Likegeology,itinterfereswiththatDeusemachinatheoryofhumanaffairswhichhasbeeninallagesthestrongholdofpriestcraft。ThattheDeityisnormallyabsent,andnotpresent;
thatheworksontheworldbyinterference,andnotbycontinuouslaws;thatitistheprivilegeofthepriesthoodtoassigncausesforthese\"judgments\"and\"visitations\"oftheAlmighty,andtotellmankindwhyHeisangrywiththem,andhasbrokenthelawsofnaturetopunishthem——this,ineveryage,hasseemedtothemajorityofpriestsadoctrinetobedefendedatallhazards;forwithoutit,sotheyhold,theiroccupationweregoneatonce。{13}
Nowonder,then,iftheyviewwithjealousyasetoflaymenattributingthese\"judgments\"topurelychemicallaws,andtomisdoingsandignorancewhichhaveasyetnoplaceintheecclesiasticalcatalogueofsins。True,itmaybethattheSanitaryReformersareright;buttheyhadrathernotthinkso。
Anditisveryeasynottothinkso。Theyonlyhavetoignore,toavoidexamining,thefacts。Theircanonofutilityisapeculiarone;andwithfactswhichdonotcomeunderthatcanontheyhavenoconcern。Itmaybetrue,forinstance,thattheeighteenthcentury,whichtotheclergyisaperiodofscepticism,darkness,andspiritualdeath,istheverycenturywhichsawmoredoneforscience,forcivilisation,foragriculture,formanufacture,fortheprolongationandsupportofhumanlifethananyprecedingoneforathousandyearsandmore。Whatmatter?Thatisa\"secular\"
question,ofwhichtheyneedknownothing。Andsanitaryreform(iftrue)isjustsuchanother;amatter(asslaveryhasbeenseentobebythepreachersoftheUnitedStates)forthelegislator,andnotforthosewhosekingdomis\"notofthisworld。\"
Othersagainexpected,withequalwisdom,theassistanceofthepoliticaleconomist。Thefactisundeniable,butatthesametimeinexplicable。Whattheycouldhavefoundinthedoctrinesofmostmodernpoliticaleconomistswhichshouldleadthemtosupposethathumanlifewouldbepreciousintheireyes,isunknowntothewriterofthesepages。Thosewhosebugbearhasbeenover-
population,whosemottohasbeenaneuphuisticversionofThemorethemerrier;butthefewerthebetterfare-
cannotbeexpectedtolendtheiraidinincreasingthepopulationbysavingthelivesoftwo-thirdsofthechildrenwhonowdieprematurelyinourgreatcities;andsostillfurtherovercrowdingthisunhappylandwiththosehelplessandexpensivesourcesofnationalpoverty——rationalhumanbeings,instrengthandhealth。
Moreover——andthispointisworthyofseriousattention——thatschoolofpoliticaleconomy,whichhasnowreacheditsfulldevelopment,hastakenallalongaviewofman’srelationtoNaturediametricallyoppositetothattakenbytheSanitaryReformer,orindeedbyanyothermenofscience。TheSanitaryReformerholds,incommonwiththechemistortheengineer,thatNatureistobeobeyedonlyinordertoconquerher;thatmanistodiscoverthelawsofherexistingphenomena,inorderthathemayemploythemtocreatenewphenomenahimself;toturnthelawswhichhediscoverstohisownuse;ifneedbe,tocounteractonebyanother。Inthispower,ithasseemedtothem,layhisdignityasarationalbeing。Itwasthis,thepowerofinvention,whichmadehimaprogressiveanimal,notboundasthebirdandthebeeare,tobuildexactlyashisforefathersbuiltfivethousandyearsago。
Bypoliticaleconomyalonehasthisfacultybeendeniedtoman。
Initaloneheisnottoconquernature,butsimplytoobeyher。
Letherstarvehim,makehimaslave,abankrupt,orwhatnot,hemustsubmit,asthesavagedoestothehailandthelightning。
\"Laissez-faire,\"saysthe\"Scienceduneant,\"the\"Sciencedelamisere,\"asithastrulyandbitterlybeencalled;\"Laissez-
