ABSTRACT
Jevons discusses the difference between the manufacturer and worker, whose ‘whole life is one of continual toil, repaid by the barest subsistence’. Nevertheless, indicating how unions had become more acceptable to the middle classes by the end of the century, he does express a belief that trade unions helped the poor in an efficient manner. In some places, especially Paisley, the population was said to be starving for want of employment, and the Government was implored to send food. It is true that the present generation is not responsible for the creation of so much wretchedness. Pauperism is the general resultant of all the bad and all the omitted legislation of the last five hundred years. Every one must know that a certain amount of physical comfort may thus be caused, but what is this to the demoralizing effect of such casual charity upon the energy and prudent habits of the recipients.
