太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > wealbk05 >

第26节

wealbk05-第26节

小说: wealbk05 字数: 每页4000字

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!




     The public can facilitate this acquisition by establishing

in every parish or district a little school; where children may

be taught for a reward so moderate that even a common labourer

may afford it; the master being partly; but not wholly; paid by

the public; because; if he was wholly; or even principally; paid

by it; he would soon learn to neglect his business。 In Scotland

the establishment of such parish schools has taught almost the

whole common people to read; and a very great proportion of them

to write and account。 In England the establishment of charity

schools has had an effect of the same kind; though not so

universally; because the establishment is not so universal。 If in

those little schools the books; by which the children are taught

to read; were a little more instructive than they commonly are;

and if; instead of a little smattering of Latin; which the

children of the common people are sometimes taught there; and

which can scarce ever be of any use to them; they were instructed

in the elementary parts of geometry and mechanics; the literary

education of this rank of people would perhaps be as complete as

it can be。 There is scarce a common trade which does not afford

some opportunities of applying to it the principles of geometry

and mechanics; and which would not therefore gradually exercise

and improve the common people in those principles; the necessary

introduction to the most sublime as well as to the most useful

sciences。

     The public can encourage the acquisition of those most

essential parts of education by giving small premiums; and little

badges of distinction; to the children of the common people who

excel in them。

     The public can impose upon almost the whole body of the

people the necessity of acquiring those most essential parts of

education; by obliging every man to undergo an examination or

probation in them before he can obtain the freedom in any

corporation; or be allowed to set up any trade either in a

village or town corporate。

     It was in this manner; by facilitating the acquisition of

their military and gymnastic exercises; by encouraging it; and

even by imposing upon the whole body of the people the necessity

of learning those exercises; that the Greek and Roman republics

maintained the martial spirit of their respective citizens。 They

facilitated the acquisition of those exercises by appointing a

certain place for learning and practising them; and by granting

to certain masters the privilege of teaching in that place。 Those

masters do not appear to have had either salaries or exclusive

privileges of any kind。 Their reward consisted altogether in what

they got from their scholars; and a citizen who had learnt his

exercises in the public gymnasia had no sort of legal advantage

over one who had learnt them privately; provided the latter had

learnt them equally well。 Those republics encouraged the

acquisition of those exercises by bestowing little premiums and

badges of distinction upon: those who excelled in them。 To have

gained a prize in the Olympic; Isthmian; or Nemaean games; gave

illustration; not only to the person who gained it; but to his

whole family and kindred。 The obligation which every citizen was

under to serve a certain number of years; if called upon; in the

armies of the republic; sufficiently imposed the necessity of

learning those exercises; without which he could not be fit for

that service。

     That in the progress of improvement the practice of military

exercises; unless government takes proper pains to support it;

goes gradually to decay; and; together with it; the martial

spirit of the great body of the people; the example of modern

Europe sufficiently demonstrates。 But the security of every

society must always depend; more or less; upon the martial spirit

of the great body of the people。 In the present times; indeed;

that martial spirit alone; and unsupported by a well…disciplined

standing army; would not perhaps be sufficient for the defence

and security of any society。 But where every citizen had the

spirit of a soldier; a smaller standing army would surely be

requisite。 That spirit; besides; would necessarily diminish very

much the dangers to liberty; whether real or imaginary; which are

commonly apprehended from a standing army。 As it would very much

facilitate the operations of that army against a foreign invader;

so it would obstruct them as much if; unfortunately; they should

ever be directed against the constitution of the state。

     The ancient institutions of Greece and Rome seem to have

been much more effectual for maintaining the martial spirit of

the great body of the people than the establishment of what are

called the militias of modern times。 They were much more simple。

When they were once established they executed themselves; and it

required little or no attention from government to maintain them

in the most perfect vigour。 Whereas to maintain; even in

tolerable execution; the complex regulations of any modern

militia; requires the continual and painful attention of

government; without which they are constantly falling into total

neglect and disuse。 The influence; besides; of the ancient

institutions was much more universal。 By means of them the whole

body of the people was completely instructed in the use of arms。

Whereas it is but a very small part of them who can ever be so

instructed by the regulations of any modern militia; except;

perhaps; that of Switzerland。 But a coward; a man incapable

either of defending or of revenging himself; evidently wants one

of the most essential parts of the character of a man。 He is as

much mutilated and deformed in his mind as another is in his

body; who is either deprived of some of its most essential

members; or has lost the use of them。 He is evidently the more

wretched and miserable of the two; because happiness and misery;

which reside altogether in the mind; must necessarily depend more

upon the healthful or unhealthful; the mutilated or entire state

of the mind; than upon that of the body。 Even though the martial

spirit of the people were of no use towards the defence of the

society; yet to prevent that sort of mental mutilation;

deformity; and wretchedness; which cowardice necessarily involves

in it; from spreading themselves through the great body of the

people; would still deserve the most serious attention of

government; in the same manner as it would deserve its most

serious attention to prevent a leprosy or any other loathsome and

offensive disease; though neither mortal nor dangerous; from

spreading itself among them; though perhaps no other public good

might result from such attention besides the prevention of so

great a public evil。

     The same thing may be said of the gross ignorance and

stupidity which; in a civilised society; seem so frequently to

benumb the understandings of all the inferior ranks of people。 A

man without the proper use of the intellectual faculties of a

man; is; if possible; more contemptible than even a coward; and

seems to be mutilated and deformed in a still more essential part

of the character of human nature。 Though the state was to derive

no advantage from the instruction of the inferior ranks of

people; it would still deserve its attention that they should not

be altogether uninstructed。 The state; however; derives no

inconsiderable advantage from their instruction。 The more they

are instructed the less liable they are to the delusions of

enthusiasm and superstition; which; among ignorant nations;

frequently occasion the most dreadful disorders。 An instructed

and intelligent people; besides; are always more decent and

orderly than an ignorant and stupid one。 They feel themselves;

each individually; more respectable and more likely to obtain the

respect of their lawful superiors; and they are therefore more

disposed to respect those superiors。 They are more disposed to

examine; and more capable of seeing through; the interested

complaints of faction and sedition; and they are; upon that

account; less apt to be misled into any wanton or unnecessary

opposition to the measures of government。 In free countries;

where the safety of government depends very much upon the

favourable judgment which the people may form of its conduct; it

must surely be of the highest importance that they should not be

disposed to judge rashly or capriciously concerning it。 

                          ARTICLE III    Of the Expense of the

Institutions for the Instruction of

                      People of all Ages 

     The institutions for the instruction of people of all ages

are chiefly those for religious instruction。 This is a species of

instruction of which the object is not so much to render the

people good citizens in this world; as to prepare them for

another and a better world in a life to come。 The teachers of the

doctrine which contains this instructio

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的