the man versus the state-第12节
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has to be framed out of existing human nature； and the defects of existing human nature will generate in the one the same evils as in the other。 The love of power； the selfishness； the injustice； the untruthfulness； which often in comparatively short times bring private organizations to disaster； will inevitably； where their effects accumulate from generation to generation； work evils far greater and less remediable； since； vast and complex and possessed of all the resources； the administrative organization once developed and consolidated； must become irresistible。 And if there needs proof that the periodic exercise of electoral power would fail to prevent this； it suffices to instance the French Government； which； purely popular in origin； and subject at short intervals to popular judgment； nevertheless tramples on the freedom of citizens to an extent which the English delegates to the late Trades Unions Congress say 〃is a disgrace to； and an anomaly in； a Republican nation。〃 The final result would be a revival of despotism。 A disciplined army of civil officials； like an army of military officials； gives supreme power to its head a power which has often led to usurpation； as in medieval Europe and still more in Japan nay； has thus so led among our neighbours； within our own times。 The recent confessions of M。 de Maupas have shown how readily a constitutional head； elected and trusted by the whole people； may； with the aid of a few unscrupulous confederates； paralyse the representative body and make himself autocrat。 That those who rose to power in a socialistic organization would not scruple to carry out their aims at all costs； we have good reason for concluding。 When we find that shareholders who； sometimes gaining but often losing； have made that railway system by which national prosperity has been so greatly increased； are spoken of by the council of the Democratic Federation as having 〃laid hands〃 on the means of communication； we may infer that those who directed a socialistic administration might interpret with extreme perversity the claims of individuals and classes under their control。 And when； further； we find members of this same council urging that the State should take possession of the railways； 〃with or without compensation；〃 we may suspect that the heads of the ideal society desired； would be but little deterred by considerations of equity from pursuing whatever policy they thought needful： a policy which would always be one identified with their own supremacy。 It would need but a war with an adjacent society； or some internal discontent demanding forcible suppression； to at once transform a socialistic administration into a grinding tyranny like that of ancient Peru； under which the mass of the people； controlled by grades of officials； and leading lives that were inspected out…of…doors and indoors； laboured for the support of the organization which regulated them； and were left with but a bare subsistence for themselves。 And then would be completely revived； under a different form； that regime of status that system of compulsory co…operation； the decaying tradition of which is represented by the old Toryism； and towards which the new Toryism is caring us back。 〃But we shall be on our guard against all that we shall take precautions to ward off such disasters；〃 will doubtless say the enthusiasts。 Be they 〃practical〃 politicians with their new regulative measures； or communists with their schemes for re…organizing labour； their reply is ever the same： 〃It is true that plans of kindred nature have； from unforeseen causes or adverse accidents； or the misdeeds of those concerned； been brought to failure； but this time we shall profit by past experiences and succeed。〃 There seems no getting people to accept the truth； which nevertheless is conspicuous enough； that the welfare of a society and the justice of its arrangements are at bottom dependent on the characters of its members； and that improvement in neither can take place without that improvement in character which results from caring on peaceful industry under the restraints imposed by an orderly social life。 The belief； not only of the socialists but also of those so…called Liberals who are diligently preparing the way for them； is that by due skill an ill…working humanity may be framed into well…working institutions。 It is a delusion。 The defective natures of citizens will show themselves in the bad acting of whatever social structure they are arranged into。 There is no political alchemy by which you can get golden conduct out of leaden instincts。
NOTE Two replies by socialists to the foregoing article have appeared since its publication Socialism and Slavery by H。M。 Hyndman and Herbert Spencer on Socialism by Frank Fairman。 Notice of them here must be limited to saying that； as usual with antagonists； they ascribe to me opinions which I do not hold。 Disapproval of Socialism does not； as Mr Hyndman assumes； necessitate approval of existing arrangements。 Many things he reprobates I reprobate quite as much； but I dissent from his remedy。 The gentleman who writes under the pseudonym of 〃Frank Fairman；〃 reproaches me with having receded from that sympathetic defence of the labouring classes which he finds in Social Statics； but I am quite unconscious of any such change as he alleges。 Looking with a lenient eye upon the irregularities of those whose lives are hard； by no means involves tolerance of good…for…nothings。
NOTES：
1。 Hansard's Parliamentary History； 32。 p。 710。
2。 Fortnightly Review； January； 1884； p。 17。
3。 Factories and Workshops Act； 41 and 42 Vic。； cap。 16。
4。 See letter of Local Government； Times； January 2； 1884。
5。 Verification comes more promptly than I expected。 This article has been standing intype since January 30； and in the interval； namely on March 13； the London School Board resolved to apply for authority to use local charitable funds for supplying gratis meals and clothing to indigent children。 Presently the definition of 〃indigent〃 will be widened； more children will be included and more funds aked for。
6。 Fortnightly Review； January； 1884。
7。 Russia； I。 422。
8。 Socialism made Plain； Review； 185； Fleet Street。
9。 If any one thinks such fears are groundless； let him contemplate the fact that from 1867…8 to 1880…1； our annual local expenditure for the United Kingdom has grown from *36；132；834 to *63；276；283； and that during the same 13 years； the municipal expenditure in England and Wales alone； has grown from 13 millions to 30 millions a year！ How the increase of public burdens will join with othe causes in bringing about public ownership； is shown by a statement made by Mr W。 Rathbone； M。P。； to which any attention has been drawn since the above paragraph was in type。 He says； 〃within my own experience； local taxation in New York has risen from 12s 6d per cent to *2 12s 6d per cent on the capital of its citizens a charge which would more than absorb the whole income of an average English landlord。〃 Nineteenth Century； February； 1883。
10。 Fortnightly Review； November； 1883； pp。 619…20。
11。 Lactant。 De M。 Persecut； cc。 7； 23。
12。 Taine； L'Ancien Regime； pp。 337…8 （in the English translation）。
13。 Report of Commissioners for Inquiry into the Admistration and Practical Operation of the Poor Laws； p。 37。 February 20； 1834。
THE SINS OF LEGISLATORS
Be it or be it not true that Man is shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin； it is unquestionably true that Government is begotten of aggression and by aggression。 In small undeveloped societies where for ages complete peace has continued； there exists nothing like what we call Government： no coercive agency； but mere honorary headship； if any headship at all。 In these exceptional communities； unaggressive and from special causes unaggressed upon； there is so little deviation from the virtues of truthfulness； honesty； justice； and generosity； that nothing beyond an occasional expression of public opinion by informally…assembled elders is needful。（1*） Conversely； we find proofs that； at first recognized but temporarily during leadership in war； the authority of a chief is permanently established by continuity of war； and grows strong where successful aggression ends in subjection of neighbouring tribes。 And thence onwards； examples furnished by all races put beyond doubt the truth； that the coercive power of the chief； developing into king； and king of kings （a frequent title in the ancient East）； becomes great in proportion as conquest becomes habitual and the union of subdued nations extensive。（2*） Comparisons disclose a further truth which should be ever present to us the truth that the aggressiveness of the ruling power inside a society increases with its aggressiveness outside the society。 As； to make an efficient army； the soldiers in their several grades must be subordinate to the commander； so； to make an efficient fighting community； must the citizens be subordinate to the ruling power。 They must furnish recruits to the extent demanded； and yield up whatever property is required。 An obvious implication is that the ethics of Government； originally identical with the ethics of war； must long remain akin to them； and can div
