the ancien regime(古兵团)-第1章
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！
THE ANCIEN REGIME
THE ANCIEN REGIME
by Charles Kingsley
1
… Page 2…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
PREFACE
The rules of the Royal Institution forbid （and wisely） religious or
political controversy。 It was therefore impossible for me in these
Lectures； to say much which had to be said； in drawing a just and
complete picture of the Ancien Regime in France。 The passages inserted
between brackets； which bear on religious matters； were accordingly not
spoken at the Royal Institution。
But more。 It was impossible for me in these Lectures； to bring
forward as fully as I could have wished； the contrast between the
continental nations and England； whether now； or during the eighteenth
century。 But that contrast cannot be too carefully studied at the present
moment。 In proportion as it is seen and understood； will the fear of
revolution （if such exists） die out among the wealthier classes； and the
wish for it （if such exists） among the poorer； and a large extension of the
suffrage will be looked on aswhat it actually isa safe and harmless
concession to the wishesand； as I hold； to the just rightsof large portion
of the British nation。
There exists in Britain now； as far as I can see； no one of those evils
which brought about the French Revolution。 There is no widespread
misery； and therefore no widespread discontent； among the classes who
live by hand…labour。 The legislation of the last generation has been
steadily in favour of the poor； as against the rich； and it is even more true
now than it was in 1789； thatas Arthur Young told the French mob which
stopped his carriagethe rich pay many taxes （over and above the poor…
rates； a direct tax on the capitalist in favour of the labourer） more than are
paid by the poor。 〃In England〃 （says M。 de Tocqueville of even the
eighteenth century） 〃the poor man enjoyed the privilege of exemption
from taxation； in France； the rich。〃 Equality before the law is as well…
nigh complete as it can be； where some are rich and others poor； and the
only privileged class； it sometimes seems to me； is the pauper； who has
neither the responsibility of self…government； nor the toil of self…support。
2
… Page 3…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
A minority of malcontents； some justly； some unjustly； angry with the
present state of things； will always exist in this world。 But a majority of
malcontents we shall never have； as long as the workmen are allowed to
keep untouched and unthreatened their rights of free speech； free public
meeting； free combination for all purposes which do not provoke a breach
of the peace。 There may be （and probably are） to be found in London
and the large towns； some of those revolutionary propagandists who have
terrified and tormented continental statesmen since the year 1815。 But
they are far fewer in number than in 1848； far fewer still （I believe） than in
1831； and their habits； notions； temper； whole mental organisation； is so
utterly alien to that of the average Englishman； that it is only the sense of
wrong which can make him take counsel with them； or make common
cause with them。 Meanwhile； every man who is admitted to a vote； is
one more person withdrawn from the temptation to disloyalty； and enlisted
in maintaining the powers that bewhen they are in the wrong； as well as
when they are in the right。 For every Englishman is by his nature
conservative； slow to form an opinion； cautious in putting it into effect；
patient under evils which seem irremediable； persevering in abolishing
such as seem remediable； and then only too ready to acquiesce in the
earliest practical result； to 〃rest and be thankful。〃 His faults； as well as
his virtues； make him anti…revolutionary。 He is generally too dull to take
in a great idea； and if he does take it in； often too selfish to apply it to any
interest save his own。 But now and then； when the sense of actual injury
forces upon him a great idea； like that of Free…trade or of Parliamentary
Reform； he is indomitable； however slow and patient； in translating his
thought into fact： and they will not be wise statesmen who resist his
dogged determination。 If at this moment he demands an extension of the
suffrage eagerly and even violently； the wise statesman will give at once；
gracefully and generously； what the Englishman will certainly obtain one
day； if he has set his mind upon it。 If； on the other hand； he asks for it
calmly； then the wise statesman （instead of mistaking English reticence for
apathy） will listen to his wishes all the more readily； seeing in the
moderation of the demand； the best possible guarantee for moderation in
the use of the thing demanded。
3
… Page 4…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
And； be it always remembered； that in introducing these men into the
〃balance of the Constitution；〃 we introduce no unknown quantity。
Statesmen ought to know them； if they know themselves； to judge what
the working man would do by what they do themselves。 He who imputes
virtues to his own class imputes them also to the labouring class。 He who
imputes vices to the labouring class； imputes them to his own class。 For
both are not only of the same flesh and blood； but； what is infinitely more
important； of the same spirit； of the same race； in innumerable cases； of
the same ancestors。 For centuries past the most able of these men have
been working upwards into the middle class； and through it； often； to the
highest dignities； and the highest family connections； and the whole nation
knows how they have comported themselves therein。 And； by a reverse
process （of which the physiognomist and genealogist can give abundant
proof）； the weaker members of that class which was dominant during the
Middle Age have been sinking downward； often to the rank of mere day…
labourers； and carrying downward with themsometimes in a very tragical
and pathetic fashionsomewhat of the dignity and the refinement which
they had learnt from their ancestors。
Thus has the English nation （and as far as I can see； the Scotch
likewise） become more homogeneous than any nation of the Continent； if
we except France since the extermination of the Frankish nobility。 And
for that very reason； as it seems to me； it is more fitted than any other
European nation for the exercise of equal political rights； and not to be
debarred of them by arguments drawn from countries which have been
governedas England has not beenby a caste。
The civilisation； not of mere book…learning； but of the heart； all that
was once meant by 〃manners〃good breeding； high feeling； respect for
self and respect for othersare just as common （as far as I have seen）
among the hand…workers of England and Scotland； as among any other
class； the only difference is； that these qualities develop more early in the
richer classes； owing to that severe discipline of our public schools； which
makes mere lads often fit to govern； because they have learnt to obey：
while they develop later… …generally not till middle agein the classes who
have not gone through in their youth that Spartan training； and who indeed
4
… Page 5…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
（from a mistaken conception of liberty） would not endure it for a day。
This and other social drawbacks which are but too patent； retard the
manhood of the working classes。 That it should be so； is a wrong。 For if
a citizen have one right above all others to demand anything of his country；
it is that he should be educated； that whatever capabilities he may have in
him； however small； should have their fair and full chance of development。
But the cause of the wrong is not the existence of a caste； or a privileged
class； or of anything save the plain fact； that some men will be always able
to pay more for their children's education than others； and that those
children will； inevitably； win in the struggle of life。
Meanwhile； in this fact is to be found the most weighty； if not the only
argument against manhood suffrage； which would admit manybut too
many； alas！who are still mere boys in mind。 To a reasonable household
suffrage it cannot apply。 The man who （being almost certainly married；
and having children） can afford to rent a 5 pound tenement in a town； or in
the country either； has seen quite enough of life； and learnt quite enough of
it； to form a very fair judgment of the man who offers to represent him in
Parliament； because he has learnt； not merely something of his own
interest； or that of his class； butwhat is infinitely more importantthe
difference between the pretender and the honest man。
The causes of this state of society； which is peculiar to Britain； must be
sought far back in the ages。 It would seem that the distinction between
〃earl and churl〃 （the noble and the non…noble freeman） was crushed out in
this island by the two Norman conquests… …that of the Anglo…Saxon
nobility by Sweyn and Canute； and that of the Anglo…Danish nobility by
William and his Frenchmen。 Those two terrible calamities； following
each other in the short space of fifty years； seem to have welded together；
by a community of suffering； all ranks and races； at
