the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第49节
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A vast empire is foundering on the hands of this incapable
management。 And by empire is meant the political machinery which
holds together the English…speaking people of the world outside of the
United States。 Nor is this charged in a pessimistic spirit。 Blood empire is
greater than political empire； and the English of the New World and the
Antipodes are strong and vigorous as ever。 But the political empire under
which they are nominally assembled is perishing。 The political machine
known as the British Empire is running down。 In the hands of its
management it is losing momentum every day。
It is inevitable that this management； which has grossly and criminally
mismanaged； shall be swept away。 Not only has it been wasteful and
inefficient； but it has misappropriated the funds。 Every worn…out； pasty…
faced pauper； every blind man； every prison babe； every man； woman； and
child whose belly is gnawing with hunger pangs； is hungry because the
funds have been misappropriated by the management。
Nor can one member of this managing class plead not guilty before the
judgment bar of Man。 〃The living in their houses； and in their graves the
dead；〃 are challenged by every babe that dies of innutrition； by every girl
that flees the sweater's den to the nightly promenade of Piccadilly； by
every worked…out toiler that plunges into the canal。 The food this
managing class eats； the wine it drinks； the shows it makes； and the fine
clothes it wears； are challenged by eight million mouths which have never
had enough to fill them； and by twice eight million bodies which have
never been sufficiently clothed and housed。
There can be no mistake。 Civilisation has increased man's producing
power an hundred…fold； and through mismanagement the men of
Civilisation live worse than the beasts； and have less to eat and wear and
protect them from the elements than the savage Innuit in a frigid climate
who lives to…day as he lived in the stone age ten thousand years ago。
CHALLENGE
I have a vague remembrance Of a story that is told In some ancient
Spanish legend Or chronicle of old。
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… Page 174…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
It was when brave King Sanche Was before Zamora slain； And his
great besieging army Lay encamped upon the plain。
Don Diego de Ordenez Sallied forth in front of all； And shouted loud
his challenge To the warders on the wall。
All the people of Zamora； Both the born and the unborn； As traitors
did he challenge With taunting words of scorn。
The living in their houses； And in their graves the dead； And the waters
in their rivers； And their wine； and oil； and bread。
There is a greater army That besets us round with strife； A starving；
numberless army At all the gates of life。
The poverty…stricken millions Who challenge our wine and bread； And
impeach us all as traitors； Both the living and the dead。
And whenever I sit at the banquet； Where the feast and song are high；
Amid the mirth and music I can hear that fearful cry。
And hollow and haggard faces Look into the lighted hall； And wasted
hands are extended To catch the crumbs that fall
And within there is light and plenty； And odours fill the air； But
without there is cold and darkness； And hunger and despair。
And there in the camp of famine； In wind； and cold； and rain； Christ；
the great Lord of the Army； Lies dead upon the plain。
LONGFELLOW
Footnotes：
｛1｝ This in the Klondike。J。 L。
｛2｝ 〃Runt〃 in America is the equivalent of the English 〃crowl；〃 the
dwarf of a litter。
｛3｝ The San Francisco bricklayer receives twenty shillings per day；
and at present is on strike for twenty…four shillings。
End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The People of the Abyss； by Jack
London
174