faire。\"Analyseeconomicquestionsifyouwill:butbeyondanalysisyoushallnotstep。Anyattempttoraisepoliticaleconomytoitssyntheticstageistobreakthelawsofnature,tofightagainstfacts——asiffactswerenotmadetobefoughtagainstandconquered,andputoutoftheway,whensoevertheyinterfereintheleastwiththewelfareofanyhumanbeing。Thedrowningmanisnottostrikeoutforhislifelestbykeepinghisheadabovewaterheinterferewiththelawsofgravitation。Notthatthepoliticaleconomist,oranyman,canbetruetohisownfallacy。Hemustneedstryhishandatthesyntheticmethodthoughheforbidsittotherestoftheworld:buttheonlydeductivehintwhichhehasasyetgiventomankindis,quaintlyenough,themostunnatural\"eidolonspecus\"whicheverenteredtheheadofadehumanisedpedant——namely,thatoncefamous\"PreventiveCheck,\"which,ifanationdideverapplyit——asitneverwill——
couldissue,aseverydoctorknows,innothinglessthanthequestionablehabitsofabortion,child-murder,andunnaturalcrime。
Theonlyexplanationofsuchconduct(thoughonewhichthementhemselveswillhardlyaccept)isthis——thattheysecretlysharesomewhatinthedoubtwhichmanyeducatedmenhaveofthecorrectnessoftheirinductions;thatthesesamelawsofpoliticaleconomy(wheretheyleavetheplainandsafesubject-matteroftrade)havebeenarrivedatsomewhattoohastily;thattheyare,inplainEnglish,notquitesoundenoughyettobuildupon;andthatwemustwaitforafewmorefactsbeforewebeginanytheories。Beitso。Atleast,thesemen,intheirpresenttemperofmind,arenotlikelytobeveryusefultotheSanitaryReformer。
Wouldthatthesemen,ortheclergy,hadbeentheonlybruisedreedinwhichtheSanitaryReformersputtheirtrust。Theyfoundanotherreed,however,andthatwasPublicOpinion;buttheyforgotthat(whateverthestump-oratorsmaysayaboutthisbeingtheageofelectricthought,whentruthflashestriumphantfrompoletopole,etc。)wehavenoproofwhatsoeverthattheproportionoffoolsislessinthisgenerationthaninthosebeforeit,orthattruth,whenunpalatable(asitalmostalwaysis),travelsanyfasterthanitdidfivehundredyearsago。Theyforgotthateverysocialimprovement,andmostmechanicalones,havehadtomaketheirwayagainstlaziness,ignorance,envy,vestedwrongs,vestedsuperstitions,andthewholevisinertiaeoftheworld,theflesh,andthedevil。Theywereguiltyindeed,inthiscase,notmerelyofignoranceofhumannature,butofforgetfulnessoffact。DidtheynotknowthattheexcellentNewPoor-lawwasgreetedwiththecursesofthoseveryfarmersandsquireswhonownotonlycarryitoutlovinglyandwillinglytotheveryletter,butareoftentooreadytoresistanyimprovementorrelaxationinitwhichmaybeproposedbythatveryPoor-lawBoardfromwhichitemanated?DidtheynotknowthatAgriculturalScience,thoughofsixtyyears’steadygrowth,hasnotyetpenetratedintoathirdofthefarmsofEngland;andthathundredsoffarmersstilldawdleonafterthefashionoftheirforefathers,whenbylookingoverthenexthedgeintotheirneighbour’sfieldtheymightdoubletheirproduceandtheirprofits?Didtheynotknowthattheadaptationofsteamtomachinerywouldhaveprogressedjustasslowly,haditnotbeenafactpatenttobabiesthatanengineisstrongerthanahorse;andthatifcotton,likewheatandbeef,hadtakentwelvemonthstomanufacture,insteadoffiveminutes,ManchesterforesightwouldprobablyhavebeenasshortandaspurblindasthatoftheBritishfarmer?WhatrighthadtheytoexpectabetterreceptionforthefactsofSanitaryScience?——factswhichoughtto,andultimatelywill,disturbthevestedinterestsofthousands,willputthemtoinconvenience,possiblyatfirsttogreatexpense;andyetfactswhichyoucanneitherseenorhandle,butmustacceptandpayhundredsofthousandsofpoundsfor,onthemerewordofadoctororinspectorwhogetshislivingthereby。PoorJohnBull!Toexpectthatyouwouldacceptsuchagospelcheerfullywasindeedtoexpecttoomuch!
