xviii LABOUR IN MADRAS chattel slavery and bas inherent in it aspects which are worse than those of chattel slavery. Citizenship in a civilized state carries with it a decency of life, a contentment of heart, and a cultivation of intellect. These our labourers do not evince to-day in their wretched existences. Their scandalous wages, their semi-nakedness, their ghastly hovels, their awful surroundings are of a nature of which any State ought to be thoroughly ashamed. In the coming legislation, therefore, the fact to be remembered is that labourers are the prime consideration. In creating machinery we must bear in mind that it is put together to relieve the tension of the labourer's life, and not to facilitate the hoarding of profits at the expense of human suffering. Let it not crush men, women and young persons in the name of growing industries of the country. The legislation must not be undertaken from the employer's point of view ; nor must we be swayed by the dubious talk of growing industries. What good is it to a State to gain wealth out of misery and lose the soul of happiness which a contented citizenship yields ? Are we going to be benefited by the lesson afforded by the utter failure of the economic and industrial system of the age which is now fast closing ? Let me repeat, therefore, to our educated legislators: Do not mistake men for machines and remember you are legislating for human beings.
