in darkest england and the way out-第24章
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with any Visionary when in his intense longing for the amelioration of the condition of mankind he lays down his theories as to the necessity for radical change； however impracticable they may appear to me。 But this is the question。 Here at our Shelters last night were a thousand hungry； workless people。 I want to know what to do with them？ Here is John Jones； a stout stalwart labourer in rags； who has not had one square meal for a month； who has been hunting for work that will enable him to keep body and soul together； and hunting in vain。 There he is in his hungry raggedness； asking for work that he may live； and not die of sheer starvation in the midst of the wealthiest city in the world。 What is to be done with John Jones？
The individualist tells me that the free play of the Natural Laws governing the struggle for existence will result in the Survival of the Fittest； and that in the course of a few ages； more or less； a much nobler type will be evolved。 But meanwhile what is to become of John Jones？ The Socialist tells me that the great Social Revolution is looming large on the horizon。 In the good time coming； when wealth will be re…distributed and private property abolished； all stomachs will be filled and there will be no more John Jones' impatiently clamouring for opportunity to work that they may not die。 It may be so； but in the meantime here is John Jones growing more impatient than ever because hungrier； who wonders if he is to wait for a dinner until the Social Revolution has arrived。 What are we to do with John Jones？ That is the question。 And to the solution of that question none of the Utopians give me much help。 For practical purposes these dreamers fall under the condemnation they lavish so freely upon the conventional religious people who relieve themselves of all anxiety for the welfare of the poor by saying that in the next world all will be put right。 This religious cant； which rids itself of all the importunity of suffering humanity by drawing unnegotiable bills payable on the other side of the grave； is not more impracticable than the Socialistic clap…trap which postpones all redress of human suffering until after the general overturn。 Both take refuge in the Future to escape a solution of the problems of the Present； and it matters little to the sufferers whether the Future is on this side of the grave or the other。 Both are； for them； equally out of reach。
When the sky falls we shall catch larks。 No doubt。 But in the meantime？
It is the meantimethat is the only time in which we have to work。 It is in the meantime that the people must be fed； that their life's work must be done or left undone for ever。 Nothing that I have to propose in this book； or that I propose to do by my Scheme； will in the least prevent the coming of any of the Utopias。 I leave the limitless infinite of the Future to the Utopians。 They may build there as they please。 As for me； it is indispensable that whatever I do is founded on existing fact； and provides a present help for the actual need。
There is only one class or men who have cause to oppose the proposals which I am about to set forth。 That is those； if such there be； who are determined to bring about by any and every means a bloody and violent overturn of all existing institutions。 They will oppose the Scheme； and they will act logically in so doing。 For the only hope of those who are the artificers of Revolution is the mass of seething discontent and misery that lies in the heart of the social system。 Honestly believing that things must get worse before they get better； they build all their hopes upon the general overturn； and they resent as an indefinite postponement of the realisation of their dreams any attempt at a reduction of human misery。
The Army of the Revolution is recruited by the Soldiers of Despair。 Therefore； down with any Scheme which gives men Hope。 In so far as it succeeds it curtails our recruiting ground and reinforces the ranks of our Enemies。 Such opposition is to be counted upon； and to be utilised as the best of all tributes to the value of our work。 Those who thus count upon violence and bloodshed are too few to hinder； and their opposition will merely add to the momentum with which I hope and believe this Scheme will ultimately be enabled to surmount all dissent； and achieve； with the blessing of God； that measure of success with which I verily believe it to be charged。
PART 2。DELIVERANCE。
CHAPTER 1。 A STUPENDOUS UNDERTAKING。
Such； then； is a brief and hurried survey of Darkest England； and those who have been in the depths of the enchanted forest in which wander the tribes of the despairing Lost will be the first to admit that I have in no way exaggerated its horrors； while most will assert that I have under…estimated the number of its denizens。 I have； indeed； very scrupulously striven to keep my estimates of the extent of the evil within the lines of sobriety。 Nothing in such an enterprise as that on which I am entering could worse befall me than to come under the reproach of sensationalism or exaggeration。 Most of the evidence upon which I have relied is taken direct from the official statistics supplied by the Government Returns； and as to the rest； I can only say that if my figures are compared with those of any other writer upon this subject； it will be found that my estimates are the lowest。 I am not prepared to defend the exact accuracy of my calculations； excepting so far as they constitute the minimum。 To those who believe that the numbers of the wretched are far in excess of my figures； I have nothing to say； excepting this； that if the evil is so much greater than I have described； then let your efforts be proportioned to your estimate； not to mine。 The great point with each of us is； not how many of the wretched exist to…day； but how few shall there exist in the years that are to come。
The dark and dismal jungle of pauperism； vice； and despair is the inheritance to which we have succeeded from the generations and centuries past； during which wars； insurrections； and internal troubles left our forefathers small leisure to attend to the well…being of the sunken tenth。 Now that we have happened upon more fortunate times； let us recognise that we are our brother's keepers； and set to work； regardless of party distinctions and religious differences； to make this world of ours a little bit more like home for those whom we call our brethren。
The problem； it must be admitted； is by no means a simple one； nor can anyone accuse me in the foregoing pages of having minimised the difficulties which heredity； habit； and surroundings place in the way of its solution； but unless we are prepared to fold our arms in selfish ease and say that nothing can be done； and thereby doom those lost millions to remediless perdition in this world； to say nothing of the next； the problem must be solved in some way。 But in what way？ That is the question。 It may tend； perhaps； to the crystallisation of opinion on this subject if I lay down； with such precision as I can command； what must be the essential elements of any scheme likely to command success。
SECTION I。THE ESSENTIALS TO SUCCESS。
The first essential that must be borne in mind as governing every Scheme that may be put forward is that it must change the man when it is his character and conduct which constitute the reasons for his failure in the battle of life。 No change in circumstances； no revolution in social conditions； can possibly transform the nature of man。 Some of the worst men and women in the world； whose names are chronicled by history with a shudder of horror； were those who had all the advantages that wealth； education and station could confer or ambition could attain。
The supreme test of any scheme for benefiting humanity lies in the answer to the question； What does it make of the individual？ Does it quicken his conscience； does it soften his heart； does it enlighten his mind； does it； in short； make more of a true man of him； because only by such influences can he be enabled to lead a human life？ Among the denizens of Darkest England there are many who have found their way thither by defects of character which would under
