Under such circumstances it appears that a few pages
may well be devoted to a brief consideration of the con-
ditions which either invite or else repel Co-operation ;
of the principles upon which it ought to be built up ; and
of the limits existing to its fruitful action. For limits
undoubtedly there are. Co-operation is not by any means
the unfailing "accomplish- all " and " cure-all " for which
fertile brains have sometimes been pleased to give it out,
but a simple economic instrument, exceedingly useful
in appropriate circumstances, for a great variety of pur-
poses, but on the other hand wholly ineffective under
other conditions. Co-operation has no magic in it. It
is just a simple junction of forces among a number of
persons more or less similarly situated, and having a com-
mon object in view, for attaining that object. Its aim
is not directly to make individuals rich. It gables them to
make themselves so by removing obstacles and creating
facilities for individual effort. That is, economically speak-
ing, the limit of its utihty. It cannot create wealth out
of nothing. Wherever two shoulders placed against a
wheel oan make that wheel move faster, or further,
or more smoothly than each shoulder pushing by itself,
wherever ten sovereigns laid out in common will pur-
chase more than the same ten gold pieces expended
separately, it may be relied upon to vindicate its
efficacy. Beyond this it will, as already shown, stimu-
late intellect, detect new openings for successful enter-



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 19

prise, and teach the value of mutual consideration
and nfiutual help. But it will not serve purely selfish
. or gain-seeking ends. It offers a means for profitably
uniting forces for the avoidance of unnecessary expense,
for the obtainment of better value for produce, for the
withstanding of persecution and oppression. It will
break up rings, cheapen purchases, facilitate sales, create
and steady markets, render practicable work of sundry
kinds, which is not otherwise possible for individuals.
