph--"Honest men you seldom meet, Here lies one beneath your feet. Let it to the world be known You are one who reads this stone." CHAPTER XXIV. THE TWO CARDINAL PRINCIPLES OF CO-OPERATION. It may be convenient to the reader if these chapters end with a summary of the characteristics of the Co-operative Movement, and the practice which has grown out of the two cardinal principles on which it is founded. Though a reiteration, it may be justified by the maxim of he who surpassed Marlowe's mighty line--"Truth can never be confirmed enough, Though doubts did ever sleep." Co-operation is a new force of industry, whose inspiration is fraternity, whose method is economy, whose principle is equity. Before the days of Co-operation, labour had no control over its own fortune or future. Trade Unions have given the workman some control over the wages of labour. It is Co-operation alone which gives him control over the profits of his work.1 1 See Inaugural Address delivered by the present writer before the Nineteenth Annual Co-operative Congress, held at Carlisle, May 1887. The address being intended for the information of the outside public, its substance will further and perhaps better reach them in these pages. The outlook of the industrial class fifty years ago was as dreary as Siberia. Food was scarce. The English race was lean. Even girls had an ill-favoured look--because underfed. In a few years after the repeal of the Corn Laws every million of adult persons in England weighed 12,000 tons heavier than they did before the repeal, and the young people had grown ten times comelier than they were. Then the workman was in weekly dread of further reduction...