the man versus the state-第6节
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mount of misery which is a normal result of misconduct； and ought not to be dissociated from it？ There is a notion； always more or less prevalent and just now vociferously expressed； that all social suffering is removable； and that it is the duty of somebody or other to remove it。 Both these beliefs are false。 To separate pain from ill…doing is to fight against the constitution of things； and will be followed by far more pain。 Saving men from the natural penalties of dissolute living； eventually necessitates the infliction of artificial penalties in solitary cells； on tread…wheels； and by the lash。 I suppose a dictum； on which the current creed and the creed of science are at one； may be considered to have as high an authority as can be found。 Well； the command 〃if any would not work neither should he eat；〃 is simply a Christian enunciation of that universal law of Nature under which life has reached its present height the law that a creature not energetic enough to maintain itself must die： the sole difference being that the law which in the one case is to be artificially enforced； is； in the other case； a natural necessity。 And yet this particular tenet of their religion which science so manifestly justifies； is the one which Christians seem least inclined to accept。 The current assumption is that there should be no suffering； and that society is to blame for that which exists。 〃But surely we are not without responsibilities； even when the suffering is that of the unworthy？〃 If the meaning of the word 〃we〃 be so expanded as to include with ourselves our ancestors； and especially our ancestral legislators； I agree。 I admit that those who made； and modified； and administered； the old Poor Law； were responsible for producing an appalling amount of demoralization； which it will take more than one generation to remove。 I admit； too； the partial responsibility of recent and present law…makers for relations which have brought into being a permanent body of tramps； who ramble from union to union； and also their responsibility for maintaining a constant supply of felons by sending back convicts into society under such conditions that they are almost compelled again to commit crimes。 Moreover； I admit that the philanthropic are not without their share of responsibility； since； that they may aid the offspring of the unworthy； they disadvantage the offspring of the worthy through burdening their parents by increased local rates。 Nay； I even admit that these swarms of good…for…nothings； fostered and multiplied by public and private agencies； have； by sundry mischievous meddlings； been made to suffer more than they would otherwise have suffered。 Are these the responsibilities meant？ I suspect not。 But now； leaving the question of responsibilities； however conceived； and considering only the evil itself； what shall we say of its treatment？ Let me begin with a fact。
A late uncle of nine； the Rev Thomas Spencer； for some twenty years incumbent of Hinton Charterhouse； near Bath； no sooner entered on his parish duties than he proved himself anxious for the welfare of the poor； by establishing a school； a library； a clothing club and land…allotments； besides building some model cottages。 Moreover； up to 1833 he was a pauper's friend always for the pauper against the overseer。 There presently came； however； the debates on the Poor Law； which impressed him with the evils of the system then in force。 Though an ardent philanthropist he was not a timid sentimentalist。 The result was that； immediately the new Poor Law was passed； he proceeded to carry out its provisions in his parish。 Almost universal opposition was encountered by him： not the poor only being his opponents； but even the farmers on whom came the burden of heavy poor…rates。 For； strange to say； their interests had become apparently identified with the maintenance of this system which taxed them so largely。 The explanation is that there had grown up the practice of paying out of the rates a part of the wages of each farm…servant 〃make…wages；〃 as the sum was called。 And though the farmers contributed most of the fund from which 〃make…wages〃 were paid； yet； since all other ratepayers contributed； the farmers seemed to gain by the arrangement。 My uncle； however； not easily deterred； faced all this opposition and enforced the law。 The result was that in two years the rates were reduced from *700 a year to *200 a year； while the condition of the parish was greatly improved。 〃Those who had hitherto loitered at the corners of the streets； or at the doors of the beer…shops； had something else to do； and one after another they obtained employment；〃 so that out of a population of 800； only 15 had to be sent as incapable paupers to the Bath Union （when that was formed）； in place of the 100 who received out…door relief a short time before。 If it be said that the *20 telescope which； a few years after； his parishioners presented to my uncle； marked only the gratitude of the ratepayers； then my reply is the fact that when； some years later still； having killed himself by overwork in pursuit of popular welfare； he was taken to Hinton to be buried； the procession which followed him to the grave included not the well…to…do only but the poor。 Several motives have prompted this brief narrative。 One is the wish to prove that sympathy with the people and self…sacrificing efforts on their behalf； do not necessarily imply approval of gratuitous aids。 Another is the desire to show that benefit may result； not from multiplication of artificial appliances to mitigate distress； but； contrariwise； from diminution of them。 And a further purpose I have in view is that of preparing the way for an analogy。 Under another form and in a different sphere； we are now yearly extending a system which is identical in nature with the system of 〃make…wages〃 under the old Poor Law。 Little as politicians recognize the fact； it is nevertheless demonstrable that these various public appliances for working…class comfort； which they are supplying at the cost of ratepayers； are intrinsically of the same nature as those which； in past times； treated the farmer's man as half…labourer and half…pauper。 In either case the worker receives in return for what he does； money wherewith to buy certain of the things he wants； while； to procure the rest of them for him； money is furnished out of a common fund raised by taxes。 What matters it whether the things supplied by ratepayers for nothing； instead of by the employer in payment； are of this kind or that kind？ The principle is the same。 For sums received let us substitute the commodities and benefits purchased； and then see how the matter stands。 In old Poor…Law times； the farmer gave for work done the equivalent； say of house…rent； bread； clothes； and fire； while the ratepayers practically supplied the man and his family with their shoes； tea； sugar； candles； a little bacon； etc。 The division is； of course； arbitrary； but unquestionably the farmer and the ratepayers furnished these things between them。 At the present time the artisan receives from his employer in wages； the equivalent of the consumable commodities he wants； while from the public comes satisfaction for others of his needs and desires。 At the cost of ratepayers he has in some cases； and will presently have in more； a house at less than its commercial value； for of course when； as in Liverpool； a municipality spends nearly *200；000 in pulling down and reconstructing low…class dwellings； and is about to spend as much again； the implication is that in some way the ratepayers supply the poor with more accommodation than the rents they pay would otherwise have brought。 The artisan further receives from them； in schooling for his children； much more than he pays for； and there is every probability that he will presently receive it from them gratis。 The ratepayers also satisfy what desire he may have for books and newspapers； and comfortable places to read them in。 In some cases too； as in Manchester； gymnasia for his children of both sexes； as well as recreation grounds； are provided。 That is to say； he obtains from a fund raised by local taxes； certain benefits beyond those which the sum received for his labour enables him to purchase。 The sole difference； then； between this system and the old system of 〃make…wages；〃 is between the kinds of satisfactions obtained； and this difference does not in the least affect the nature of the arrangement。 Moreover； the two are pervaded by substantially the same illusion。 In the one case； as in the other； what looks like a gratis benefit is not a gratis benefit。 The amount which； under the old Poor Law； the half…pauperized labourer received from the parish to eke out his weekly income； was not really； as it appeared； a bonus； for it was accompanied by a substantially…equivalent decrease in his wages； as was quickly proved when the system was abolished and the wages rose。 Just so is it with these seeming boons received by working people in towns。 I do not refer only to the fact that they unawares pay in part through the raised rents of their dwellings （when they are not actual ratepayers）； but I refer to the fact that the wages received by them are； like the wages of the far
