in darkest england and the way out-第87章
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due； and it is greatly to be regretted that he was not in a position to repeat the attempt under more favourable circumstances。〃 （〃History of a Co…operative Farm。〃）
CARLYLE ON THE SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE NATION
FORTY…FIVE YEARS AGO。 Inserted at the earnest request of a friend； who was struck by the coincidence of some ideas； similar to those of this volume； set forth so long ago； but as yet remaining unrealised； and which I had never read。
EXTRACTS FROM 〃PAST AND PRESENT。〃
〃A Prime Minister； even here in England； who shall dare believe the heavenly omens； and address himself like a man and hero to the great dumb…struggling heart of England； and speak out for it； and act out for it； the God's…justice it is writhing to get uttered and perishing for want ofyes； he too will see awaken round him； in passionate； burning； all…defiant loyalty； the heart of England； and such a 'support' as no Division…List or Parliamentary Majority was ever yet known to yield a man！ Here as there； now as then； he who can and dare trust the heavenly Immensities； all earthly Localities are subject to him。 We will pray for such a man and First…Lord；yes； and far better； we will strive and incessantly make ready； each of us； to be worthy to serve and second such a First…Lord！ We shall then be as good as sure of his arriving； sure of many things； let him arrive or not。
〃Who can despair of Governments that passes a Soldier's Guard…house； or meets a red…coated man on the streets？ That a body of men could be got together to kill other men when you bade them： this； a priori； does it not seem one of the impossiblest things？ Yet look； behold it： in the stolidest of Do…nothing Governments； that impossibility is a thing done。〃（Carlyle； 〃Past and Present；〃 page 223。）
〃Strange； interesting； and yet most mournful to reflect on。 Was this； then； of all the things mankind had some talent for； the one thing important to learn well； and bring to perfection； this of successfully killing one another？ Truly； you have learned it well； and carried the business to a high perfection。 It is incalculable what； by arranging； commanding； and regimenting you can make of men。 These thousand straight…standing； firm…set individuals； who shoulder arms； who march； wheel； advance； retreat； and are； for your behoof a magazine charged with fiery death； in the most perfect condition of potential activity。 Few months ago； till the persuasive sergeant came； what were they？ Multiform ragged losels； runaway apprentices； starved weavers thievish valets； an entirely broken population； fast tending towards the treadmill。 But the persuasive sergeant came； by tap of drum enlisted； or formed lists of them； took heartily to drilling them； and he and you have made them this！ Most potent effectual for all work whatsoever； is wise planning； firm； combining； and commanding among men。 Let no man despair of Governments who looks on these two sentries at the Horse Guards and our United Service clubs。 I could conceive an Emigration Service； a Teaching Service； considerable varieties of United and Separate Services； of the due thousands strong； all effective as this Fighting Service is； all doing their work like itwhich work； much more than fighting； is henceforth the necessity of these new ages we are got into！ Much lies among us； convulsively； nigh desperately； struggling to be born。〃（〃Past and Present；〃 page 224。）
〃It was well； all this； we know； and yet it was not well。 Forty soldiers； I am told； will disperse the largest Spitalfields mob； forty to ten thousand； that is the proportion between drilled and undrilled。 Much there is which cannot yet be organised in this world； but somewhat also which cansomewhat also which must。 When one thinks； for example； what books are become and becoming for us； what operative Lancashires are become； what a Fourth Estate and innumerable virtualities not yet got to be actualities are become and becoming； one sees organisms enough in the dim huge future； and 'United Services' quite other than the redcoat one； and much； even in these years； struggling to be born！〃（〃Past and Present；〃 page 226。）
〃An effective 'Teaching Service；' I do consider that there must be； some education secretary； captain…general of teachers； who will actually contrive to get us taught。 Then again； why should there not be an 'Emigration Service；' and secretary with adjuncts； with funds； forces； idle navy ships； and ever…increasing apparatus； in fine an effective system of emigration； so that at length before our twenty years of respite ended； every honest willing workman who found England too strait； and the 'organisation of labour' not yet sufficiently advanced； might find likewise a bridge built to carry him into new western lands； there to 'organise' with more elbow room some labour for himself？ There to be a real blessing； raising new corn for us； purchasing new webs and hatchets from us； leaving us at least in peace； instead of staying here to be a physical…force Chartist； unblessed and no blessing！ Is it not scandalous to consider that a Prime Minister could raise within the year； as I have seen it done； a hundred and twenty millions sterling to shoot the French； and we are stopped short for want of the hundredth part of that to keep the English living？ The bodies of the English living； and the souls of the English living； these two 'Services；' an Education Service and an Emigration Service； these with others； will have actually to be organised。
〃A free bridge for emigrants！ Why； we should then be on a par with America itself； the most favoured of all lands that have no government； and we should have； besides； so many traditions and mementos of priceless things which America has cast away。 We could proceed deliberately to organise labour not doomed to perish unless we effected it within year and day every willing worker that proved superfluous； finding a bridge ready for him。 This verily will have to be done； the time is big with this。 Our little Isle is grown too narrow for us； but the world is wide enough yet for another six thousand years。 England's sure markets will be among new colonies of Englishmen in all quarters of the Globe。 All men trade with all men when mutually convenient； and are even bound to do it by the Maker of Men。 Our friends of China； who guiltily refused to trade in these circumstanceshad we not to argue with them； in cannon…shot at last； and convince them that they ought to trade？ 'Hostile tariffs' will arise to shut us out； and then； again； will fall； to let us in； but the sons of Englandspeakers of the English language； were it nothing morewill in all times have the ineradicable predisposition to trade with England。 Mycale was the Pan…Ionianrendezvous of all the tribes of Ionfor old Greece； why should not London long continue the All Saxon Home； rendezvous of all the 'Children of the Harz…Rock；' arriving； in select samples； from the Antipodes and elsewhere by steam and otherwise； to the 'season' here？ What a future！ Wide as the world； if we have the heart and heroism for it； which； by Heaven's blessing； we shall。
〃Keep not standing fixed and rooted； Briskly venture； briskly roam； Head and hand； where'er thou foot it； And stout heart are still at home。 In what land the sun does visit Brisk are we； what e'er betide； To give space for wandering is it That the world was made so wide。
〃Fourteen hundred years ago it was a considerable 'Emigration Service；' never doubt it； by much enlistment； discussion； and apparatus that we ourselves arrived in this remarkable island； and got into our present difficulties among others。〃（〃Past and Present；〃 pages 228…230）
〃The main substance of this immense problem of organising labour； and first of all of managing the working classes； will； it is very clear； have to be solved by those who stand practically in the middle of it； by those who themselves work and preside over work。 Of all that can be enacted by any Parliament in regard to it； the germs must already lie potentially extant in those two classes who are to obey such enactment。 A human chaos in which there is no light； you vainly attempt to irradiate by light shed on it； order never can arise there。〃 （〃Past and Pre
