the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第48节
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back and quit cramming himself till； like the Romans； he must go to a bath
and sweat it out。 And to their consternation； they will find that they will
have to get off that woman's back themselves； as well as the backs of a
few other women and children they did not dream they were riding upon。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
CHAPTER XXVIITHE
MANAGEMENT
In this final chapter it were well to look at the Social Abyss in its
widest aspect； and to put certain questions to Civilisation； by the answers
to which Civilisation must stand or fall。 For instance； has Civilisation
bettered the lot of man？ 〃Man；〃 I use in its democratic sense； meaning
the average man。 So the question re… shapes itself： HAS
CIVILISATION BETTERED THE LOT OF THE AVERAGE MAN？
Let us see。 In Alaska； along the banks of the Yukon River； near its
mouth； live the Innuit folk。 They are a very primitive people；
manifesting but mere glimmering adumbrations of that tremendous artifice；
Civilisation。 Their capital amounts possibly to 2 pounds per head。
They hunt and fish for their food with bone…headed spews and arrows。
They never suffer from lack of shelter。 Their clothes； largely made from
the skins of animals； are warm。 They always have fuel for their fires；
likewise timber for their houses； which they build partly underground； and
in which they lie snugly during the periods of intense cold。 In the
summer they live in tents； open to every breeze and cool。 They are
healthy； and strong； and happy。 Their one problem is food。 They have
their times of plenty and times of famine。 In good times they feast； in
bad times they die of starvation。 But starvation； as a chronic condition；
present with a large number of them all the time； is a thing unknown。
Further； they have no debts。
In the United Kingdom； on the rim of the Western Ocean； live the
English folk。 They are a consummately civilised people。 Their capital
amounts to at least 300 pounds per head。 They gain their food； not by
hunting and fishing； but by toil at colossal artifices。 For the most part； they
suffer from lack of shelter。 The greater number of them are vilely housed；
do not have enough fuel to keep them warm； and are insufficiently clothed。
A constant number never have any houses at all； and sleep shelterless
under the stars。 Many are to be found； winter and summer； shivering on
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
the streets in their rags。 They have good times and bad。 In good times
most of them manage to get enough to eat； in bad times they die of
starvation。 They are dying now； they were dying yesterday and last year；
they will die to…morrow and next year； of starvation； for they； unlike the
Innuit； suffer from a chronic condition of starvation。 There are
40；000；000 of the English folk； and 939 out of every 1000 of them die in
poverty； while a constant army of 8；000；000 struggles on the ragged edge
of starvation。 Further； each babe that is born； is born in debt to the sum
of 22 pounds。 This is because of an artifice called the National Debt。
In a fair comparison of the average Innuit and the average Englishman；
it will be seen that life is less rigorous for the Innuit； that while the Innuit
suffers only during bad times from starvation； the Englishman suffers
during good times as well； that no Innuit lacks fuel； clothing； or housing；
while the Englishman is in perpetual lack of these three essentials。 In
this connection it is well to instance the judgment of a man such as Huxley。
From the knowledge gained as a medical officer in the East End of
London； and as a scientist pursuing investigations among the most
elemental savages； he concludes； 〃Were the alternative presented to me； I
would deliberately prefer the life of the savage to that of those people of
Christian London。〃 The creature comforts man enjoys are the products
of man's labour。 Since Civilisation has failed to give the average
Englishman food and shelter equal to that enjoyed by the Innuit； the
question arises： HAS CIVILISATION INCREASED THE
PRODUCING POWER OF THE AVERAGE MAN？ If it has not
increased man's producing power； then Civilisation cannot stand。
But； it will be instantly admitted； Civilisation has increased man's
producing power。 Five men can produce bread for a thousand。 One
man can produce cotton cloth for 250 people； woollens for 300； and boots
and shoes for 1000。 Yet it has been shown throughout the pages of this
book that English folk by the millions do not receive enough food； clothes；
and boots。 Then arises the third and inexorable question： IF
CIVILISATION HAS INCREASED THE PRODUCING POWER OF
THE AVERAGE MAN； WHY HAS IT NOT BETTERED THE LOT OF
THE AVERAGE MAN？
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There can be one answer onlyMISMANAGEMENT。 Civilisation
has made possible all manner of creature comforts and heart's delights。
In these the average Englishman does not participate。 If he shall be
forever unable to participate； then Civilisation falls。 There is no reason
for the continued existence of an artifice so avowed a failure。 But it is
impossible that men should have reared this tremendous artifice in vain。
It stuns the intellect。 To acknowledge so crushing a defeat is to give the
death…blow to striving and progress。
One other alternative； and one other only； presents itself。
CIVILISATION MUST BE COMPELLED TO BETTER THE LOT OF
THE AVERAGE MEN。 This accepted； it becomes at once a question of
business management。 Things profitable must be continued； things
unprofitable must be eliminated。 Either the Empire is a profit to England；
or it is a loss。 If it is a loss； it must be done away with。 If it is a profit；
it must be managed so that the average man comes in for a share of the
profit。
If the struggle for commercial supremacy is profitable； continue it。 If it
is not； if it hurts the worker and makes his lot worse than the lot of a
savage； then fling foreign markets and industrial empire overboard。 For
it is a patent fact that if 40；000；000 people； aided by Civilisation； possess a
greater individual producing power than the Innuit； then those 40；000；000
people should enjoy more creature comforts and heart's delights than the
Innuits enjoy。
If the 400；000 English gentlemen； 〃of no occupation；〃 according to
their own statement in the Census of 1881； are unprofitable； do away with
them。 Set them to work ploughing game preserves and planting potatoes。
If they are profitable； continue them by all means； but let it be seen to that
the average Englishman shares somewhat in the profits they produce by
working at no occupation。
In short； society must be reorganised； and a capable management put
at the head。 That the present management is incapable； there can be no
discussion。 It has drained the United Kingdom of its life…blood。 It has
enfeebled the stay…at…home folk till they are unable longer to struggle in
the van of the competing nations。 It has built up a West End and an East
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End as large as the Kingdom is large； in which one end is riotous and
rotten； the other end sickly and underfed。
A vast empire is foundering on the hands of this incapable
management。 And
