KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER:
POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS:
HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION.
A Co-operative Society, like all other Societies, such as Benefit Clubs, Trade Societies, Savings Banks, is for the purpose of avoiding some evils which men are exposed to when they act singly, and of obtaining some advantages which they must otherwise be deprived of.
The evils which CO-OPERATION is intended to combat, are some of the greatest to which men are liable, viz, the great and increasing difficulties of providing for our families, and the proportionate danger of our falling into PAUPERISM and CRIME.
Let us consider these more at length.
The rate of wages has been gradually diminishing for some hundred years, so that now it is not above one-third of what it used to be—but this is not all, for the same causes continuing to act, the wages must go on diminishing till a workman will not be able to maintain a family, and by the same rule, he will at last not be able to maintain himself. This conclusion it is frightful to think of, but whether we think of it or not, it will march on in its own silent way, till it unexpectedly overwhelms us like a flood.
But are we certain that this is true? —are we really approaching anything like starvation, in spite of any labor and industry we may exert? I am afraid that this is certainly true; and I will give you other reasons for thinking so.
PAUPERISM
Why do people become paupers? —because they must either go to the parish, or starve. And this necessity has operated so widely, that the independent day laborer has almost ceased to exist. The country laborer who can, in many respects, live cheaper than we can in a town; who can have his garden, and raise his own potatoes, &c. can now very seldom live without the parish aid: and it is a common rule to make an allowance for each child, above a certain number. The same situation has begun to beset the mechanic. He is frequently obliged to go without work a day or two in the week, or to have his wages lowered. If this goes on, he also must come to the parish.