evolution and ethics and other essays-第30章
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human labour； it is the necessary antecedent of labour； and it
furnishes the materials on which labour is employed。 The only
indispensable form of capitalvital capitalcannot be produced by
human labour。 All that man can do is to favour its formation by the
real producers。 There is no intrinsic relation between the amount of
labour bestowed on an article and its value in exchange。 The claim of
labour to the total result of operations which are rendered possible
only by capital is simply an a priori iniquity。
＇188＇
V。
SOCIAL DISEASES AND WORSE REMEDIES
LETTERS TO THE 〃TIMES〃 ON MR。 BOOTH'S SCHEME。
WITH A PREFACE AND INTRODUCTORY ESSAY。
＇1891＇
PREFACE
The letters which are here collected together were published in the
〃Times〃 in the course of the months of December； 1890； and January；
1891。
The circumstances which led me to write the first letter are
sufficiently set forth in its opening sentences； and the materials on
which I based my criticisms of Mr。 Booth's scheme； in this and in the
second letter； were wholly derived from Mr。 Booth's book。 I had some
reason to know； however； that when anybody allows his sense of duty so
far to prevail over his sense of the blessedness of peace as to write
a letter to the 〃Times；〃 on any subject of public interest； his
reflections； before he has done with the business； will be very like
＇189＇ those of Johnny Gilpin； 〃who little thought； when he set out； of
running such a rig。〃 Such undoubtedly are mine when I contemplate
these twelve documents； and call to mind the distinct addition to the
revenue of the Post Office which must have accrued from the mass of
letters and pamphlets which have been delivered at my door； to say
nothing of the unexpected light upon my character； motives； and
doctrines； which has been thrown by some of the 〃Times'〃
correspondents； and by no end of comments elsewhere。
If self…knowledge is the highest aim of man； I ought by this time to
have little to learn。 And yet； if I am awake； some of my
teachersunable； perhaps； to control the divine fire of the poetic
imagination which is so closely akin to； if not a part of； the
mythopoeic facultyhave surely dreamed dreams。 So far as my humbler
and essentially prosaic faculties of observation and comparison go；
plain facts are against them。 But； as I may be mistaken； I have
thought it well to prefix to the letters （by way of 〃Prolegomena〃） an
essay which appeared in the 〃Nineteenth Century〃 for January； 1888； in
which the principles that； to my mind； lie at the bottom of the
〃social question〃 are stated。 So far as Individualism and Regimental
Socialism are concerned； this paper simply emphasizes and expands the
opinions expressed in an address to the members of the Midland
Institute； delivered seventeen years earlier； ＇190＇ and still more
fully developed in several essays published in the 〃Nineteenth
Century〃 in 1889； which I hope； before long； to republish。*
* See Collected Essays； vol。 i。 p。 290 to end； and this volume；
p。 147。
The fundamental proposition which runs through the writings； which
thus extend over a。 of twenty years； is； that the common a priori
doctrines and methods of reasoning about political and social
questions are essentially vicious； and that argumentation on this
basis leads； with equal logical force； to two contradictory and
extremely mischievous systems； the one that of Anarchaic
Individualism； the other that of despotic or Regimental Socialism。
Whether I am right or wrong； I am at least consistent in opposing both
to the best of my ability。 Mr。 Booth's system appears to me； and； as I
have shown； is regarded by Socialists themselves； to be mere
autocratic Socialism； masked by its theological exterior。 That the
〃fantastic〃 religious skin will wear away； and the Socialistic reality
it covers will show its real nature； is the expressed hope of one
candid Socialist； and may be fairly conceived to be the unexpressed
belief of the despotic leader of the new Trades Union； who has shown
his zeal； if not his discretion； in championing Mr。 Booth's projects。
＇See Letter VIII。＇
Yet another word to commentators upon my letters。 There are some who
rather chuckle； and ＇191＇ some who sneer； at what they seem to
consider the dexterity of an 〃old controversial hand；〃 exhibited by
the contrast which I have drawn between the methods of conversion
depicted in the New Testament and those pursued by fanatics of the
Salvationist type； whether they be such as are now exploited by Mr。
Booth； or such as those who； from the time of the Anabaptists； to go
no further back； have worked upon similar lines。
Whether such observations were intended to be flattering or sarcastic；
I must respectfully decline to accept the compliment； or to apply the
sarcasm to myself。 I object to obliquity of procedure and ambiguity of
speech in all shapes。 And I confess that I find it difficult to
understand the state of mind which leads any one to suppose； that deep
respect for single…minded devotion to high aims is incompatible with
the unhesitating conviction that those aims include the propagation of
doctrines which are devoid of foundationperhaps even mischievous。
The most degrading feature of the narrower forms of Christianity （of
which that professed by Mr。 Booth is a notable example） is their
insistence that the noblest virtues； if displayed by those who reject
their pitiable formulae； are； as their pet phrase goes； 〃splendid
sins。〃 But there is； perhaps； one step lower； and that is that men；
who profess freedom of thought； should fail to see and ＇192＇
appreciate that large soul of goodness which often animates even the
fanatical adherents of such tenets。 I am sorry for any man who can
read the epistles to the Galatians and the Corinthians without
yielding a large meed of admiration to the fervent humanity of Paul of
Tarsus； who can study the lives of Francis of Assisi； or of Catherine
of Siena； without wishing that； for the furtherance of his own ideals；
he might be even as they； or who can contemplate unmoved the steadfast
veracity and true heroism which loom through the fogs of mystical
utterance in George Fox。 In all these great men and women there lay
the root of the matter； a burning desire to amend the condition of
their fellow…men； and to put aside all other things for that end。 If；
in spite of all the dogmatic helps or hindrances in which they were
entangled； these people are not to be held in high honour； who are？
I have never expressed a doubtfor I have nonethat； when Mr。 Booth
left the Methodist connection； and started that organisation of the
Salvation Army upon which； comparatively recently； such ambitious
schemes of social reform have been grafted； he may have deserved some
share of such honour。 I do not say that； so far as his personal
desires and intentions go； he may not still deserve it。 But the
correlate of despotic authority is unlimited responsibility。 If Mr。
Booth is to take ＇193＇ credit for any good that the Army system has
effected； he must be prepared to bear blame for its inherent evils。 As
it seems to me； that has happened to him which sooner or later happens
to all despots： he has become the slave of his own creationthe
prosperity and glory of the soul…saving machine have become the end；
instead of a means； of soul…saving； and to maintain these at the
proper pitch； the 〃General〃 is led to do things which the Mr。 Booth of
twenty years ago would probably have scorned。
And those who desire； as I most emphatically desire； to be just to Mr。
Booth； however badly they may think of the working of the organization
he has founded； will bear in mind that some astute backers of his
probably care little enough for Salvationist religion； and； perhaps；
are not very keen about many of Mr。 Booth's projects。 I have referred
to the rubbing of the hands of the Socialists over Mr。 Booth's
success；* but； unless I err greatly； there are politicians of a
certain school to whom it affords still greater satisfaction。 Consider
what electioneering agents the captains of the Sal