Butyet,thoughthepublicopinionofthemasscouldnotbedependedon,therewasabodyleft,distinctfromthemass,andpridingitselfsomuchonthatdistinctnessthatitwasreadytosayattimes——ofcourseinmorecourteous——atleastinwhatitconsideredmoreScripturallanguage:\"Thispeoplewhichknowethnotthelawisaccursed。\"Toittherefore——tothereligiousworld——someover-sanguineSanitaryReformersturnedtheireyes。
Theysawinitreadyorganised(soitprofessed)forallgoodworks,abodysuchastheworldhadneverseenbefore。WherethereligionspublicofByzantium,Alexandria,orRomenumberedhundreds,thatofEnglandnumbereditsthousands。Itwasdivided,indeed,onminorpoints,butitwassurelyunitedbytheoneaimofsavingeverymanhisownsoul,andofprofessingthedeepestreverenceforthatDivineBookwhichtellsmenthatthewaytoattainthataimis,tobegoodandtodogood;andwhichcontainsamongothercommandmentsthisone——\"Thoushaftnotkill。\"Itswealthwasenormous。Itpossessedsomuchpoliticalpower,thatitwouldhavebeenabletocommandelections,tocompelministers,toencouragetheweakheartsofwillingbutfearfulclergymenbyfairhopesofdeaneriesandbishoprics。Itsmemberswerenocliqueofunpracticalfanatics——nomenless。Thoughitmightnumberamongthemafewmartinetex-post-captains,andnoblemenofquestionablesanity,capableofnomorepracticalstudythanthatofunfulfilledprophecy,thevastmajorityofthemwerelandowners,merchants,bankers,commercialmenofallranks,fullofworldlyexperience,andofthescienceoforganisation,skilledalltheirlivesinfindingandinemployingmenandmoney。Whatmightnotbehopedfromsuchabody,towhomthatcommercialimperiuminimperiooftheFrenchProtestantswhichtheedictofNantesdestroyedwaspoorandweak?Addtothisthatthesemen’scharitieswereboundless;thattheywerespendingyearly,andonthewholespendingwiselyandwell,tentimesasmuchaseverwasspentbeforeintheworld,oneducationalschemes,missionaryschemes,churchbuilding,reformatories,raggedschools,needlewomen’scharities——whatnot?Noobjectofdistress,itseemed,couldbediscovered,nofreshmeansofdoinggooddevised,butthesemen’smoneypouredbountifullyandatonceintothatfreshchannel,andanorganisationsprangupfortheemploymentofthatmoney,asthriftyandashandyaswastobeexpectedfromthemoney-holdingclassesofthisgreatcommercialnation。
Whatcouldnotthesemendo?Whatweretheynotboundbytheirownprinciplestodo?Nowonderthatsomeweakmen’sheartsbeathighatthethought。WhatifthereligiousworldshouldtakeupthecauseofSanitaryReform?Whatiftheyshouldhailwithjoyacauseinwhichall,whatevertheirtheologicaldifferences,mightjoininonesacredcrusadeagainstdirt,degradation,disease,anddeath?Whatiftheyshouldriseatthehustingstoinquireofeverycandidate:\"Willyouorwillyounot,pledgeyourselftocarryoutSanitaryReformintheplaceforwhichyouareelected,andletthehealthandthelivesofthelocalpoorbethat’localinterest’whichyouareboundbyyourelectiontodefend?Doyouconfessyourignoranceofthesubject?Thenknow,sir,thatyouareunfit,atthispointofthenineteenthcentury,tobeamemberoftheBritishSenate。Yougothithertomakelaws’forthepreservationoflifeandproperty。’Youconfessyourselfignorantofthosephysicallaws,strongerandwiderthananywhichyoucanmake,uponwhichallhumanlifedepends,byinfringingwhichthewholepropertyofadistrictisdepreciated。\"Again,whatmightnotthe\"religiousworld,\"andthepublicopinionof\"professingChristians,\"havedoneinthelasttwenty——ay,inthelastthreeyears?
Whatithasdone,istoopatenttoneedcommenthere。
Thereasonsofsostrangeananomalyaretobeapproachedwithcaution。Itisaseriousthingtoimputemotivestoavastbodyofmen,ofwhomthemajorityarereallyrespectable,kind-hearted,anduseful;andifingivingone’sdeliberateopiniononeseemstoblamethem,letitberecollectedthattheblameliesnotsomuchonthemasontheirteachers:onthosewho,forsomereasonsbestknowntothemselves,havetruckledto,andevenjustified,theself-satisfiedignoranceofacomfortablemoneyedclass。
Butletitbesaid,andsaidboldly,thatthesemen’sconductinthematterofSanitaryReformseemsatleasttoshowthattheyvaluevirtue,notforitself,butforitsfuturerewards。Tothegreatmajorityofthesemen(withsomeheroicexceptions,whosenamesmaybewritteninnosubscriptionlist,butaresurelywritteninthebookoflife)thegreattruthhasneverbeenrevealed,thatgoodistheonethingtobedone,atallrisks,foritsownsake;thatgoodisabsolutelyandinfinitelybetterthanevil,whetheritpayornottoalleternity。Askoneofthem:
