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！
affairs。
Such a vested right to free income； that is to say this
legitimate right of the kept classes to their keep at the cost of
the underlying community； does not fall in with the lines of that
mechanistic outlook and mechanistic logic which is forever
gaining ground as the new order of industry goes forward。 Such
free income； which measures neither the investor's personal
contribution to the production of goods nor his necessary
consumption while engaged in industry； does not fit in with that
mechanistic reckoning that runs in terms of tangible performance；
and that grows ever increasingly habitual and convincing with
every further habituation to the new order of things in the
industrial world。 Vested perquisites have no place in the new
scheme of things； hence the new scheme is a menace。 It is true；
the well stabilised principles of the eighteenth century still
continue to rate the investor as a producer of goods； but it is
equally true that such a rating is palpable nonsense according to
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