the vested interests and the common man-第31章
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the common man； for that somewhat more than nine…tenths of the
population who always finally have to bear the cost of any
national establishment。 It has been tried； and the point is left
in doubt。 So the case of Belgium or of Serbia during the past
four years has been scarcely less evil than that of the Armenians
or the Poles。 Belgium and Serbia were nations； in due form； very
much after the pattern aimed at in the new projected nations
already spoken of； whereas the Armenians and the Poles have been
subject minor nationalities。 Belgium。 Serbia； and Poland have
been subject to the ravages of an imperial power which claims
rank as a civilised people； whereas the Armenians have been
manhandled by the Turks。 So； again； the Irish are a subject minor
nationality； whereas the Roumanians are a nation in due form。 In
fact the Roumanians are just such a balkan state as the Irish
aspire to become。 But no doubt the common man is appreciably
worse off in his material circumstances in Roumania than in
Ireland。 Japan； too； is not only a self…determining nation with a
full charge of national integrity； but it is a Great Power； yet
the common man the somewhat more than nine…tenths of the
population is doubtless worse off in point of hard usage and
privation in Japan than in Ireland。
In further illustration of this doubt and perplexity with
regard to the material value of national self…determination； the
case of the three Scandinavian countries may be worth citing。
They are all and several self…determining nations； in that
Pickwickian sense in which any country which is not a Great Power
may be self…determining in the twentieth century。 But they differ
in size； population； wealth； power； and political consequence。 In
these respects the sequence runs： Sweden； Denmark。 Norway； the
latter being the smallest； poorest； least self…determining； and
in point of self…determining nationalism altogether the most
spectacularly foolish of the lot。 But so far as concerns the
material conditions of life for the common man； they are
unmistakably the most favorable； or the most nearly tolerable； in
Norway； and the least so in Sweden。 The upshot of evidence from
these； and from other instances that might be cited； is to leave
the point in doubt。 It is not evident that the common man has
anything to gain by national self…determination； so far as
regards his material conditions of life； nor does it appear； on
the evidence of these instances； that he has much to lose by that
means。
These Scandinavians differ from the Balkan states in that
they perforce have no imperialistic ambitions。 There may of
course be a question on this head so far as concerns the frame of
mind of the royal establishment in the greater one of the
Scandinavian kingdoms； there is not much that is worth saying
about that matter； and the less that is said； the less annoyance。
It is a matter of no significance； anyway。 The Scandinavians are
in effect not imperialistic； perforce。 Which means that in their
international relations they formally adhere to the rule of Live
and Let Live。 Not so in their domestic policy； however。 They have
all endowed themselves with all the encumbrances of national
pretensions and discrimination which their circumstances will
admit。 Apart from a court and church which foot up to nothing
more comfortable than a gratuitous bill of expense； they are also
content to carry the burden of a national armament； a protective
tariff； a national consular service； and a diplomatic service
which takes care of a moderately burdensome series of treaty
agreements governing the trade relations of the Scandinavian
business community； all designed for the benefit of the vested
interests and the kept classes of the nation； and all at the cost
of the common man。
The case of these relatively free； relatively unassuming； and
relatively equitable national establishments is also instructive。
They come as near the rule of Live and Let Live as any national
establishment well can and still remain a national establishment
actuated by notions of competitive self…help。 But all the while
the national administration runs along； with nothing better to
show to any impartial scrutiny than a considerable fiscal burden
and a moderate volume of hindrance to the country's industry；
together with some incidental benefit to the vested interests and
the kept classes at the cost of the underlying community。 These
Scandinavians occupy a peculiar position in the industrial world。
They are each and several too small to make up anything like a
self…contained industrial community； even under the most
unreserved pressure of national exclusiveness。 Their industries
necessarily are part and parcel of the industrial system at
large； with which they are bound in relations of give and take at
every point。 Yet they are content to carry a customs tariff of
fairly grotesque dimensions and a national consular service of
more grotesque dimensions still。 This situation is heightened by
their relatively sterile soil； their somewhat special and narrow
range of natural resources； and their high latitude； which
precludes any home growth of many of the indispensable materials
of industry under the new order。 Yet they are content to carry
their customs tariff； their special commercial treaties； and
their consular service for the benefit of their vested
interests。
It should seem that this elaborate superfluity of national
outlay and obstruction should work great hardship to the
underlying community whose industry is called on to carry this
burden of lag； leak； and friction。 And doubtless the burden is
sufficiently real。 It amounts； of course； to the nation's working
at cross…purposes with itself； for the benefit of those special
interests that stand to gain a little something by it all。 But in
this as in other works of sabotage there are compensating
effects； and these should not be overlooked； particularly since
the case is fairly typical of what commonly happens。 The waste
and sabotage of the national establishment and its obstructive
policy works no intolerable hardship； because it all runs its
course and eats its fill within that margin of sabotage and
wasteful consumption that would have to be taken care of by some
other agency in the absence of this one。 That is to say；
something like the same volume of sabotage and waste is
indispensable to the prosperity of business under the conditions
of the new order； so long as business and industry are managed
under the conditions imposed by the price system。 By one means or
another prices must be maintained at a profitable level for
reasons of business； therefore the output must be restricted to a
reasonable rate and volume； and wasteful consumption must be
provided for； on pain of a failing market。 And all this may as
well be taken care of by use of a princely court； an otiose
church； a picturesque army； a well…fed diplomatic and consular
service； and a customs frontier。 In the absence of all this
national apparatus of sabotage substantially the same results
would have to be got at by the less seemly means of a furtive
conspiracy in restraint of trade among the vested interests。
There is always something to be said for the national integrity。
The case of these Scandinavian nations； taken in connection
and comparison with what is to be seen elsewhere； appears to say
that a national establishment which has no pretensions to power
and no imperialistic ambitions is preferable； in point of economy
and peaceable behavior； to an establishment which carries these
attributes of self…determination and self…help。 The more nearly
the national integrity and self…determination approaches to make
believe the less mischief is it likely to work at home and the
more nearly will it be compatible with the rule of Live and Let
Live in dealing with its neighbors。 And the further implication
is plain without argument； that the most beneficent change that
can conceivably overtake any national establishment would be to
let it fall into 〃innocu
