the ancien regime(古兵团)-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃For several centuries the word 'gentleman'〃 （he might have added；
〃burgess〃） 〃has altogether changed its meaning in England； and the word
'roturier' has ceased to exist。 In each succeeding century it is applied to
persons placed somewhat lower in the social scale〃 （as the 〃bagman〃 of
Pickwick has become； and has deserved to become； the 〃commercial
gentleman〃 of our day）。 〃At length it travelled with the English to
America； where it is used to designate every citizen indiscriminately。 Its
history is that of democracy itself。〃 。 。 。
〃If the middle classes of England； instead of making war upon the
aristocracy； have remained so intimately connected with it； it is not
especially because the aristocracy is open to all； but rather； because its
outline was indistinct； and its limit unknown： not so much because any
man might be admitted into it； as because it was impossible to say with
certainty when he took rank there： so that all who approached it might
look on themselves as belonging to it； might take part in its rule； and
derive either lustre or profit from its influence。〃
Just so； and therefore the middle classes of Britain； of whatever their
special political party； are conservative in the best sense of that word。
7
… Page 8…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
For there are not three； but only two； classes in England； namely； rich
and poor： those who live by capital （from the wealthiest landlord to the
smallest village shopkeeper）； and those who live by hand…labour。
Whether the division between those two classes is increasing or not； is a
very serious question。 Continued legislation in favour of the hand…
labourer； and a beneficence towards him； when in need； such as no other
nation on earth has ever shown； have done much to abolish the moral
division。 But the social division has surely been increased during the last
half century； by the inevitable tendency； both in commerce and agriculture；
to employ one large capital； where several small ones would have been
employed a century ago。 The large manufactory； the large shop； the large
estate； the large farm； swallows up the small ones。 The yeoman； the
thrifty squatter who could work at two or three trades as well as till his
patch of moor； the hand…loom weaver； the skilled village craftsman； have
all but disappeared。 The handworker； finding it more and more difficult
to invest his savings； has been more and more tempted to squander them。
To rise to the dignity of a capitalist； however small； was growing
impossible to him； till the rise of that co…operative movement； which will
do more than any social or political impulse in our day for the safety of
English society； and the loyalty of the English working classes。 And
meanwhileere that movement shall have spread throughout the length
and breadth of the land； and have been applied； as it surely will be some
day； not only to distribution； not only to manufacture； but to agriculture
likewisetill then； the best judges of the working men's worth must be
their employers； and especially the employers of the northern
manufacturing population。 What their judgment is； is sufficiently
notorious。 Those who depend most on the working men； who have the
best opportunities of knowing them； trust them most thoroughly。 As long
as great manufacturers stand forward as the political sponsors of their own
workmen； it behoves those who cannot have had their experience； to
consider their opinion as conclusive。 As for that 〃influence of the higher
classes〃 which is said to be endangered just now； it will exist； just as much
as it deserves to exist。 Any man who is superior to the many； whether in
talents； education； refinement； wealth； or anything else； will always be
8
… Page 9…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
able to influence a number of menand if he thinks it worth his while； of
votesby just and lawful means。 And as for unjust and unlawful means；
let those who prefer them keep up heart。 The world will go on much as it
did before； and be always quite bad enough to allow bribery and
corruption； jobbery and nepotism； quackery and arrogance； their full
influence over our home and foreign policy。 An extension of the suffrage；
however wide； will not bring about the millennium。 It will merely make
a large number of Englishmen contented and loyal； instead of discontented
and disloyal。 It may make； too； the educated and wealthy classes wiser
by awakening a wholesome fearperhaps； it may be； by awakening a
chivalrous emulation。 It may put the younger men of the present
aristocracy upon their mettle； and stir them up to prove that they are not in
the same effete condition as was the French noblesse in 1789。 It may
lead them to take the warnings which have been addressed to them； for the
last thirty years； by their truest friendsoften by kinsmen of their own。 It
may lead them to ask themselves why； in a world which is governed by a
just God； such great power as is palpably theirs at present is entrusted to
them； save that they may do more work； and not less； than other men；
under the penalties pronounced against those to whom much is given； and
of whom much is required。 It may lead them to discover that they are in
a world where it is not safe to sit under the tree； and let the ripe fruit drop
into your mouth； where the 〃competition of species〃 works with ruthless
energy among all ranks of being； from kings upon their thrones to the
weeds upon the waste； where 〃he that is not hammer； is sure to be anvil；〃
and he who will not work； neither shall he eat。 It may lead them to
devote that energy （in which they surpass so far the continental
aristocracies） to something better than outdoor amusements or indoor
dilettantisms。 There are those among them who； like one section of the
old French noblesse； content themselves with mere complaints of 〃the
revolutionary tendencies of the age。〃 Let them beware in time； for when
the many are on the march； the few who stand still are certain to be walked
over。 There are those among them who； like another section of the
French noblesse； are ready； more generously than wisely； to throw away
their own social and political advantages； and play （for it will never be
9
… Page 10…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
really more than playing） at democracy。 Let them； too； beware。 The
penknife and the axe should respect each other； for they were wrought
from the same steel： but the penknife will not be wise in trying to fell
trees。 Let them accept their own position； not in conceit and arrogance；
but in fear and tremblin
