in darkest england and the way out-第69节
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se they have to superintend。 The Colonists will be divided into two classes： the 1st； the class which receives no wages will consist of：
（a） The new arrivals； whose ability； character； and habits are as yet unknown。 （b） The less capable in strength； mental calibre； or other capacity。 （c） The indolent； and those whose conduct and character appeared doubtful。 These would remain in this class； until sufficiently improved for advancement； or are pronounced so hopeless as to justify expulsion。
The 2nd class would have a small extra allowance； a part of which would be given to the workers for private use； and a part reserved for future contingencies； the payment of travelling expenses； etc。 From this class we should obtain our petty officers； send out hired labourers； emigrants； etc。； etc。
Such is the Scheme as I have conceived it。 Intelligently applied； and resolutely persevered in； I cannot doubt that it will produce a great and salutary change in the condition of many of the most hopeless of our fellow countrymen。 Nor is it only our fellow countrymen to whom it is capable of application。 In its salient features； with such alterations as are necessary； owing to differences of climate and of race； it is capable of adoption in every city in the world； for it is an attempt to restore to the masses of humanity that are crowded together in cities； the human and natural elements of life which they possessed when they lived in the smaller unit of the village or the market town。 Of the extent of the need there can be no question。 It is； perhaps； greatest in London； where the masses of population are denser than those of any other city； but it exists equally in the chief centres of population in the new Englands that have sprung up beyond the sea； as well as in the larger cities of Europe。 It is a remarkable fact that up to the present moment the most eager welcome that has been extended to this Scheme reaches us from Melbourne； where our officers have been compelled to begin operations by the pressure of public opinion and in compliance with the urgent entreaties of the Government on one side and the leaders of the working classes on the other before the plan had been elaborated； or instructions could be sent out for their guidance。
It is rather strange to hear of distress reaching starvation point in a city like Melbourne； the capital of a great new country which teems with natural wealth of every kind。 But Melbourne； too； has its unemployed； and in no city in the Empire have we been more successful in dealing with the social problem than in the capital of Victoria。 The Australian papers for some weeks back have been filled with reports of the dealings of the Salvation Army with the unemployed of Melbourne。 This was before the great Strike。 The Government of Victoria practically threw upon our officers the task of dealing with the unemployed。 The subject was debated in the House of Assembly； and at the close of the debate a subscription was taken up by one of those who had been our most strenuous opponents； and a sum of #400 was handed over to our officers to dispense in keeping the starving from perishing。 Our people have found situations for no fewer than 1；776 persons； and are dispensing meals at the rate of 700 a day。 The Government of Victoria has long been taking the lead in recognising the secular uses of the Salvation Army。 The following letter addressed by the Minister of the Interior to the Officer charged with the oversight of this part of our operations； indicates the estimation in which we are held：
Government of Victoria； Chief Secretary's Office； Melbourne。
July 4th； 1889。
Superintendent Salvation Army Rescue Work。
Sir；in compliance with your request for a letter of introduction which may be of use to you in England； I have much pleasure in stating from reports furnished by Officers of my Department； I am convinced that the work you have been engaged on during the past six years has been of material advantage to the community。 You have rescued from crime some who； but for the counsel and assistance rendered them； might have been a permanent tax upon the State； and you have restrained from further criminal courses others who had already suffered legal punishment for their misdeeds。 It has given me pleasure to obtain from the Executive Council authority for you to apprehend children found in Brothels； and to take charge of such children after formal committal。 Of the great value of this branch of your work there can be no question。 It is evident that the attendance of yourself and your Officers at the police…courts and lock…ups has been attended with beneficial results； and your invitation to our largest jails has been highly approved by the head of the Department。 Generally speaking； I may say that your policy and procedure have been commended by the Chief Officers of the Government of this Colony； who have observed your work。
I have the honour to be； Sir； Your obedient Servant；
（Signed） ALFRED DEAKIN。
The Victorian Parliament has voted an annual grant to our funds； not as a religious endowment； but in recognition of the service which we render in the reclamation of criminals； and what may be called； if I may use a word which has been so depraved by Continental abuse； the moral police of the city。 Our Officer in Melbourne has an official position which opens to him almost every State institution and all the haunts of vice where it may be necessary for him to make his way in the search for girls that have been decoyed from home or who have fallen into evil courses。
It is in Victoria also that a system prevails of handing over first offenders to the care of the Salvation Army Officers； placing them in recognizance to come up when called for。 An Officer of the Army attends at every Police Court； and the Prison Brigade is always on guard at the gaol doors when the prisoners are discharged。 Our Officers also have free access to the prisons； where they can conduct services and labour with the inmates for their Salvation。 As Victoria is probably the most democratic of our colonies； and the one in which the working…class has supreme control； the extent to which it has by its government recognised the value of our operations is sufficient to indicate that we have nothing to fear from the opposition of the democracy。 In the neighbouring colony of New South Wales a lady has already given us a farm of three hundred acres fully stocked； on which to begin operations with a Farm Colony； and there seems some prospect that the Scheme will get itself into active shape at the other end of the world before it is set agoing in London。 The eager welcome which has thus forced the initiative upon our Officers in Melbourne tends to encourage the expectation that the Scheme will be regarded as no quack application； but will be generally taken up and quickly set in operation all round the world。
CHAPTER 8。 A PRACTICAL CONCLUSION。
Throughout this book I have more constantly used the first personal pronoun than ever before in anything I have written。 I have done this deliberately； not from egotism； but in order to make it more clearly manifest that here is a definite proposal made by an individual who is prepared； if the means are furnished him； to carry it out。 At the same time I want it to be clearly understood that it is not in my own strength； nor at my own charge； that I purpose to embark upon this great undertaking。 Unless God wills that I should work out the idea of which I believe He has given me the conception； nothing can come of any attempt at its execution but confusion； disaster； and disappointment。 But if it be His willand whether it is or not； visible and manifest tokens will soon be forthcomingwho is there that can stand against it？ Trusting in Him for guidance； encouragement； and support； I propose at once to enter upon this formidable campaign。
I do not run without being called。 I do not press forward to fill this breach without being urgently pushed from behind。 Whether or not； I am called of God； as well as by the agonising cries of suffering men and women and children； He will make plain to me； and to us all； for as Gideon looked for a sign before he； at the bidding of the heavenly messenger； undertook the leading of the chosen people against the hosts of Midian； even so do I look for a sign。 Gideon's sign was arbitrary。 He selected it。 He dictated his own terms； and out of compassion for his halting faith； a sign was given to him； and that twice over。 First； his fleece was dry when all the country round was drenched with dew； and； secondly； his fleece was drenched with dew when all the country round was dry。
The sign for which I ask to embolden me to go forwards is single； not double。 It is necessary and not arbitrary； and it is one which the veriest sceptic or the most cynical materialist will recognise as sufficient。 If I am to work out the Scheme I have outlined in this book； I must have ample means for doing so。 How much would be required to establish this Plan of Campaign in all its fulness； overshadowing all the land with its branches laden with all manner of pleasant fruit； I cannot even venture to form a conception。 But I have a def
