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！
d from a popularly…chosen body； for that the authority of a popularly…chosen body is no more to be regarded as an unlimited authority than the authority of a monarch； and that as true Liberalism in the past disputed the assumption of a monarch's unlimited authority； so true Liberalism in the present will dispute the assumption of unlimited parliamentary authority。 Of this； however； more anon。 Here I merely indicate it as an ultimate answer。 Meanwhile it suffices to point out that until recently； just as of old； true Liberalism was shown by its acts to be moving towards the theory of a limited parliamentary authority。 All these abolitions of restraints over religious beliefs and observances； over exchange and transit； over trade…combinations and the traveling of artisans； over the publication of opinions； theological or political； etc。； etc。； were tacit assertions of the desirableness of limitation。 In the same way that the abandonment of sumptuary laws； of laws forbidding this or that kind of amusement； of laws dictating modes of farming； and many others of like meddling nature； which took place in early days； was an implied admission that the State ought not to interfere in such matters； so those removals of hindrances to individual activities of one or other kind； which the Liberalism of the last generation effected； were practical confessions that in these directions； too； the sphere of governmental action should be narrowed。 And this recognition of the propriety of restricting governmental action was a preparation for restricting it in theory。 One of the most familiar political truths is that； in the course of social evolution； usage precedes law； and that when usage has been well established it becomes law by receiving authoritative endorsement and defined form。 Manifestly then； Liberalism in the past； by its practice of limitation； was preparing the way for the principle of limitation。 But returning from these more general considerations to the special question； I emphasize the reply that the liberty which a citizen enjoys is to be measured； not by the nature of the governmental machinery he lives under； whether representative or other； but by the relative paucity of the restraints it imposes on him； and that； whether this machinery is or is not one that he has shared in making； its actions are not of the kind proper to Liberalism if they increase such restraints beyond those which are needful for preventing him from directly or indirectly aggressing on his fellows needful； that is； for maintaining the liberties of his fellows against his invasions of them： restraints which are； therefore； to be distinguished as negatively coercive； not positively coercive。
Probably； however； the Liberal； and still more the sub…species Radical； who more than any other in these latter days seems under the impression that so long as he has a good end in view he is warranted in exercising over men all the coercion he is able； will continue to protest； knowing that his aim is popular benefit of some kind； to be achieved in some way； and believing that the Tory is； contrariwise； prompted by class…interest and the desire to maintain class…power； he will regard it as palpably absurd to group him as one of the same genus； and will scorn the reasoning used to prove that he belongs to it。 Perhaps an analogy will help him to see its validity。 If； away in the far East； where personal government is the only form of government known； he heard from the inhabitants an account of a struggle by which they had deposed a cruel and vicious despot； and put in his place one whose acts proved his desire for their welfare if； after listening to their self…gratulations； he told them that they had not essentially changed the nature of their government； he would greatly astonish them； and probably he would have difficulty in making them understand that the substitution of a benevolent despot for a malevolent despot； still left the government a despotism。 Similarly with Toryism as rightly conceived。 Standing as it does for coercion by the State versus the freedom of the individual； Toryism remains Toryism； whether it extends this coercion for selfish or unselfish reasons。 As certainly as the despot is still a despot； whether his motives for arbitrary rule are good or bad； so certainly is the Tory still a Tory； whether he has egoistic or altruistic motives for using State…power to restrict the liberty of the citizen； beyond the degree required for maintaining the liberties of other citizens。 The altruistic Tory as well as the egoistic Tory belongs to the genus Tory； though he forms a new species of the genus。 And both stand in distinct contrast with the Liberal as defined in the days when Liberals were rightly so called； and when the definition was 〃one who advocates greater freedom from restraint； especially in political institutions。〃 Thus； then； is justified the paradox I set out with。 As we have seen； Toryism and Liberalism originally emerged； the one from militancy and the other from industrialism。 The one stood for the regime of status and the other for the regime of contract the one for that system of compulsory co…operation which accompanies the legal inequality of classes； and the other for that voluntary co…operation which accompanies their legal equality； and beyond all question the early acts of the two parties were respectively for the maintenance of agencies which effect this compulsory co…operation； and for the weakening or curbing of them。 Manifestly the implication is that； in so far as it has been extending the system of compulsion； what is now called Liberalism is a new form of Toryism。 How truly this is so； we shall see still more clearly on looking at the facts the other side upwards； which we will presently do。
NOTE By sundry newspapers which noticed this article when it was originally published； the meaning of the above paragraphs was supposed to be that Liberals and Tories have changed places。 This； however； is by no means the implication。 A new species of Tory may arise without disappearance of the original species。 When saying； as on page 70； that in our days 〃Conservatives and Liberals vie with one another in multiplying〃 interferences； I clearly implied the belief that while Liberals have taken to coercive legislation； Conservatives have not abandoned it。 Nevertheless； it is true that the laws made by Liberals are so greatly increasing the compulsions and restraints exercised over citizens； that among Conservatives who suffer from this aggressiveness there is growing up a tendency to resist it。 Proof is furnished by the fact that the 〃Liberty and Property Defence League；〃 largely consisting of Conservatives； has taken for its motto 〃Individualism versus Socialism。〃 So that if the present drift of things continues； it may by and by really happen that the Tories will be defenders of liberties which the Liberals； in pursuit of what they think popular welfare； trample under foot。
THE COMING SLAVERY
The kinship of pity to love is shown among other ways in this； that it idealizes its object。 Sympathy with one in suffering suppresses； for the time being； remembrance of his transgressions。 The feeling which vents itself in 〃poor fellow！〃 on seeing one in agony； excludes the thought of 〃bad fellow；〃 which might at another time arise。 Naturally； then； if the wretched are unknown or but vaguely known； all the demerits they may have are ignored； and thus it happens that when； as just now； the miseries of the poor are depicted； they are thought of as the miseries of the deserving poor； instead of being thought of； as in large measure they should be； as the miseries of the undeserving poor。 Those whose hardships are set forth in pamphlets and proclaimed in sermons and speeches which echo throughout society； are assumed to be all worthy souls； grievously wronged； and none of them are thought of as bearing the penalties of their own misdeeds。 On hailing a cab in a London street； it is surprising how frequently the door is officiously opened by one who expects to get something for his trouble。 The surprise lessens after counting the many loungers about tavern…doors； or after observing the quickness with which a street…performance； or procession； draws from neighbouring slums and stable…yards a group of idlers。 Seeing how numerous they are in every small area； it becomes manifest that tens of thousands of such swarm through London。 〃They have no work；〃 you say。 Say rather that they either refuse work or quickly turn themselves out of it。 They are simply good…for…nothings； who in one way or other live on the good…for…somethings vagrants and sots； criminals and those on the way to crime； youths who are burdens on hard…worked parents； men who appropriate the wages of their wives； fellows who share the gains of prostitutes； and then； less visible and less numerous； there is a corresponding class of women。 Is it natural that happiness should be the lot of such？ or is it natural that they should bring unhappiness on themselves and those connected with them？ Is it not manifest that there must exist in our midst an immense amount of misery which is a normal result of misconduct； and ought not to be dissociated from it？ The