also._ Therefore, wages in England must keep constantly falling. And
how do they effect the fall? By _surplus labour_. By monopoly of the
land, which drives more hands than are wanted into the factory. By
monopoly of machinery, which drives those hands into the street; by
woman labour, which drives the man from the shuttle; by child labour,
which drives the woman from the loom. Then planting their foot upon
that living base of surplus, they press its aching heart beneath
their heel, and cry 'Starvation! Who'll work? A half loaf is better
than no bread at all;' and the writhing mass grasps greedily at their
terms. Such is the system for the working-man. But, electors, how
does it operate on you? how does it affect home trade, the
shopkeeper, poor's rate, and taxation? _For every increase of
competition abroad there must be an increase of cheapness at home._
Every increase of cheapness in labour is based on increase of labour
surplus, and this surplus is obtained by an increase of machinery. I
repeat, how does this operate on you? The Manchester liberal on my
left establishes a new patent, and throws three hundred men as a
surplus in the streets. Shopkeepers! Three hundred customers less.
Rate-payers! Three hundred paupers more. But, mark me! The evil stops
not there. _These three hundred men operate first to bring down the
wages of those who remain at work in their own trade._ The employer
says, 'Now I reduce your wages.' The men demur. Then he adds, 'Do you
see those three hundred men who have just walked out? _you may change
places if you like_, they're sighing to come in on any terms, for
they're starving.' The men feel it, and are crushed. Ah! you
Manchester liberal! Pharisee of politics! those men are
listening--have I got you now? But the evil stops not yet. _Those
men, driven from their own trade, seek employment in others, when
they swell the surplus and bring wages down._"