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！
t from its place in this world。 Surely England is called as no Nation ever was； to summon out its _kings_； and set them to that high work！Huge inorganic England； nigh choked under the exuviae of a thousand years； and blindly sprawling amid chartisms； ballot…boxes； prevenient graces； and bishops' nightmares； must； as the preliminary and commencement of organization； learn to _breathe_ again；get 〃lungs〃 for herself again； as we defined it。 That is imperative upon her： she too will die； otherwise； and cough her last upon the streets some day；how can she continue living？ To enfranchise whatsoever of Wisdom is born in England； and set that to the sacred task of coercing and amending what of Folly is born in England： Heaven's blessing is purchasable by that； by not that； only Heaven's curse is purchasable。 The reform contemplated； my liberal friends perceive； is a truly radical one； no ballot…box ever went so deep into the roots： a radical； most painful； slow and difficult； but most indispensable reform of reforms！
How short and feeble an approximation to these high ulterior results； the best Reform of Downing Street； presided over by the fittest Statesman one can imagine to exist at present； would be； is too apparent to me。 A long time yet till we get our living interests put under due administration； till we get our dead interests handsomely dismissed。 A long time yet till； by extensive change of habit and ways of thinking and acting； _we_ get living 〃lungs〃 for ourselves！ Nevertheless； by Reform of Downing Street； we do begin to breathe： we do start in the way towards that and all high results。 Nor is there visible to me any other way。 Blessed enough were the way once entered on； could we； in our evil days； but see the noble enterprise begun； and fairly in progress！
What the 〃_New_ Downing Street〃 can grow to； and will and must if England is to have a Downing Street beyond a few years longer； it is far from me； in my remote watch…tower； to say with precision。 A Downing Street inhabited by the gifted of the intellects of England； directing all its energies upon the real and living interests of England； and silently but incessantly； in the alembics of the place； burning up the extinct imaginary interests of England； that we may see God's sky a little plainer overhead； and have all of us a great accession of 〃heroic wisdom〃 to dispose of： such a Downing Streetto draw the plan of it； will require architects； many successive architects and builders will be needed there。 Let not editors； and remote unprofessional persons； interfere too much！Change in the present edifice； however； radical change； all men can discern to be inevitable； and even； if there shall not worse swiftly follow； to be imminent。 Outlines of the future edifice paint themselves against the sky （to men that still have a sky； and are above the miserable London fogs of the hour）； noble elements of new State Architecture； foreshadows of a new Downing Street for the New Era that is come。 These with pious hope all men can see； and it is good that all men； with whatever faculty they have； were earnestly looking thitherward；trying to get above the fogs； that they might look thitherward！
Among practical men the idea prevails that Government can do nothing but 〃keep the peace。〃 They say all higher tasks are unsafe for it； impossible for it；and in fine not necessary for it or for us。 On this footing a very feeble Downing Street might serve the turn！I am well aware that Government； for a long time past； has taken in hand no other public task； and has professed to have no other； but that of keeping the peace。 This public task； and the private one of ascertaining whether Dick or Jack was to do it； have amply filled the capabilities of Government for several generations now。 Hard tasks both； it would appear。 In accomplishing the first； for example； have not heaven…born Chancellors of the Exchequer had to shear us very bare； and to leave an overplus of Debt； or of fleeces shorn _before_ they are grown； justly esteemed among the wonders of the world？ Not a first…rate keeping of the peace； this； we begin to surmise！ At least it seems strange to us。
For we； and the overwhelming majority of all our acquaintances； in this Parish and Nation and the adjacent Parishes and Nations； are profoundly conscious to ourselves of being by nature peaceable persons； following our necessary industries； without wish； interest or faintest intention to cut the skin of any mortal； to break feloniously into his industrial premises； or do any injustice to him at all。 Because indeed； independent of Government； there is a thing called conscience； and we dare not。 So that it cannot but appear to us； 〃the peace；〃 under dexterous management； might be very much more easily kept； your Lordship； nay； we almost think； if well let alone； it would in a measure keep _itself_ among such a set of persons！ And how it happens that when a poor hardworking creature of us has laboriously earned sixpence； the Government comes in； and （as some compute） says； 〃I will thank you for threepence of that； as per account； for getting you peace to spend the other threepence；〃 our amazement begins to be considerable；and I think results will follow from it by and by。 Not the most dexterous keeping of the peace； your Lordship； unless it be more difficult to do than appears！
Our domestic peace； we cannot but perceive； as good as keeps itself。 Here and there a select Equitable Person； appointed by the Public for that end； clad in ermine； and backed by certain companies of blue Police； is amply adequate； without immoderate outlay in money or otherwise； to keep down the few exceptional individuals of the scoundrel kind； who； we observe； by the nature of them； are always weak and inconsiderable。 And as to foreign peace； really all Europe； now especially with so many railroads； public journals； printed books； penny…post； bills of exchange； and continual intercourse and mutual dependence； is more and more becoming （so to speak） one Parish； the Parishioners of which being； as we ourselves are； in immense majority peaceable hard…working people； could； if they were moderately well guided； have almost no disposition to quarrel。 Their economic interests are one； 〃To buy in the cheapest market； and sell in the dearest；〃 their faith； any _religious_ faith they have； is one； 〃To annihilate shamsby all methods； street…barricades included。〃 Why should they quarrel？ The Czar of Russia； in the Eastern parts of the Parish； may have other notions； but he knows too well he must keep them to himself。 He； if he meddled with the Western parts； and attempted anywhere to crush or disturb that sacred Democratic Faith of theirs； is aware there would rise from a hundred and fifty million human throats such a _Hymn of the Marseillaise_ as was never heard before； and England； France； Germany； Poland； Hungary； and the Nine Kingdoms； hurling themselves upon him in never…imagined fire of vengeance； would swiftly reduce his Russia and him to a strange situation！ Wherefore he forbears；and being a person of some sense； will long forbear。 In spite of editorial prophecy； the Czar of Russia does not disturb our night's rest。 And wit