a new view of society-第9节
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e general appearance of industry； temperance； comfort； health； and happiness。 These are and ever will be the sure and certain effects of the adoption of the principles explained； and these principles； applied with judgement； will effectually reform the most vicious community existing； and train the younger part of it to any character which may be desired； and that； too； much more easily on an extended than on a limited scale。 To apply these principles； however； successfully to practice； both a comprehensive and a minute view must be taken of the existing state of the society on which they are intended to operate。 The causes of the most prevalent evils must be accurately traced； and those means which appear the most easy and simple should be immediately applied to remove them。 In this progress the smallest alteration； adequate to produce any good effect； should be made at one time； indeed； if possible； the change should be so gradual as to be almost imperceptible； yet always making a permanent advance in the desired improvements。 By this procedure the most rapid practical progress will be obtained； because the inclination to resistance will be removed； and time will be given for reason to weaken the force of long…established injurious prejudices。 The removal of the first evil will prepare the way for the removal of the second； and this facility will increase； not in an arithmetical； but in a geometrical proportion； until the directors of the system will themselves be gratified beyond expression with the beneficial magnitude of their own proceedings。 Nor while these principles shall be acted upon can there be any retrogression in this good work； for the permanence of the amelioration will be equal to its extent。 What then remains to prevent such a system from being immediately adopted into national practice？ Nothing； surely； but a general destitution of the knowledge of the practice。 For with the certain means of preventing crimes； can it be supposed that British legislators； as soon as these means shall be made evident； will longer withhold them from their fellow subjects？ No： I am persuaded that neither prince； ministers； parliament； nor any party in church or state； will avow inclination to act on principles of such flagrant injustice。 Have they not on many occasions evinced a sincere and ardent desire to ameliorate the condition of the subjects of the empire； when practicable means of amelioration were explained to them； which could be adopted without risking the safety of the state？ For some time to come there can be but one practicable； and therefore one rational reform； which without danger can be attempted in these realms； a reform in which all men and all parties may join that is； a reform in the training and in the management of the poor； the ignorant； the untaught and untrained； or ill…taught and ill…trained； among the whole mass of British population； and a plain； simple； practicable plan which would not contain the least danger to any individual； or to any part of society； may be devised for that purpose。 That plan is a national； well…digested； unexclusive system for the formation of character and general amelioration of the lower orders。 On the experience of a life devoted to the subject； I hesitate not to say； that the members of any community may by degrees be trained to live without idleness； without poverty； without crime； and without punishment； for each of these is the effect of error in the various systems prevalent throughout the world。 They are all necessary consequences of ignorance。 Train any population rationally； and they will be rational。 Furnish honest and useful employments to those so trained； and such employments they will greatly prefer to dishonest or injurious occupations。 It is beyond all calculation the interest of every government to provide that training and that employment； and to provide both is easily practicable。 The first； as before stated； is to be obtained by a national system for the formation of character； the second； by governments preparing a reserve of employment for the surplus working classes； when the general demand for labour throughout the country。 iS not equal to the full occupation of the whole： that employment to be on useful national objects from which the public may derive advantage equal to the expense which those works may require。 The national plan for the formation of character should include all the modern improvements of education； without regard to the system of any one individual； and should not exclude the child of any one subject in the empire。 Anything short of this would be an act of intolerance and injustice to the excluded； and of injury to society； so glaring and manifest； that I shall be deceived in the character of my countrymen if any of those who have influence in church and state should now be found willing to attempt it。 Is it not indeed strikingly evident even to common observers； that any further effort to enforce religious exclusion would involve the certain and speedy destruction of the present church establishment； and would even endanger our civil institutions？ It may be said； however； that ministers and parliament have many other important subjects under discussion。 This is evidently true； but will they not have high national concerns always to engage their attention？ And can any question be brought forward of deeper interest to the community than that which affects the formation of character and the well…being of every individual within the empire？ A question； too； which； when understood； will be found to offer the means of amelioration to the revenues of these kingdoms； far beyond any practical plan now likely to be devised。 Yet； important as are considerations of revenue； they must appear secondary when put in competition with the lives； liberty； and comfort of our fellow subjects； which are now hourly sacrificed for want of an effective legislative measure to prevent crime。 And is an act of such vital importance to the well…being of all to be longer delayed？ Shall yet another year pass in which crime shall be forced on the infant； who in ten； twenty； or thirty years hence shall suffer DEATH for being taught that crime？ Surely it is impossible。 Should it be so delayed； the individuals of the present parliament； the legislators of this day； ought in strict and impartial justice to be amenable to the laws for not adopting the means in their power to prevent the crime； rather than the poor； untrained； and unprotected culprit； whose previous years； if he had language to describe them； would exhibit a life of unceasing wretchedness； arising solely from the errors of society。 Much might be added on these momentous subjects； even to make them evident to the capacities of children： but for obvious reasons the outlines are merely sketched； and it is hoped these outlines will be sufficient to induce the well…disposed of all parties cordially to unite in this vital measure for the preservation of everything dear to society。 In the next Essay an account will be given of the plans which are in progress at New Lanark for the further comfort and improvement of its inhabitants； and a general practical system be described； by which the same advantages may be gradually introduced among the poor and working classes throughout the United Kingdom。
THIRD ESSAY
The Principles of the Former Essays applied to a Particular Situation Truth must ultimately prevail over error。 At the conclusion of the Second Essay； a promise was made that an account should be given of the plans which were in progress at New Lanark for the further improvement of its inhabitants； and that a practical system should be sketched； by which equal advantages might be generally introduced among the poor and working classes throughout the United Kingdom。 This account became necessary； in order to exhibit even a limited view of the principles on which the plans of the author are founded； and to recommend them generally to practice。 That which has been hitherto done for the community at New Lanark； as described in the Second Essay； has chiefly consisted in withdrawing some of those circumstances which tended to generate； continue； or increase early bad habits；。 that is to say； undoing that which society had from ignorance permitted to be done。 To effect this； however； was a far more difficult task than to train up a child from infancy in the way he should go； for that is the most easy process for the formation of character； while to unlearn and to change long acquired habits is a proceeding directly opposed to the most tenacious feelings of human nature。 Nevertheless； the proper application steadily pursued did effect beneficial changes on these old habits； even beyond the most sanguine expectations of the party by whom the task was undertaken。 The principles were driven from the study of human nature itself and they could not fail of success。 Still； however； very little； comparatively speaking； had been done for them。 They had not been taught the most valuable domestic and social habits： such as the most economical method of preparing food； how to arrange their dwellings with neatness； and to keep them always clean and in order； but；
