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it will be seen that life is less rigorous for the Innuit； that while the Innuit
suffers only during bad times from starvation； the Englishman suffers
during good times as well； that no Innuit lacks fuel； clothing； or housing；
while the Englishman is in perpetual lack of these three essentials。 In
this connection it is well to instance the judgment of a man such as Huxley。
From the knowledge gained as a medical officer in the East End of
London； and as a scientist pursuing investigations among the most
elemental savages； he concludes； 〃Were the alternative presented to me； I
would deliberately prefer the life of the savage to that of those people of
Christian London。〃 The creature comforts man enjoys are the products
of man's labour。 Since Civilisation has failed to give the average
Englishman food and shelter equal to that enjoyed by the Innuit； the
question arises： HAS CIVILISATION INCREASED THE
PRODUCING POWER OF THE AVERAGE MAN？ If it has not
increased man's producing power； then Civilisation cannot stand。
But； it will be instantly admitted； Civilisation has increased man's
producing power。 Five men can produce bread for a thousand。 One
man can produce cotton cloth for 250 people； woollens for 300； and boots
and shoes for 1000。 Yet it has been shown throughout the pages of this
book that English folk by the millions do not receive enough food； clothes；
and boots。 Then arises the third and inexorable question： IF
CIVILISATION HAS INCREASED THE PRODUCING POWER OF
THE AVERAGE MAN； WHY HAS IT NOT BETTERED THE LOT OF
THE AVERAGE MAN？
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
There can be one answer onlyMISMANAGEMENT。 Civilisation
has made possible all manner of creature comforts and heart's delights。
In these the average Englishman does not participate。 If he shall be
forever unable to participate； then Civilisation falls。 There is no reason
for the continued existence of an artifice so avowed a failure。 But it is
impossible that men should have reared this tremendous artifice in vain。
It stuns the intellect。 To acknowledge so crushing a defeat is to give the
death…blow to striving and progress。
One other alternative； and one other only； presents itself。
CIVILISATION MUST BE COMPELLED TO BETTER THE LOT OF
THE AVERAGE MEN。 This accepted； it becomes at once a question of
business management。 Things profitable must be continued； things
unprofitable must be eliminated。 Either the Empire is a profit to England；
or it is a loss。 If it is a loss； it must be done away with。 If it is a profit；
it must be managed so that the average man comes in for a share of the
profit。
If the struggle for commercial supremacy is profitable； continue it。 If it
is not； if it hurts the worker and makes his lot worse than the lot of a
savage； then fling foreign markets and industrial empire overboard。 For
it is a patent fact that if 40；000；000 people； aided by Civilisation； possess a
greater individual producing power than the Innuit； then those 40；000；000
people should enjoy more creature comforts and heart's delights than the
Innuits enjoy。
If the 400；000 English gentlemen； 〃of no occupation；〃 according to
their own statement in the Census of 1881； are unprofitable； do away with
them。 Set them to work ploughing game preserves and planting potatoes。
If they are profitable； continue them by all means； but let it be seen to that
the average Englishman shares somewhat in the profits they produce by
working at no occupation。
In short； society must be reorganised； and a capable management put
at the head。 That the present management is incapable； there can be no
discussion。 It has drained the United Kingdom of its life…blood。 It has
enfeebled the stay…at…home folk till they are unable longer to struggle in
the van of the competing nations。 It has built up a West End and an East
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
End as large as the Kingdom is large； in which one end is riotous and
rotten； the other end sickly and underfed。
A vast empire is foundering on the hands of this incapable
management。 And by empire is meant the political machinery which
holds together the English…speaking people of the world outside of the
United States。 Nor is this charged in a pessimistic spirit。 Blood empire is
greater than political empire； and the English of the New World and the
Antipodes are strong and vigorous as ever。 But the political empire under
which they are nominally assembled is perishing。 The political machine
known as the British Empire is running down。 In the hands of its
management it is losing momentum every day。
It is inevitable that this management； which has grossly and criminally
mismanaged； shall be swept away。 Not only has it been wasteful and
inefficient； but it has misappropriated the funds。 Every worn…out； pasty…
faced pauper； every blind man； every prison babe； every man； woman； and
child whose belly is gnawing with hunger pangs； is hungry because the
funds have been misappropriated by the management。
Nor can one member of this managing class plead not guilty before the
judgment bar of Man。 〃The living in their houses； and in their graves the
dead；〃 are challenged by every babe that dies of innutrition； by every girl
that flees the sweater's den to the nightly promenade of Piccadilly； by
every worked…out toiler that plunges into the canal。 The food this
managing class eats； the wine it drinks； the shows it makes； and the fine
clothes it wears； are challenged by eight million mouths which have never
had enough to fill them； and by twice eight million bodies which have
never been sufficiently clothed and housed。
There can be no mistake。 Civilisation has increased man's producing
power an hundre