AND ON THE CONTINENT.
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the case, which, as to England , has been statistically proved (6). At the time when the industrial employers socially and politically conquer the highest positions, new middle classes begin to rise behind them, which at first gain economically in importance, then politically. That, indeed, in this later stage of development the centralised industrial operative has to be counted with the middle classes is proved simply enough by Atkinson from the fact that important callings, which hitherto 1 were generally connected with the middle classes, have gone in income far below the level of the centralised industrial working class of New England. This is especially true of large portions of the teaching and religious classes.
That Germany still by no means stands economically in the same advanced position is shown by the movement of the people’s income. It can be taken, according to Ilerkner, that the poor at present do not become poorer ; on the other hand, the rich become richer, and the middle classes in many cases decrease.
“ Prosperous Lancashire!” Under this title the “ Spectator ” published the following article, which the organ of the operatives, the “Cotton Factory Times,” of 23rd. pet,, 1891, reproduced : —
“ According to the testimony of a late United States Consul at Manchester, the district of which that city is the centre enjoys a greater measure of prosperity than any similar community in his own country, therefore in the world, for in no part of the Continent are the working classes so well off as in Lancashire; nowhere are wages so high, hours of toil so short, and the cost of living so moderate, None who 1 knew the district in the ‘ forties ’ and 'fifties’ can revisit it without being struck by the signs of improvement and progress which he sees around him. It is not merely that the population has doubled, and tall chimneys multiplied beyond computation; these are signs of increasing wealth, and wealth may accumulate while men decay ; the veriest pessimist must acknow-
Q K. Giffen: “ Increase of Moderate Incomes ” (Koval Stat. Society, 16th Dec.,1887). Compare ray book. “ On Social Peace,” vol. II., p. 491. Atkinson accepts a similar relation for America , which is. indeed, known as the country where fortunes roll together into a few hands. (“ Distribution of Profits,” p. 356.)