\"Isitbettertodorightandgotohell,ordowrongandgotoheaven?\"——theywilllookatyoupuzzled,halfangry,suspectingyouofsomesecretblasphemy,and,ifhardpressed,putoffthenewandstartlingquestionbysaying,thatitisabsurdtotalkofanimpossiblehypothesis。Thehumanportionoftheirvirtueisnotmercenary,fortheyaremostlyworthymen;thereligiouspartthereof,thatwhichtheykeepforSundaysandforcharitableinstitutions,istoooftenmercenary,thoughtheyknowitnot。
Theirreligionistoooftenoneof\"LossandGain,\"asmuchasFatherNewman’sown;andtheiractions,whethertheyshallcallthem\"goodworks\"or\"fruitsoffaith,\"aresomuchspiritualcapital,toberepaidwithinterestatthelastday。
Therefore,likeallreligionists,theyaremostanxiousforthoseschemesofgoodwhichseemmostprofitabletothemselvesandtothedenominationtowhichtheybelong;andthebestofallsuchworksis,ofcourse,aswithallreligionists,themakingofproselytes。Theyreallycareforthebodies,butstilltheycaremoreforthesouls,ofthosewhomtheyassist——andnotwronglyeither,wereitnotthattocareforaman’ssoulusuallymeans,inthereligiousworld,tomakehimthinkwithyou;atleasttolayhimundersuchobligationsastogiveyouspiritualpoweroverhim。ThereforeitisthatallreligiouscharitiesinEnglandaremoreandmoreconducted,justasmuchasthoseofJesuitsandOratorians,withanulteriorviewofproselytism;thereforeitisthatthereligiousworld,thoughithasinvented,perhaps,nonewmethodofdoinggood;thoughithasbeenindebtedforeducationalmovements,prisonvisitations,infantschools,raggedschools,andsoforth,toQuakers,cobblers,eveninsomecasestomenwhomtheycallinfidels,havegladlyadoptedeachandeveryoneofthem,asfreshmeansofenlargingtheinfluenceorthenumbersoftheirowndenominations,andofbaitingforthebodyinordertocatchthesoul。Afairsampleoftoomuchoftheirlabourmaybeseenanywhere,inthosetractsinwhichtheprettieststories,withtheprettiestbindingandpictures,onthemostsecular——
even,sometimes,scientific——ofsubjects,endbyafewwordsofpiousexhortation,insertedbyadifferenthandfromthatwhichinditesthe\"carnal\"massofthebook。Theydidnotinventthescience,ortheartofstory-telling,orthewoodcutting,ortheplanofgettingbooksupprettily——or,indeed,thenotionofinstructingthemassesatall;butfindingthesethingsinthehandsof\"theworld,\"theyhave\"spoiledtheEgyptians,\"andfancythemselvesbeatingSatanwithhisownweapons。
If,indeed,thesemenclaimedboldlyallprinting,allwoodcutting,allstory-telling,allhumanartsandsciences,asgiftsfromGodHimself;andsaid,asthebookwhichtheyquotesooftensays:\"TheSpiritofGodgivesmanunderstanding,these,too,areHisgifts,sacred,miraculous,tobeaccountedfortoHim,\"thentheywouldbeconsistent;andthen,too,theywouldhavelearnt,perhaps,toclaimSanitaryScienceforagiftdivineasanyother:butnothing,alas!isasyetfurtherfromtheircreed。AndthereforeitisthatSanitaryReformfindssolittlefavourintheireyes。Youhavesolittleinittoshowforyourwork。Youmaythinkyouhavesavedthelivesofhundreds;butyoucannotputyourfingerononeofthem:andtheyknowyounot;
knownoteventheirowndanger,muchlessyourbeneficence。
Therefore,youhavenolienonthem,noteventhatofgratitude;
youcannotsaytoaman:\"Ihavepreventedyouhavingtyphus,thereforeyoumustattendmychapel。\"No!SanitaryReformmakesnoproselytes。Itcannotbeusedasareligiousengine。Itistoosimplyhuman,toolittlearespecterofpersons,tooliketotheworksofHimwhocausesHissuntoshineontheevilandthegood,andHisraintofallonthejustandontheunjust,andisgoodtotheunthankfulandtotheevil,tofindmuchfavourintheeyesofagenerationwhichwillcompassseaandlandtomakeoneproselyte。
Yes。TooliketheworksofourFatherinheaven,asindeedalltrulynaturalandhumanscienceneedsmustbe。True,tothosewhobelievethatthereisaFatherinheaven,thiswould,onesupposes,bethehighestrecommendation。Buthowmanyofthisgenerationbelievethat?Isnottheirdoctrine,thedoctrinetotestifyforwhichthereligiousworldexists,thedoctrinewhichifyoudeny,youaremetwithoneuniversalfrownandsnarl——thatmanhasnoFatherinheaven:butthatifhebecomesamemberofthereligiousworld,byprocessesvaryingwitheachdenomination,hemay——strangeparadox——createaFatherforhimself?
