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第33节

the vested interests and the common man-第33节

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the mechanistic calculus of the new order; brought into bearing 
by the mechanical industry and material science。 This may all be 
an untoward and distasteful turn of circumstances; but there is 
no gain of tranquillity to be got from ignoring it。 
    So it comes about that; increasingly; throughout broad 
classes in these industrial countries there is coming to be 
visible a lack of respect and affection for the vested interests; 
whether of business or of privilege; and it rises to the pitch of 
distrust and plain disallowance among those peoples on whom the 
preconceptions of the eighteenth century sit more lightly and 
loosely。 It still is all vague and shifty。 So much so that the 
guardians of law and order are still persuaded that they 〃have 
the situation in hand。〃 But the popular feeling of incongruity 
and uselessness in the current run of law and custom under the 
rule of these timeworn preconceptions is visibly gaining ground 
and gathering consistency; even in so well ordered a republic as 
America。 A cleavage of sentiment is beginning to run between the 
vested interests and the variegated mass of the common lot。; and 
increasingly the common man is growing apathetic; or even 
impervious; to appeals grounded on these timeworn preconceptions 
of equity and good usage。 
    The fact of such a cleavage; as well as the existence of any 
ground for it; is painstakingly denied by the spokesmen of the 
vested interests; and in support of that comfortable delusion 
they will cite the exemplary fashion in which certain 
monopolistic labor organisations 〃stand pat;〃 It is true; such a 
quasi…vested interest of the A。 F。 of L。; which unbidden assumes 
to speak for the common man; can doubtless be counted on to 
〃stand pat〃 on that system of imponderables in which its vested 
perquisites reside。 So also the kept classes; and their stewards 
among the keepers of law and custom; are inflexibly content to 
let well enough alone。 They can be counted on to see nothing more 
to the point than a stupidly subversive rapacity in that 
loosening of the bonds of convention that so makes light of the 
sacred rights of vested interest。 Interested motives may count 
for something on both sides; but it is also true that the kept 
classes and the businesslike managers of the vested interests; 
whose place in the economy of nature it is to make money by 
conforming to the received law and custom; have not in the same 
degree undergone the shattering discipline of the New Order。 They 
are; therefore; still to be found standing blamelessly on the 
stable principles of the Modern Point of View。 
    But a large fraction of the people in the industrial 
countries is visibly growing uneasy under these principles as 
they work out under existing circumstances。 So; e。g。; it is 
evident that the common man within the United Kingdom; in so far 
as the Labor Party is his accredited spokesman; is increasingly 
restive under the state of 〃things as they are;〃 and it is 
scarcely less evident that he finds his abiding grievance in the 
Vested Interests and that system of law and custom which 
cherishes them。 And these men; as well as their like in other 
countries; are still in an unsettled state of advance to 
positions more definitely at variance with the received law and 
custom。 In some instances; and indeed in more or less massive 
formation; this movement of dissent has already reached the limit 
of tolerance and has found itself sharply checked by the 
constituted keepers of law and custom。 
    It is perhaps not unwarranted to count the I。 W。 W。 as such a 
vanguard of dissent; in spite of the slight consistency and the 
exuberance of its movements。 After all; these and their like; 
here and in other countries are an element of appreciable weight 
in the population。 They are also increasingly numerous; in spite 
of well…conceived repressive measures; and they appear to grow 
increasingly sure。 And it will not do to lose sight of the 
presumption that; while they may be gravely in the wrong; they 
are likely not to be far out of touch with the undistinguished 
mass of the common sort who still continue to live within the 
law。 It should seem likely that the peculiar moral and 
intellectual bent which marks them as 〃undesirable citizens〃 
will; all the while; be found to run closer to that of the common 
man than the corresponding bent of the law…abiding beneficiaries 
under the existing system。 
    Vaguely; perhaps; and with a picturesque irresponsibility; 
these and their like are talking and thinking at cross…purposes 
with the principles of free bargain and self…help。 There is 
reason to believe that to their own thinking; when cast in the 
terms in which they conceive these things; their notions of 
reasonable human intercourse are not equally fantastic and 
inconclusive。 So; there is the dread word。 Syndicalism; which is 
quite properly unintelligible to the kept classes and the adepts 
of corporation finance; and which has no definable meaning within 
the constituent principles of the eighteenth century。 But the 
notion of it seems to come easy; by mere lapse of habit; to these 
others in whom the discipline of the New Order has begun to 
displace the preconceptions of the eighteenth century。 
    Then there are; in this country; the agrarian syndicalists; 
in the shape of the Nonpartisan League; large; loose; animated; 
and untidy; but sure of itself in its settled disallowance of the 
Vested Interests; and fast passing the limit of tolerance in its 
inattention to the timeworn principles of equity。 How serious is 
the moral dereliction and the subversive stupidity of these 
agrarian syndicalists; in the eyes of those who still hold fast 
to the eighteenth century; may be gathered from the animation of 
the business community; the commercial clubs; the Rotarians; and 
the traveling salesmen; in any glace where the League raises its 
untidy head。 And as if advisedly to complete the case; these 
agrarians; as well as their running…mates in the industrial 
centers and along the open road; are found to be slack in respect 
of their national spirit。 So; at least; it is said by those who 
are interested to know。 
    It is not that these and their like are ready with 〃a 
satisfactory constructive program;〃 such as the people of the 
uplift require to be shown before they will believe that things 
are due to change。 It is something of the simpler and cruder 
sort; such as history is full of; to the effect that whenever and 
so far as the time…worn rules no longer fit the new material 
circumstances they presently fail to carry conviction as they 
once did。 Such wear and tear of institutions is unavoidable where 
circumstances change; and it is through the altered personal 
equation of those elements of the population which are most 
directly exposed to the changing circumstances that the wear and 
tear of institutions may be expected to take effect。 To these 
untidy creatures of the New Order common honesty appears to mean 
vaguely something else; perhaps something more exacting; than 
what was 〃nominated in the bond〃 at the time when the free 
bargain and self…help were written into the moral constitution of 
Christendom by the handicraft industry and the petty trade。 And 
why should it not?  
 
The End 

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