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！
terrible calamities； following each other in the short space of
fifty years； seem to have welded together； by a community of
suffering； all ranks and races； at least south of the Tweed； and
when the English rose after the storm； they rose as one homogeneous
people； never to be governed again by an originally alien race。 The
English nobility were； from the time of Magna Charta； rather an
official nobility； than； as in most continental countries； a
separate caste； and whatever caste tendencies had developed
themselves before the Wars of the Roses （as such are certain to do
during centuries of continued wealth and power）； were crushed out by
the great revolutionary events of the next hundred years。
Especially did the discovery of the New World； the maritime struggle
with Spain； the outburst of commerce and colonisation during the
reigns of Elizabeth and James； help toward this good result。 It was
in vain for the Lord Oxford of the day； sneering at Raleigh's sudden
elevation； to complain that as on the virginals； so in the State；
〃Jacks went up； and heads went down。〃 The proudest noblemen were
not ashamed to have their ventures on the high seas； and to send
their younger sons trading； or buccaneering； under the conduct of
low…born men like Drake； who 〃would like to see the gentleman that
would not set his hand to a rope； and hale and draw with the
mariners。〃 Thus sprang up that respect for； even fondness for；
severe bodily labour； which the educated class of no nation save our
own has ever felt； and which has stood them in such good stead；
whether at home or abroad。 Thus； too； sprang up the system of
society by which （as the ballad sets forth） the squire's son might
be a 〃'prentice good；〃 and marry
〃The bailiff's daughter dear
That dwelt at Islington；〃
without tarnishing； as he would have done on the Continent； the
scutcheon of his ancestors。 That which has saved England from a
central despotism； such as crushed； during the eighteenth century；
every nation on the Continent； is the very same peculiarity which
makes the advent of the masses to a share in political power safe
and harmless； namely； the absence of caste； or rather （for there is
sure to be a moral fact underlying and causing every political fact）
the absence of that wicked pride which perpetuates caste； forbidding
those to intermarry whom nature and fact pronounce to be fit mates
before God and man。
These views are not mine only。 They have been already set forth so
much more forcibly by M。 de Tocqueville； that I should have thought
it unnecessary to talk about them； were not the rhetorical phrases；
〃Caste；〃 〃Privileged Classes；〃 〃Aristocratic Exclusiveness；〃 and
such…like； bandied about again just now； as if they represented
facts。 If there remain in this kingdom any facts which correspond
to those words； let them be abolished as speedily as possible： but
that such do remain was not the opinion of the master of modern
political philosophy； M。 de Tocqueville。
He expresses his surprise 〃that the fact which distinguishes England
from all other modern nations； and which alone can throw light on
her peculiarities； 。 。 。 has not attracted more attention； 。 。 。 and
that habit has rendered it； as it were； imperceptible to the English
themselvesthat England was the only country in which the system of
caste had been not only modified； but effectually destroyed。 The
nobility and the middle classes followed the same business； embraced
the same professions； and； what is far more significant；
intermarried with each other。 The daughter of the greatest
nobleman〃 （and this； if true of the eighteenth century； has become
far more true of the nineteenth） 〃could already； without disgrace；
marry a man of yesterday。〃 。 。 。
〃It has often been remarked that the English nobility has been more
prudent； more able； and less exclusive than any other。 It would
have been much nearer the truth to say； that in England； for a very
long time past； no nobility； properly so called； have existed； if we
take the word in the ancient and limited sense it has everywhere
else retained。〃 。 。 。
〃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。
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 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 t