Butsoitis。ThereligiousworldhaslostthebeliefwhicheventheelderGreeksandRomanshad,ofa\"Zeus,Fatherofgodsandmen。\"Eventhatithaslost。Thereforehavemanandthesimplehumanneedsofman,nosacrednessintheireyes;thereforeisNaturetothemnolonger\"thewillofGodexprestinfacts,\"andtobreakalawofnaturenolongertosinagainstHimwho\"lookedonallthatHehadmade,andbehold,itwasverygood。\"AndyettheyreadtheirBibles,andbelievethattheybelieveinHimwhostoodbythelake-sideinGalilee,andtoldmenthatnotasparrowfelltothegroundwithouttheirFather’sknowledge——andthattheywereofmorevaluethanmanysparrows。Dothosewordsnowseemtosomesoself-evidentastobeneedless?TheywillneverseemsototheSanitaryReformer,whohascalledonthe\"BritishPublic\"
toexertthemselvesinsavingthelivesofthousandsyearly;andhasreceivedpracticalanswerswhichwillfurnishmanyabitterjestfortheVoltaireofthenextso-called\"ageofunbelief,\"orfillasad,butaninstructivechapterinsomefutureenlargededitionofAdelung’s\"HistoryofHumanFolly。\"
Allbutdespairing,SanitaryReformershaveturnedagainandagaintoherMajesty’sGovernment。Alasforthem!TheGovernmentwasreadyandwillingenoughtohelp。Thewickedworldsaid:\"Ofcourse。Itwillcreateanewdepartment。Itwillgivethemmoreplacestobestow。\"ButtherealreasonofthewillingnessofGovernmentseemstobethatthosewhocomposeitarethoroughlyawaketotheimportanceofthesubject。
ButwhatcanapoorGovernmentdo,whosestrengthconsists(asthatofallEnglishGovernmentsmust)innotseemingtoostrong;
whichisallowedtodoanything,onlyonconditionofdoingtheminimum?Ofcourse,aGovernmentismorallyboundtokeepitselfinexistence;forisitnotboundtobelievethatitcangovernthecountrybetterthananyotherknotofmen?Butitsonlychanceofself-preservationistoknow,withHesiod’swiseman,\"howmuchbetterthehalfisthanthewhole,\"andtothrowovermanyameasurewhichitwouldliketocarry,forthesakeofsavingthefewwhichitcancarry。
AnEnglishGovernment,nowadays,issimplyatthemercyofthefortyorfiftymembersoftheHouseofCommonswhoarecrotchetyenoughordishonestenoughtoputitunexpectedlyinaminority;
andthey,withthevastmajorityoftheHouse,arebecomingmoreandmorethedelegatesofthatveryclasswhichismostopposedtoSanitaryReform。ThehonourablemembergoestoParliamentnottoexpresshisopinions,(forhehasstatedmostdistinctlyatthelastelectionthathehasnoopinionswhatsoever),buttoprotectthelocalinterestsofhisconstituents。Andthegreatmajorityofthoseconstituentsaresmallhouseowners——thepoorerportionofthemiddleclass。WerehetosupportGovernmentinanythinglikeasweepingmeasureofSanitaryReform,woetohisseatatthenextelection;andheknowsit;andtherefore,evenifheallowtheGovernmenttohaveitsCentralBoardofHealth,hewilltakegoodcare,forhisownsake,thatthesaidBoardshallnotdotoomuch,andthatitshallnotcompelhisconstituentstodoanythingatall。
Nowonder,thatwhiletheattitudeoftheHouseofCommonsissuchtowardamatterwhichinvolvesthelivesofthousandsyearly,someeducatedmenshouldbecryingthatRepresentativeinstitutionsareontheirtrial,andshouldsighforastrongdespotism。
Thereisananswer,nevertheless,tosuchsentimentalists,andonehopesthatpeoplewillseetheanswerforthemselves,andthattheinfectionofImperialism,whichseemsspreadingsomewhatrapidly,willbestoppedbycommonsenseandhonestobservationoffacts。
AdespotismdoubtlesscouldcarryoutSanitaryReform:butdoubtless,also,itwouldnot。
Adespotinthenineteenthcenturyknowswellhowinsecurehistenureis。Hismottomustbe,\"Letuseatanddrink,forto-
morrowwedie;\"and,therefore,thefirstobjectsofhisrulewillbe,privateluxuryandastandingarmy;whileifheengageinpublicworks,forthesakeofkeepingthepopulacequiet,theywillbecertainnottobesuchaswillembroilhimwiththemiddleclasses,whiletheywillwinhimnoadditionalfavourwiththemasses,utterlyunawareoftheirnecessity。WouldthemassesofParishavethankedLouisNapoleonthemoreif,insteadofcompletingtheTuileries,hehadseweredtheSt。Antoine?Allargumentstothecontraryareutterlyfallacious,whicharedrawnfromancientdespotisms,Roman,Eastern,Peruvian,orother;andforthissimplereason,thattheyhadnomiddleclass。Iftheydidworkwell(whichisaquestion)itwasjustbecausetheyhadnomiddleclass——thatclass,whichinafreeStateistheverylifeofanation,andyetwhich,inadespotism,issuretobetherootofitsrottenness。Foradespotwhofinds,asLouisNapoleonhasdone,astrongmiddleclassalreadyexisting,musttreatitashedoes;hemusttruckletoit,pandertoitsbasestpropensities,seemtomakehimselfitstool,inorderthathemaymakeithis。
