latter-day pamphlets-第31章
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manifold though they are； have not yet quite deserved！
Who； then； is to be the Reforming Statesman； and begin the noble work for us？ He is the preliminary； one such； with him we may prosecute the enterprise to length after length； without him we cannot stir in it at all。 A true _king_； temporary king； that dare undertake the government of Britain； on condition of beginning in sacred earnest to 〃reform〃 it； not at this or that extremity； but at the heart and centre。 That will expurgate Downing Street； and the practical Administration of our Affairs； clear out its accumulated mountains of pendantries and cobwebs； bid the Pedants and the Dullards depart； bid the Gifted and the Seeing enter and inhabit。 So that henceforth there be Heavenly light there； instead of Stygian dusk； that God's vivifying light instead of Satan's deadening and killing dusk； may radiate therefrom； and visit with healing all regions of this British Empire；which now writhes through every limb of it； in dire agony as if of death！ The enterprise is great； the enterprise may be called formidable and even awful； but there is none nobler among the sublunary affairs of mankind just now。 Nay tacitly it is the enterprise of every man who undertakes to be British Premier in these times；and I cannot esteem him an enviable Premier who； because the engagement is _tacit_； flatters himself that it does not exist！ 〃Show it me in the bond；〃 he says。 Your Lordship； it actually exists： and I think you will see it yet； in another kind of 〃bond〃 than that sheepskin one！
But truly； in any time； what a strange feeling； enough to alarm a very big Lordship； this： that he； of the size he is； has got to the apex of English affairs！ Smallest wrens； we know； by training and the aid of machinery； are capable of many things。 For this world abounds in miraculous combinations； far transcending anything they do at Drury Lane in the melodramatic way。 A world which； as solid as it looks； is made all of aerial and even of spiritual stuff； permeated all by incalculable sleeping forces and electricities； and liable to go off； at any time； into the hugest developments； upon a scratch thoughtfully or thoughtlessly given on the right point：Nay； for every one of us； could not the sputter of a poor pistol…shot shrivel the Immensities together like a burnt scroll； and make the Heavens and the Earth pass away with a great noise？ Smallest wrens； and canary…birds of some dexterity； can be trained to handle lucifer…matches； and have； before now； fired off whole powder…magazines and parks of artillery。 Perhaps without much astonishment to the canary…bird。 The canary…bird can hold only its own quantity of astonishment； and may possibly enough retain its presence of mind； were even Doomsday to come。 It is on this principle that I explain to myself the equanimity of some men and Premiers whom we have known。
This and the other Premier seems to take it with perfect coolness。 And yet； I say； what a strange feeling； to find himself Chief Governor of England； girding on； upon his moderately sized new soul； the old battle…harness of an Oliver Cromwell； an Edward Longshanks； a William Conqueror。 〃I； then； am the Ablest of English attainable Men？ This English People； which has spread itself over all lands and seas； and achieved such works in the ages；which has done America； India； the Lancashire Cotton…trade； Bromwicham Iron…trade； Newton's Principia； Shakspeare's Dramas； and the British Constitution；the apex of all its intelligences and mighty instincts and dumb longings： it is I？ William Conqueror's big gifts； and Edward's and Elizabeth's； Oliver's lightning soul； noble as Sinai and the thunders of the Lord： these are mine； I begin to perceive；to a certain extent。 These heroisms have I；though rather shy of exhibiting them。 These； and something withal of the huge beaver…faculty of our Arkwrights； Brindleys； touches too of the phoenix…melodies and _sunny_ heroisms of our Shakspeares； of our Singers； Sages and inspired Thinkers all this is in me； I will hope；though rather shy of exhibiting it on common occasions。 The Pattern Englishman； raised by solemn acclamation upon the bucklers of the English People； and saluted with universal 'God save THEE！'has now the honor to announce himself。 After fifteen hundred years of constitutional study as to methods of raising on the bucklers； which is the operation of operations； the English People； surely pretty well skilled in it by this time； has raisedthe remarkable individual now addressing you。 The best…combined sample of whatsoever divine qualities are in this big People； the consummate flower of all that they have done and been； the ultimate product of the Destinies； and English man of men； arrived at last in the fulness of time； iswho think you？ Ye worlds； the Ithuriel javelin by which； with all these heroisms and accumulated energies old and new； the English People means to smite and pierce； is this poor tailor's…bodkin； hardly adequate to bore an eylet…hole； who now has the honor to〃Good Heavens； if it were not that men generally are very much of the canary…bird； here； are reflections sufficient to annihilate any man； almost before starting！
But to us also it ought to be a very strange reflection！ This； then； is the length we have brought it to； with our constitutioning； and ballot…boxing； and incessant talk and effort in every kind for so many centuries back； this？ The golden flower of our grand alchemical projection； which has set the world in astonishment so long； and been the envy of surrounding nations； iswhat we here see。 To be governed by his Lordship； and guided through the undiscovered paths of Time by this respectable degree of human faculty。 With our utmost soul's travail we could discover； by the sublimest methods eulogized by all the world； no abler Englishman than this？
Really it should make us pause upon the said sublime methods； and ask ourselves very seriously； whether； notwithstanding the eulogy of all the world； they can be other than extremely astonishing methods； that require revisal and reconsideration very much indeed！ For the kind of 〃man〃 we get to govern us； all conclusions whatsoever centre there； and likewise all manner of issues flow infallibly therefrom。 〃Ask well； who is your Chief Governor；〃 says one： 〃for around him men like to him will infallibly gather； and by degrees all the world will be made in his image。〃 〃He who is himself a noble man； has a chance to know the nobleness of men； he who is not； has none。 And as for the poor Public；alas； is not the kind of 'man' you set upon it the liveliest symbol of its and your veracity and victory and blessedness； or unveracity and misery and cursedness； the general summation and practical outcome of all else whatsoever in the Public and in you？〃
Time was when an incompetent Governor could not be permitted among men。 He was； and had to be； by one method or the other； clutched up from his place at the helm of affairs； and hurled down into the hold； perhaps even overboard； if he could not really steer。 And we call those ages barbarous； because they shuddered to see a Phantasm at the helm of their affairs； an eyeless Pilot with constitutional spectacles； steering by the ear mainly？ And we have changed all that； no…government is now the best； and a tailor's foreman； who gives no trouble； is preferable to any other for governing？ My friends； such truly is the current idea； but you dreadfully mistake yourselves； and the fact is not such。 The fact； now beginning to disclose itself again in distressed Needlewomen； famishing Connaughts； revolting Colonies； and a general rapid advance towards Social Ruin； remains really what it always was； and will so remain！
Men have very much forgotten it at present； and only here a man and there a man begins again to bethink himself of it： but all men will gradually get reminded of it； perhaps terribly to their cost； and the sooner they all lay it to heart again； I think it will be the better。 For in spite of our oblivion of it； the thing remains forever true； nor is there any Constitution or body of Constitutions； were they clothed with never such venerabilities and general acceptabilities； that avails to deliver a
