drooping spirits or to excite their exhausted bodies for more exertion. But once give men justice, once give them equal opportunity to take the benefits of natural law, which are more than sufficient for the satisfaction of their material needs, once banish poverty, and the fear of poverty, and human nature may be safely trusted for the rest.

For

But let us examine the question from a practical point of view, taking the City of San Francisco as a good example. Here, if any where, the progress of social organization may be definitely seen. here we have the capital of a State, the richest in natural resources upon earth, whose mountains are loaded with gold and precious minerals, and whose valleys are so fertile that a hundred inhabitants could be sustained in comfort, where there is only one to-day. A city built upon the foreshore of one of the finest harbors in the world-the Golden Gate to the Pacific Ocean—the open doorway to the commerce of the Orient. To this glorious spot came a community selected by the law of evolution. Invalids died by thousands on the way, and dullards stayed at home. All men came with an equal chance. Lawyers, doctors, bankers, and divines worked side by side with miners, teamsters and common laborers; there was work and opportunity for all, and this active and intelligent community has been continually reinforced by men of

energy and intelligence from every region upon earth.

There was much open land, and the incomers were few and contented. But we have seen that the city began with an unjust appropriation by a few individuals of all the land in sight, and when, after a quarter of a century, all the useful land in the State was similarly taken up, a change began, and, if the change has worked righteously and well, if the condition of society is really less unfavorable, we may reasonably expect, due allowance being made for the increase of population, that there is now less poverty, less crime, less immorality, less need of policemen, jails and alms houses, and proof beyond doubt that the condition of the mass of citizens is becoming less and less unfavorable every year.

Now, in 1874 the millionaires were few in number, but have since then steadily increased. No one has lived in the City during the last quarter of a century can doubt that the few rich have become richer, and as they have long since ceased to be producers, their wealth has accumulated at the expense of other people. They have taken toll of the collective industry of their fellow citizens in the shape of rent, and to-day the industrial classes of San Francisco pay the landlords twenty mil

lions annually before they get a bite of food for themselves and families.

Forty per cent. of the municipal and State taxation is also paid directly by the industrial classes, besides poll tax and their contribution to real estate taxation making up the whole. Besides this they pay the larger portion of Federal taxation, all of which is paid by the consumers. these conditions poverty cannot possibly diminish. The landlords take the cream, and leave to the rest skim milk.

Under

And now examine the return of crime. The following figures are taken from the Municipal Re

Every one of these items affords indisputable

evidence of increasing poverty, and every one indicates that the condition of society is steadily growing worse notwithstanding the increase of

wealth and knowledge, and the advance of education.

This conclusion is also supported by strong individual testimony. The Rev. Father McDonnel writes: "I am by no means a pessimist, but for fifteen years I have lived among the poor, and talked and felt with them. I cannot find one person to deny that the industrial conditions were not more favorable in 1874 than in 1899. It is now much more difficult to obtain employment, wages have steadily declined, and are going down every year. The reduction of prices of necessaries and luxuries is not in the same proportion. The working classes are certainly more dissatisfied with their condition now than ever before in the history of the world. This dissatisfaction is growing yearly. Cases of involuntary destitution are very frequent. I have known cases of voluntary death by starvation, and I should say that want of employment is often a cause of suicide."

Mr. Fitzgerald, for many years connected with the laboring class, and now State Labor Commissioner, says: "The strongest evidence of the increasing economic pressure is the invasion of women into nearly every employment, for women only go to the workshops as a last resource. my experience, I have found employment for 18,000 workers, and I can say with truth that there

In

is no position so hard and laborious, no hours so long, and no wages so poor and insufficient, which I could not fill in forty-eight hours' notice, provided food and shelter were included. Only a few years ago the coalworkers of Pennsylvania offered to contract their services for life, if the mine owners would engage to provide them with the necessaries of life. According to my experience economic pressure is increasing every day."

To this important testimony let me add my own: In 1874 I was staying in the country, and was introduced to "the lady" who condescended to do my laundry at 25c. a piece. In the same year in the city, we all paid invalids 25c. for cleaning boots, a service now rendered by able-bodied men for 5c., and there are hundreds of competitors at that. The invalids are now either begging in the streets or have been driven to the Alms House. Unlike military pressure, economic pressure takes away the weak. In 1874 the wages of farm hands were $30 a month with board and lodging in the winter, and $60 in the summer. Now they are $5 a month in the winter, and from $15 to $20 in the summer, and there still remains an army of tramps, and involutary disemployed. In 1874 country people never locked their doors; to-day none but the foolish leave them open. In 1874 the number of defaulting bankers and municipal officials were