Forthesakeofhisownlife,hemustdoit;andwereadespottogovernEnglandtomorrow,weshouldseethatthemanwhowasshrewdenoughtohaveclimbedtothatbademinence,wouldbeshrewdenoughtoknowthathecouldscarcelycommitamoresuicidalactthan,bysomedespoticmeasureofSanitaryReform,toexcitetheill-willofallthemostcovetous,themoststupid,andthemoststubbornmenineverytownofEngland。
Thereisanotheranswer,too,to\"Imperialists\"whotalkofRepresentativeinstitutionsbeingontheirtrial,andletitbemadeboldlyjustnow。
ItwillbetimetotalkofRepresentativeinstitutionsbeinggoodorbad,whenthepeopleofEnglandareproperlyrepresented。
Inthefirstplace,itdoesseemonlyfairthattheclasswhosuffermostfromepidemicsshouldhavesomelittleshareintheappointmentofthemenonwhosevotesexterminationofepidemicsnowmainlydepends。Butthatistoolargeaquestiontoarguehere。LettheGovernmentseetoitinthecomingsession。
Yethowmuchsoever,orhowlittlesoever,thesuffragebeextendedinthedirectionoftheworkingman,letitbeextended,atleastinsomeequaldegree,inthedirectionoftheeducatedman。FewbodiesinEnglandnowexpresstheopinionsofeducatedmenlessthandoesthepresentHouseofCommons。Itisnotchosenbyeducatedmen,anymorethanitisbyproletaires。Itisnot,onanaverage,composedofeducatedmen;andthemanyeducatedmenwhoareinithave,forthemostpart,tokeeptheirknowledgeverymuchtothemselves,forfearofhurtingthefeelingsof\"ten-
poundJack,\"orofthelocalattorneywholooksafterJack’svote。
AndthereforetheHouseofCommonsdoesnotrepresentpublicopinion。
For,toenouncewithfittingclearnessagreatbutmuch-forgottentruth,Tohaveanopinion,youmusthaveanopinion。
Strange:buttrue,andpregnanttoo。For,fromitmaybededucedthiscorollary,thatnine-tenthsofwhatiscalledPublicOpinionisnoopinionatall;for,onthematterswhichcomeunderthecognizanceoftheHouseofCommons(savewheresuperstition,asinthecaseoftheSabbath,ortheJewBill,setsfolksthinking——
generallyonthewrongside),ninepeopleoutoftenhavenoopinionatall;knownothingaboutthematter,andcareless;
wherefore,havingnoopinionstoberepresented,itisnotimportantwhetherthatnothingberepresentedornot。
ThetruepublicopinionofEnglandiscomposedoftheopinionsoftheshrewd,honest,practicalmeninher,whethereducatedornot;
andofsuch,thankGod,therearemillions:butitconsistsalsooftheopinionsoftheeducatedmeninher;menwhohavehadleisureandopportunityforstudy;whohavesomechanceofknowingthefuture,becausetheyhaveexaminedthepast;whocancompareEnglandwithothernations;Englishcreeds,laws,customs,withthoseoftherestofmankind;whoknowsomewhatofhumanity,humanprogress,humanexistence;whohavebeenpractisedintheprocessesofthought;andwho,fromstudy,haveformeddefiniteopinions,differingdoubtlessininfinitevariety,butstillallfoundeduponfacts,bysomethinglikefairandscientificinduction。
TillwehavethisclassofmenfairlyrepresentedintheHouseofCommons,thereislittlehopeforSanitaryReform:whenitissorepresented,weshallhavenoreasontotalkofRepresentativeinstitutionsbeingontheirtrial。
Anditisoneofthefewhopefulfeaturesofthepresenttime,thatanattemptisatlastbeingmadetosecureforeducatedmenofallprofessionsafairterritorialrepresentation。AmemorialtotheGovernmenthasbeenpresented,appendedtowhich,inverygreatnumbers,arethenamesofmenofnote,ofallranks,allshadesinpoliticsandreligion,allprofessions——legal,clerical,military,medical,andliterary。Alistofnamesrepresentingsomuchintellect,somuchlearning,somuchacknowledgedmoderation,somuchgoodworkalreadydoneandacknowledgedbythecountry,hasnever,perhaps,beencollectedforanypoliticalpurpose;andiftheirscheme(thedetailsofwhicharenotyetmadepublic)
