SIR FREDERICK BRAMWELL ON THE BENEFITS OF IMPROVED MACHINERY.
[To THE EDITOR. OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—It appears to me that the praises of machinery by Sir Frederick Bramwell are just now singularly inopportune, since it is evident that the trade depression from which we have suffered for upwards of ten years, and which is likely to go on increasing until in a few years more it culminates in an industrial calamity such as has not been seen in this country for centuries, is due mainly to the displacement of labour by machinery. Profits have already diminished almost to the vanishing point, wages must soon decrease in like proportion, and it appears to me that in a near future there will be almost no profits, no wages to speak of, and, necessarily, millions of unemployed. No State organisation will be adequate to deal with such a disaster, and the rich will suffer almost as much as their poorer brethren, thanks to the displacement of labour by machinery, on which Sir Frederick now asks us to con- gratulate ourselves.—I am, Sir, &c., QUI VIVRA VERRA.
[We print this letter, which is clearly from an educated man, as curious evidence of the survival of an opinion supposed to be dead. The writer evidently believes that if a weak man grows strong he will only earn less wages. What is machinery but an addition to human strength P The writer should try to thresh the produce of ten acres of corn with a flail.—ED. Spectator.]
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