按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
New Harmony； and the year of 1828 saw the community's final disruption。
Individuals had appropriated to themselves the property designed for all；
and even Owen； who had given to the enterprise his money and his life；
was obliged to admit that men were not yet fitted for the communistic
stage； and that the moment of transition from individualism to
communism had not yet arrived。 Men trained under the old system； with
its eager rivalry； its selfish interests； could not quite yet enter into the spirit
of self… renunciation that communism demands。 And Owen； therefore；
was led to put his trust in education as the great moulder of the minds of
men。 Through this agency； he hoped； the eager rivalry； the selfish
interests； the sordid love of gain； might be lost in higher； purer； more
disinterested ends； and； animated by that hope…the hope that in the fullness
of time another New Harmony； free from contention and the
disappointments of the old one； might serve to immortalize his name…
animated by that hope； Owen passed the last thirty years of his life； and
with that hope still before his eyes he died。
But years now have passed since Owen lived； the second New
Harmony has not yet been seen； the so…called rational system of education
has not yet transformed the impulses or the aims of men； and the
communist of today； with a history of two thousand years of failure behind
him； in the same pathetic confidence still looks for the realization of his
dreams to the communism of the future。
And yet； granting that communism were practicable； granting that
Owen's hopes had some prospect of fulfillment； the doctrine still embodies
evils that must make it forever inexpedient。 The readers of Mr。 Matthew
Arnold's works must have noticed the emphasis with which he dwells on
4
… Page 5…
〃The Altruist in Politics〃
the instinct of expansion as a factor in human progress。 It is the
refutation alike of communism and socialism that they thwart the instinct
of expansion； that they substitute for individual energy the energy of the
government； that they substitute for human personality the blind；
mechanical power of the State。 The one system； as the other； marks the
end of individualism。 The one system； as the other； would make each
man the image of his neighbor。 The one system； as the other； would hold
back the progressive； and； by uniformity of reward； gain uniformity of
type。
I can look forward to no blissful prospect for a race of men that； under
the dominion of the State； at the cost of all freedom of action； at the cost；
indeed； of their own true selves； shall enjoy； if one will； a fair abundance
of the material blessings of life。 Some Matthew Arnold of the future
would inevitably say of them in phase like that applied to the Puritans of
old： 〃They entered the prison of socialism and had the key turned upon
their spirit there for hundreds of years。〃 Into that prison of socialism；
with broken enterprise and broken energy； as serfs under the mastery of
the State； while human personality is preferred to unreasoning mechanism；
mankind must hesitate to step。 When they shall once have entered within
it； when the key shall have been turned upon their spirit and have confined
them in narrower straits than even Puritanism could have done； it will be
left for them to find； in their blind obedience and passive submission； the
recompense for the singleness of character； the foresight； and the energy；
that they have left behind them。
In almost every phase of life； this doctrine of political altruists is
equally impracticable and pernicious。 In its social results； it involves the
substitution of the community in the family's present position。 In its
political aspects； it involves the absolute dominion of the State over the
actions and property of its subjects。 Thus； though claiming to be an
exaltation of the so…called natural rights of liberty and equality； it is in
reality their emphatic debasement。 It teaches that thoughtless docility is
a recompense for stunted enterprise。 It magnifies material good at the
cost of every rational endowment。 It inculcates a self…denial that must
result in dwarfing the individual to a mere instrument in the hands of the
5
… Page 6…
〃The Altruist in Politics〃
State for the benefit of his fellows。 No such organization of society…no
organization that fails to take note of the fact that man must have scope for
the exercise and development of his faculties…no such organization of
society can ever reach a permanent success。 However beneficent its
motives； the hypothesis with which it starts can never be realized。 The
aphorism of Emerson； 〃Churches have been built； not upon principles； but
upon tropes；〃 is as true in the field of politics as it is in the field of religion。
In a like figurative spirit； the followers of communism have reared their
edifice； and； looking back upon the finished structure； seeking to discern
the base on which it rests； the critic finds； not principles； but tropes。 The
builders have appealed to a future that has no warrant in the past； and
fixing their gaze upon the distant dreamland； captivated by the vision there
beheld； entranced by its ideal effulgence； their eyes were blinded to the
real conditions of the human problem they had set before them。 Their
enemies have not been slow to note such weakness and mistake； and
perhaps it may serve to clear up misconceptions； perhaps it may serve to
lessen cant and open the way for fresh and vigorous thought； if we shall
once convince ourselves that altruism cannot be the rule of life； that its
logical result is the dwarfing of the individual man； and that not by the
death of human personality can we hope to banish the evils of our day； and
to realize the