shouldinanywisesucceed,itwilldomorefortheprospectsofSanitaryReformthananyforwardmovementofthequarterofacentury。
ForifSanitaryReform,orperhapsanyreallyprogressivemeasure,istobecarriedouthenceforth,wemustgobacktosomethingliketheoldprincipleoftheEnglishconstitution,bywhichintellect,assuch,haditspropershareinthepubliccouncils。Duringthosemiddleageswhenalltheintellectandlearningwaspracticallypossessedbytheclergy,theyconstitutedaseparateestateoftherealm。Thiswastheoldplan——thebestwhichcouldbethendevised。Afterlearningbecamecommontothelaity,theeducatedclasseswererepresentedmoreandmoreonlybysuchcleveryoungmenascouldbethrustintoParliamentbytheprivatepatronageofthearistocracy。SincethelastReformBill,eventhatsupplyoftalenthasbeencutoff;andtheconsequencehasbeen,thesteadydeteriorationofourHouseofCommonstowardsuchalevelofmediocrityasshallsatisfytheignoranceofthepracticallyelectingmajority,namely,thetailofthemiddleclass;menwhoareapttopossessallthefailingswithfewofthevirtuesofthoseabovethemandbelowthem;whohavenomoreintellectualtrainingthanthesimpleworkingman,andfarlessthantheaverageshopman,andwhoyetlose,undertheinfluenceofasmallcompetence,thatpracticaltrainingwhichgivestotheworkingman,madestrongbywholesomenecessity,chivalry,endurance,courage,andself-restraint;whosebusinessmoralityismadeupofthelowestandnarrowestmaximsofthecommercialworld,unbalancedbythatpublicspirit,thatpoliticalknowledge,thatpracticalenergy,thatrespectforthegoodopinionofhisfellows,whichelevatethelargeemployer。Onthehustings,ofcourse,thisdescriptionoftheaveragefreeandindependentelectorwouldbecalledacalumny;andyet,whereisthememberofParliamentwhowillnot,inhisstudy,assenttoitstruth,andconfess,thatofallmenwhomhemeets,thosewholeastcommandhisrespectarethoseamonghisconstituentstosecurewhomhetakesmosttrouble;unless,indeed,itbethepettifoggerswhomanagehiselectionforhim?
Whetherthisistheclasstowhosepublicopinionthehealthandlivesofthemassesaretobeentrusted,isaquestionwhichshouldbesettledassoonaspossible。
MeanwhileleteverymanwhowouldawaketotheimportanceofSanitaryquestions,dohisbesttoteachandpreach,inseasonandoutofseason,andtoinstruct,asfarashecan,thatpublicopinionwhichisasyetbutpublicignorance。Lethimthrow,forinstance,whatweighthehasintothe\"NationalAssociationfortheAdvancementofSocialScience。\"Inithewilllearn,aswellasteach,notonlyonSanitaryReforms,butuponthosecognatequestionswhichmustbeconsideredwithit,ifitisevertobecarriedout。
Indeed,thisnew\"NationalAssociation\"seemsthemosthopefulandpracticalmoveyetmadebythesanitarists。Itmaybelaughedatsomewhatatfirst,astheBritishAssociationwas;buttheworldwillfindafterawhilethat,liketheBritishAssociation,itcandogreatthingstowardsmouldingpublicopinion,andcompelmentoconsidercertainsubjects,simplybyaccustomingpeopletohearthemmentioned。TheAssociationwillnothaveexistedinvain,ifitonlyremovesthatdullfearandsuspicionwithwhichEnglishmenareapttoregardanewsubject,simplybecauseitisnew。ButtheAssociationwilldofarmorethanthat。IthaswiselynotconfineditselftoanyonebranchofSocialScience,buttakenthesubjectinallitscomplexity。Todootherwisewouldhavebeentocrippleitself。Itwouldhaveshutoutmanysubjects——LawReform,forinstance——whicharenecessaryadjunctstoanySanitaryscheme;
