the man versus the state-第6章
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State versus the freedom of the individual； Toryism remains Toryism； whether it extends this coercion for selfish or unselfish reasons。 As certainly as the despot is still a despot； whether his motives for arbitrary rule are good or bad； so certainly is the Tory still a Tory； whether he has egoistic or altruistic motives for using State…power to restrict the liberty of the citizen； beyond the degree required for maintaining the liberties of other citizens。 The altruistic Tory as well as the egoistic Tory belongs to the genus Tory； though he forms a new species of the genus。 And both stand in distinct contrast with the Liberal as defined in the days when Liberals were rightly so called； and when the definition was 〃one who advocates greater freedom from restraint； especially in political institutions。〃 Thus； then； is justified the paradox I set out with。 As we have seen； Toryism and Liberalism originally emerged； the one from militancy and the other from industrialism。 The one stood for the regime of status and the other for the regime of contract the one for that system of compulsory co…operation which accompanies the legal inequality of classes； and the other for that voluntary co…operation which accompanies their legal equality； and beyond all question the early acts of the two parties were respectively for the maintenance of agencies which effect this compulsory co…operation； and for the weakening or curbing of them。 Manifestly the implication is that； in so far as it has been extending the system of compulsion； what is now called Liberalism is a new form of Toryism。 How truly this is so； we shall see still more clearly on looking at the facts the other side upwards； which we will presently do。
NOTE By sundry newspapers which noticed this article when it was originally published； the meaning of the above paragraphs was supposed to be that Liberals and Tories have changed places。 This； however； is by no means the implication。 A new species of Tory may arise without disappearance of the original species。 When saying； as on page 70； that in our days 〃Conservatives and Liberals vie with one another in multiplying〃 interferences； I clearly implied the belief that while Liberals have taken to coercive legislation； Conservatives have not abandoned it。 Nevertheless； it is true that the laws made by Liberals are so greatly increasing the compulsions and restraints exercised over citizens； that among Conservatives who suffer from this aggressiveness there is growing up a tendency to resist it。 Proof is furnished by the fact that the 〃Liberty and Property Defence League；〃 largely consisting of Conservatives； has taken for its motto 〃Individualism versus Socialism。〃 So that if the present drift of things continues； it may by and by really happen that the Tories will be defenders of liberties which the Liberals； in pursuit of what they think popular welfare； trample under foot。
THE COMING SLAVERY
The kinship of pity to love is shown among other ways in this； that it idealizes its object。 Sympathy with one in suffering suppresses； for the time being； remembrance of his transgressions。 The feeling which vents itself in 〃poor fellow！〃 on seeing one in agony； excludes the thought of 〃bad fellow；〃 which might at another time arise。 Naturally； then； if the wretched are unknown or but vaguely known； all the demerits they may have are ignored； and thus it happens that when； as just now； the miseries of the poor are depicted； they are thought of as the miseries of the deserving poor； instead of being thought of； as in large measure they should be； as the miseries of the undeserving poor。 Those whose hardships are set forth in pamphlets and proclaimed in sermons and speeches which echo throughout society； are assumed to be all worthy souls； grievously wronged； and none of them are thought of as bearing the penalties of their own misdeeds。 On hailing a cab in a London street； it is surprising how frequently the door is officiously opened by one who expects to get something for his trouble。 The surprise lessens after counting the many loungers about tavern…doors； or after observing the quickness with which a street…performance； or procession； draws from neighbouring slums and stable…yards a group of idlers。 Seeing how numerous they are in every small area； it becomes manifest that tens of thousands of such swarm through London。 〃They have no work；〃 you say。 Say rather that they either refuse work or quickly turn themselves out of it。 They are simply good…for…nothings； who in one way or other live on the good…for…somethings vagrants and sots； criminals and those on the way to crime； youths who are burdens on hard…worked parents； men who appropriate the wages of their wives； fellows who share the gains of prostitutes； and then； less visible and less numerous； there is a corresponding class of women。 Is it natural that happiness should be the lot of such？ or is it natural that they should bring unhappiness on themselves and those connected with them？ Is it not manifest that there must exist in our midst an immense amount of misery which is a normal result of misconduct； and ought not to be dissociated from it？ There is a notion； always more or less prevalent and just now vociferously expressed； that all social suffering is removable； and that it is the duty of somebody or other to remove it。 Both these beliefs are false。 To separate pain from ill…doing is to fight against the constitution of things； and will be followed by far more pain。 Saving men from the natural penalties of dissolute living； eventually necessitates the infliction of artificial penalties in solitary cells； on tread…wheels； and by the lash。 I suppose a dictum； on which the current creed and the creed of science are at one； may be considered to have as high an authority as can be found。 Well； the command 〃if any would not work neither should he eat；〃 is simply a Christian enunciation of that universal law of Nature under which life has reached its present height the law that a creature not energetic enough to maintain itself must die： the sole difference being that the law which in the one case is to be artificially enforced； is； in the other case； a natural necessity。 And yet this particular tenet of their religion which science so manifestly justifies； is the one which Christians seem least inclined to accept。 The current assumption is that there should be no suffering； and that society is to blame for that which exists。 〃But surely we are not without responsibilities； even when the suffering is that of the unworthy？〃 If the meaning of the word 〃we〃 be so expanded as to include with ourselves our ancestors； and especially our ancestral legislators； I agree。 I admit that those who made； and modified； and administered； the old Poor Law； were responsible for producing an appalling amount of demoralization； which it will take more than one generation to remove。 I admit； too； the partial responsibility of recent and present law…makers for relations which have brought into being a permanent body of tramps； who ramble from union to union； and also their responsibility for maintaining a constant supply of felons by sending back convicts into society under such conditions that they are almost compelled again to commit crimes。 Moreover； I admit that the philanthropic are not without their share of responsibility； since； that they may aid the offspring of the unworthy； they disadvantage the offspring of the worthy through burdening their parents by increased local rates。 Nay； I even admit that these swarms of good…for…nothings； fostered and multiplied by public and private agencies； have； by sundry mischievous meddlings； been made to suffer more than they would otherwise have suffered。 Are these the responsibilities meant？ I suspect not。 But now； leaving the question of responsibilities； however conceived； and considering only the evil itself； what shall we say of its treatment？ Let me begin with a fact。
A late uncle of nine； the Rev Thomas Spencer； for some twenty years incumbent of Hinton Charterhouse； near Bath； no sooner entered on his parish duties than he proved himself anxious for the welfare of the poor； by establishing a school； a library；
