The climax of civilisation / by Correa Moylan Walsh.

  • Correa Moylan Walsh
Date:
1917
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The climax of civilisation / by Correa Moylan Walsh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    141/170 (page 127)
    England led the way, and the opening of all the world to the freedom of the seas. The first was an ineffectual attack upon the East and the South, which, however, expanded commerce and enlarged men’s ideas. It also took off many of the fight- ing barons and gave opportunity for combination to the peace- ful and industrious burghers. The second opened up a new continent for settlement, and gave a vent to the middle and lower classes, and by subtracting some of these improved the lot of those who staid at home; but it caused little to be brought back except gold and silver, which, however, gave a second impetus to commerce and stimulated industry. The third is the one that concerns us most immediately. The events that then took place initiated a great acceleration in the progress of the people of Europe and America, and led to a notable relaxation of the struggle for existence, which has characterised three quarters of the last century and still, though waning, continues. This was due to the advance in. mechanical and chemical sciences and their application to pro- duction; which, besides augmenting the power of working up raw materials in manufactories, considerably enlarged the pro- duction of raw materials themselves, in a twofold manner. For on the one hand, improvements in the art of agriculture and mining increased the productivity of the old soils and mines; and on the other, improved means of communication by steamboat and railway opened up new tracts of land in our West, in South America, in South Africa, in Australasia. The power of man over nature was enhanced, at the same time nature was responding with the offer of new sources. Con- sequently man’s lot on earth has been rendered much easier. Though a struggle for life still goes on in the lowest stratum of humanity, this has been curtailed and confined to a com- paratively small number. ‘The struggle is rather for wealth, for luxuries. From this relaxation of the rigour of nature toward man- kind important results have flowed. Most immediate was the cheapening of land. The increased quantity of the new, in spite of the augmented productivity of the old, caused also the old to fall in value. Of this a consequence was very prominent. The class who lived off the land, acquiring their wealth, power, and position therefrom, the landlords, the men