whileitwouldhaveshutoutthatverylargeclassofbenevolentpeoplewhohaveasyetbeendevotingtheirenergiestoprisons,workhouses,andschools。Suchwillnowhaveanopportunityoflearningthattheyhavebeentreatingthesymptomsofsocialdiseaseratherthanthediseaseitself。Theywillseethatviceisrathertheeffectthanthecauseofphysicalmisery,andthatthesurestmodeofattackingitistoimprovethephysicalconditionsofthelowerclasses;toabolishfoulair,fouledwater,foullodging,andovercrowdeddwellings,inwhichmoralityisdifficult,andcommondecencyimpossible。Theywillnotgiveup——Heavenforbidthattheyshouldgiveup!——theirspecialgoodworks;buttheywillsurelythrowtheweightoftheirnames,theirtalents,theirearnestness,intothegreatcentralobjectofpreservinghumanlife,assoonastheyshallhaverecognisedthatpreventionisbetterthancure;andthatthesimpleandonemethodofpreventionis,togivetheworkingmanhisrights。Water,air,light。Arighttothesethreeatleasthehas。Indemandingthem,hedemandsnomorethanGodgivesfreelytothewildbeastoftheforest。Tillsocietyhasgivenhimthem,itdoeshimaninjusticeindemandingofhimthatheshouldbeausefulmemberofsociety。Ifheisexpectedtobeaman,lethimatleastbeputonalevelwiththebrutes。Whenthebenevolentoftheland(andtheymaybenumberedbytensofthousands)shalloncehavelearntthisplainandyetawfultruth,avastupwardstepwillhavebeengained。BecausethisnewAssociationwillteachitthem,duringthenexttenortwentyyears,mayGod’sblessingbeonit,and,onthenobleoldmanwhopresidesoverit。Oftenalreadyhashedeservedwellofhiscountry;butneverbetterthannow,whenhehaslenthisgreatnameandgreatgeniustotheobjectofpreservinghumanlifefromwholesaledestructionbyunnecessarypoison。
AndmeanwhilelettheSanitaryReformerworkandwait。\"Gonotaftertheworld,\"saidawiseman,\"forifthoustandstilllongenoughtheworldwillcomeroundtothee。\"AndtoSanitaryReformtheworldwillcomeroundatlast。Grumbling,scoffing,cursingitsbenefactors;boastingatlast,asusual,thatitdiscoveredforitselftheverytruthswhichittriedtosilence,itwillcome;andwillbegladatlasttoaccepttheonesibyllineleaf,atthesamepriceatwhichitmighthavehadthewhole。TheSanitaryReformermustmakeuphismindtoseenofruitofhislabours,muchlessthanksorreward。Hemustdieinfaith,asSt。
Paulsaysalltruemendie,\"nothavingreceivedthepromises;\"
wornout,perhaps,byill-paidandunappreciatedlabour,asthattruest-heartedandmostunselfishofmen,CharlesRobertWalsh,diedbuttwoyearsago。Buthisworkswillfollowhim——not,asthepreacherstellus,toheaven——forofwhatusewouldtheybethere,tohimortomankind?——buthere,onearth,wherehesetthem,thattheymightgooninhispath,afterhisexample,andprosperandtriumphlongyearsafterheisdead,whenhismemoryshallbeblessedbygenerationsnotmerely\"yetunborn,\"butwhoneverwouldhavebeenbornatall,hadhenotinculcatedintotheirunwillingfathersthesimplestlawsofphysicalhealth,decency,life——lawswhichthewildcatofthewood,buryingitsownexcrementapartfromitslair,haslearntbythelightofnature;butwhichneithernaturenorGodHimselfcanasyetteachtoaselfish,perverse,andhypocriticalgeneration。
Footnotes:
{1}Thislecturewasoneofaseriesof\"LecturestoLadies,\"
giveninLondonin1855,attheNeedlewoman’sInstitution。
{2}ThesubstanceofthisEssaywasalectureonPhysicalEducation,givenattheMidlandInstitute,Birmingham,in1872。
{3}9,AdamStreet,Adelphi,London。
{4}ALecturedeliveredatWinchester,May31,1869。
{5}LecturedeliveredatWinchester,March17,1869。
{6}IquotefromthetranslationofthelatelamentedPhilipStanhopeWorsley,ofCorpusChristiCollege,Oxford。
{7}Odyssey,bookvi。127-315;vol。i。pp。143-150ofMr。
Worsley’stranslation。
{8}Sincethisessaywaswritten,IhavebeensincerelydelightedtofindthatmywisheshadbeenanticipatedatGirtonCollege,nearCambridge,andpreviouslyatHitchin,whencethecollegewasremoved:andthatthewiseladieswhosuperintendthatestablishmentproposealsothatmostexcellentinstitution——aswimming-bath。Apaper,moreover,readbeforetheLondonAssociationofSchool-mistressesin1866,on\"PhysicalExercisesandRecreationforGirls,\"deservesallattention。Maythosewhopromotesuchthingsprosperastheydeserve。
{9}LecturedeliveredatBristol,October5,1857。
{10}ThiswasspokenduringtheIndianMutiny。
{11}SpeechinbehalfofLadies’SanitaryAssociation。DeliveredatSt。James’sHall,London,1859。
{12}Fraser’sMagazine,No。CCCXXXVII。1858。
{13}WefindamosthonourableexceptiontothisruleinasermonbytheRev。C。Richson,ofManchester,ontheSanitaryLawsoftheOldTestament,withnotesbyDr。Sutherland。