in darkest england and the way out-第71章
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l came in for #750；000。 But that was a mere trifle。 When King Theodore； of Abyssinia； made captives of a couple of British representatives； Lord Napier was despatched to rescue。 He marched his army to Magdala； brought back the prisoners； and left King Theodore dead。 The cost of that expedition was over nine millions sterling。 The Egyptian Campaign； that smashed Arabi； cost nearly five millions。 The rush to Khartoum； that arrived too late to rescue General Gordon； cost at least as much。 The Afghan war cost twenty…one millions sterling。 Who dares then to say that Britain cannot provide a million sterling to rescue； not one or two captives； but a million； whose lot is quite as doleful as that of the prisoners of savage kings； but who are to be found； not in the land of the Soudan； or in the swamps of Ashantee； or in the Mountains of the Moon； but here at our very doors？ Don't talk to me about the impossibility of raising the million。 Nothing is impossible when Britain is in earnest。 All talk of impossibility only means that you don't believe that the nation cares to enter upon a serious campaign against the enemy at our gates。 When John Bull goes to the wars he does not count the cost。 And who dare deny that the time has fully come for a declaration of war against the Social Evils which seem to shut out God from this our world？
SECTION 3。SOME ADVANTAGES STATED。
This Scheme takes into its embrace all kinds and classes of men who may be in destitute circumstances； irrespective of their character or conduct； and charges itself with supplying at once their temporal needs； and then aims at placing them in a permanent position of comparative comfort； the only stipulation made being a willingness to work and to conform to discipline on the part of those receiving its benefit。
While at the commencement； we must impose some limits with respect to age and sickness； we hope； when fairly at work； to be able to dispense with even these restrictions； and to receive any unfortunate individual who has only his misery to recommend him and an honest desire to get out of it。
It will be seen that； in this respect； the Scheme stands head and shoulders above any plan that has ever been mooted before； seeing that nearly all the other charitable and remedial proposals more or less confess their utter inability to benefit any but what they term the 〃decent〃 working man。
This Scheme seeks out by all manner of agencies； marvellously adapted for the task； the classes whose welfare it contemplates； and； by varied measures and motives adapted to their circumstances； compels them to accept its benefits。
Our Plan contemplates nothing short of revolutionising the character of those whose faults are the reason for their destitution。 We have seen that with fully fifty per cent。 of these their own evil conduct is the cause of their wretchedness。 To stop short with them of anything less than a real change of heart will be to invite and ensure failure。 But this we are confident of effectinganyway； in the great majority of cases； by reasonings and persuasions； concerning both earthly and heavenly advantages； by the power of man； and by the power of God。
By this Scheme any man； no matter how deeply he may have fallen in self…respect and the esteem of all about him； may re…enter life afresh； with the prospect of re…establishing his character when lost； or perhaps of establishing a character for the first time； and so obtaining an introduction to decent employment； and a claim for admission into Society as a good citizen。 While many of this crowd are absolutely without a decent friend； others will have； on that higher level of respectability they once occupied； some relative； or friend； or employer； who occasionally thinks of them； and who； if only satisfied that a real change has taken place in the prodigal； will not only be willing； but delighted； to help them once more。
By this Scheme； we believe we shall be able to teach habits of economy； household management； thrift； and the like。 There are numbers of men who； although suffering the direst pangs of poverty； know little or nothing about the value of money； or the prudent use of it； and there are hundreds of poor women who do not know what a decently…managed home is； and who could not make one if they had the most ample means and tried ever so hard to accomplish it； having never seen anything but dirt； disorder； and misery in their domestic history。 They could not cook a dinner or prepare a meal decently if their lives were dependent on it； never having had a chance of learning how to do it。 But by this Scheme hope to teach these things。
By this Plan； habits of cleanliness will be created； and some knowledge of sanitary questions in general will be imparted。 This Scheme changes the circumstances of those whose poverty is caused by their misfortune。 To begin with； it finds work for the unemployed。 This is the chief need。 The great problem that has for ages been puzzling the brains of the political economist and philanthropist has been 〃How can we find these people work？〃 No matter what other helps are discovered； without work there is no real ground for hope。 Charity and all the other ten thousand devices are only temporary expedients； altogether insufficient to meet the necessity。 Work； apart from the fact that it is God's method of supplying the wants of man's composite nature； is an essential to his well…being in every way and on this Plan there is work； honourable worknone of your demoralising stone…breaking； or oakum…picking business； which tantalises and insults poverty； Every worker will feel that he is not only occupied for his own benefit； but that any advantage reaped over and above that which he gains himself will serve to lift some other poor wretch out of the gutter。
There would be work within the capacity of all。 Every gift could be employed。 For instance； take five persons on the Farma baker； a tailor； a shoemaker； a cook； and an agriculturist。 The baker would make bread for all； the tailor garments for all； the shoemaker shoes for all； the cook would cook for all； and the agriculturist dig for all。 Those who know anything which would be useful to the inhabitants of the Colony will be set to do it； and those who are ignorant of any trade or profession will be taught one。
This Scheme removes the vicious and criminal classes out of the sphere of those temptations before which they have invariably fallen in the past。 Our experience goes to show that when you have； by Divine grace； or by any consideration of the advantages of a good life； or the disadvantages of a bad one； produced in a man circumstanced as those whom we have been describing； the resolution to turn over a new leaf； the temptations and difficulties he has to encounter will ordinarily master him； and undo all that has been done； if he still continues to be surrounded by old companions and allurements to sin。
Now； look at the force of the temptations this class has to fight against。 What is it that leads people to do wrongpeople of all classes； rich as well as poor？ Not the desire to sin。 They do not want to sin； many of them do not know what sin is； but they have certain appetites or natural likings； the indulgence of which is pleasant to them； and when the desire for their unlawful gratification is aroused； regardless of the claims of God； their own highest interests； or the well…being of their fellows； they are carried away by them； and thus all the good resolutions they have made in the past come to grief。
For instance； take the temptation which comes through the natural appetite； hunger。 Here is a man who has been at a religious meeting； or received some good advice； or； perhaps； just come out of prison； with the memories of the hardships he has suffered fresh upon him； or the advice of the chaplain ringing in his ears。 He has made up his mind to steal no more； but he has no means of earning a livelihood。 He becomes hungry。 What is he to do？ A loaf of bread tempts him； or； more likely； a gold chain which he can turn into bread。 An inward struggle commences； he tries to stick to his bargain； but the hunger goes on gnawing within； and it may be there is a wife and children hungry
