The decline and fall of the British Empire - University of Oregon

of the British Empire 27
often a social and political society,
which made little headway among
the masses, while the Church of
England only succeeded in doling out
the threepenny bits of the rich to the
pauper instead of vigorously assaulting
a social system which was
radically unjust. Shareholders and
Directors who controlled the capital
of the country were satisfied if they
fulfilled the meagre requirements
of the law in dealing with their
employees, but they cared little or
nothing for their health or general
well-being.* " The highest obtain-
able interest for our money " was the
cry that arose yearly among them.
Having obtained this, a few might
perhaps acquire a name for philanthropy
by pauperising those who,
under such conditions, refused to
* Several notable exceptions to this state of
things existed. I am speaking of Shareholders
and Directors generally.