a new view of society-第7节
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stanced as he was； could do for his fellow creatures。 The error proceeded from the children being sent from the workhouses at an age much too young for employment。 They ought to have been detained four years longer； and educated； and then some of the evils which followed would have been prevented。 If such be a true picture； not overcharged； of parish apprentices to our manufacturing system； under the best and most humane regulations； in what colours must it be exhibited under the worst？ Mr Dale was advancing in years： he had no son to succeed him； and； finding the consequences just described to be the result of all his strenuous exertions for the improvement and happiness of his fellow creatures； it is not surprising that he became disposed to retire from the cares of the establishment。 He accordingly sold it to some English merchants and manufacturers； one of whom； under the circumstances just narrated； undertook the management of the concern； and fixed his residence in the midst of the population。 This individual had been previously in the management of large establishments； employing a number of workpeople； in the neighbourhood of Manchester； and； in every case； by the steady application of certain general principles； he succeeded in reforming the habits of those under his care； and who always； among their associates in similar employment； appeared conspicuous for their good conduct。 With this previous success in remodelling English character； but ignorant of the local ideas； manners； and customs； of those now committed to his management； the stranger commenced his task。 At that time the lower classes of Scotland； like those of other countries； had strong prejudices against strangers having any authority over them； and particularly against the English； few of whom had then settled in Scotland； and not one in the neighbourhood of the scenes under description。 It is also well known that even the Scotch peasantry and working classes possess the habit of making observations and reasoning thereon with great acuteness； and in the present case those employed naturally concluded that the new purchasers intended merely to make the utmost profit by the establishment； from the abuses of which many of themselves were then deriving support。 The persons employed at these works were therefore strongly prejudiced against the new director of the establishment prejudiced； because he was a stranger； and from England … because he succeeded Mr Dale； under whose proprietorship they acted almost as they liked because his religious creed was not theirs … and because they concluded that the works would be governed by new laws and regulations； calculated to squeeze； as they often termed it； the greatest sum of gain out of their labour。 In consequence； from the day he arrived amongst them every means which ingenuity could devise was set to work to counteract the plan which he attempted to introduce； and for two years it was a regular attack and defence of prejudices and malpractices between the manager and the population of the place； without the former being able to make much progress； or to convince the latter of the sincerity of his good intentions for their welfare。 He； however； did not lose his patience； his temper； or his confidence in the certain success of the principles on which he founded his conduct。 These principles ultimately prevailed： the population could not continue to resist a firm well…directed kindness； administering justice to all。 They therefore slowly and cautiously began to give him some portion of their confidence； and as this increased； he was enabled more and more to develop his plans for their amelioration。 It may with truth be said； that at this period they possessed almost all the vices and very few of the virtues of a social community。 Theft and the receipt of stolen goods was their trade； idleness and drunkenness their habit； falsehood and deception their garb； dissensions； civil and religious； their daily practice； they united only in a zealous systematic opposition to their employers。 Here then was a fair field on which to try the efficacy in practice of principles supposed capable of altering any characters。 The manager formed his plans accordingly。 He spent some time in finding out the full extent of the evil against which he had to contend； and in tracing the true causes which had produced and were continuing those effects。 He found that all was distrust； disorder； and disunion； and he wished to introduce confidence； regularity； and harmony。 He therefore began to bring forward his various expedients to withdraw the unfavourable circumstances by which they had hitherto been surrounded； and to replace them by others calculated to produce a more happy result。 He soon discovered that theft was extended through almost all the ramifications of the community； and the receipt of stolen goods through all the country around。 To remedy this evil； not one legal punishment was inflicted； not one individual imprisoned； even for an hour； but checks and other regulations of prevention were introduced； a short plain explanation of the immediate benefits they would derive from a different conduct was inculcated by those instructed for the purpose； who had the best powers of reasoning among themselves。 They were at the same time instructed how to direct their industry in legal and useful occupations； by which； without danger or disgrace； they could really earn more than they had previously obtained by dishonest practices。 Thus the difficulty of committing the crime was increased； the detection afterwards rendered more easy； the habit of honest industry formed； and the pleasure of good conduct experienced。 Drunkenness was attacked in the same manner； it was discountenanced on every occasion by those who had charge of any department： its destructive and pernicious effects were frequently stated by his own more prudent comrades； at the proper moment when the individual was soberly suffering from the effects of his previous excess； pot… and public…houses were gradually removed from the immediate vicinity of their dwellings； the health and comfort of temperance were made familiar to them； by degrees drunkenness disappeared； and many who were habitual bacchanalians are now conspicuous for undeviating sobriety。 Falsehood and deception met with a similar fate： they were held in disgrace； their practical evils were shortly explained； and every countenance was given to truth and open conduct。 The pleasure and substantial advantages derived from the latter soon overcame the impolicy； error； and consequent misery； which the former mode of acting had created。 Dissensions and quarrels were undermined by analagous expedients。 When they could not be readily adjusted between the parties themselves； they were stated to the manager； and as in such cases both disputants were usually more or less in the wrong； that wrong was in as few words as possible explained； forgiveness and friendship recommended； and one simple and easily remembered precept inculcated； as the most valuable rule for their whole conduct； and the advantages of which they would experience every moment of their lives； viz。 … 'That in future they should endeavour to use the same active exertions to make each other happy and comfortable； as they had hitherto done to make each other miserable； and by carrying this short memorandum in their mind； and applying it on all occasions； they would soon render that place a paradise； which； from the most mistaken principle of action； they now made the abode of misery。' The experiment was tried： the parties enjoyed the gratification of this new mode of conduct； references rapidly subsided； and now serious differences are scarcely known。 Considerable jealousies also existed on account of one religious sect possessing a decided preference over the others。 This was corrected by discontinuing that preference； and by giving a uniform encouragement to those who conducted themselves well among all the various religious persuasions； by recommending the same consideration to be shown to the conscientious opinions of each sect； on the ground that all must believe the particular doctrines which they had been taught； and consequently that all were in that respect upon an equal footing； nor was it possible yet to say which was right or wrong。 It was likewise inculcated that all should attend to the essence of religion； and not act as the world was now taught and trained to do； that is； to overlook the substance and essence of religion； and devote their talents； time； and money； to that which is far worse than its shadow； sectarianism； another term for something very injurious to society； and very absurd； which one or other well…meaning enthusiast has added to true religion； which； without these defects； would soon form those characters which every wise and good man is anxious to see。 Such statements and conduct arrested sectarian animosity and ignorant intolerance； each retains full liberty of conscience； and in consequence each partakes of the sincere friendship of many sects instead of one。 They act with cordiality together in the same departments and pursuits； and associate as though the whole community were not of different se
