the ancien regime(古兵团)-第2节
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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 least south of the
Tweed； and when the English rose after the storm； they rose as one
homogeneous people； never to be governed again by an originally alien
race。 The English nobility were； from the time of Magna Charta； rather
an official nobility； than； as in most continental countries； a separate caste；
and whatever caste tendencies had developed themselves before the Wars
of the Roses （as such are certain to do during centuries of continued
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
wealth and power）； were crushed out by the great revolutionary events of
the next hundred years。 Especially did the discovery of the New World；
the maritime struggle with Spain； the outburst of commerce and
colonisation during the reigns of Elizabeth and James； help toward this
good result。 It was in vain for the Lord Oxford of the day； sneering at
Raleigh's sudden elevation； to complain that as on the virginals； so in the
State； 〃Jacks went up； and heads went down。〃 The proudest noblemen
were not ashamed to have their ventures on the high seas； and to send their
younger sons trading； or buccaneering； under the conduct of low…born men
like Drake； who 〃would like to see the gentleman that would not set his
hand to a rope； and hale and draw with the mariners。〃 Thus sprang up
that respect for； even fondness for； severe bodily labour； which the
educated class of no nation save our own has ever felt； and which has
stood them in such good stead； whether at home or abroad。 Thus； too；
sprang up the system of society by which （as the ballad sets forth） the
squire's son might be a 〃'prentice good；〃 and marry
〃The bailiff's daughter dear That dwelt at Islington；〃
without tarnishing； as he would have done on the Continent； the
scutcheon of his ancestors。 That which has saved England from a central
despotism； such as crushed； during the eighteenth century； every nation on
the Continent； is the very same peculiarity which makes the advent of the
masses to a share in political power safe and harmless； namely； the
absence of caste； or rather （for there is sure to be a moral fact underlying
and causing every political fact） the absence of that wicked pride which
perpetuates caste； forbidding those to intermarry whom nature and fact
pronounce to be fit mates before God and man。
These views are not mine only。 They have been already set forth so
much more forcibly by M。 de Tocqueville； that I should have thought it
unnecessary to talk about them； were not the rhetorical phrases； 〃Caste；〃
〃Privileged Classes；〃 〃Aristocratic Exclusiveness；〃 and such…like； bandied
about again just now； as if they represented facts。 If there remain in this
kingdom any facts which correspond to those words； let them be abolished
as speedily as possible： but that such do remain was not the opinion of
the master of modern political philosophy； M。 de Tocqueville。
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
He expresses his surprise 〃that the fact which distinguishes England
from all other modern nations； and which alone can throw light on her
peculiarities； 。 。 。 has not attracted more attention； 。 。 。 and that habit has
rendered it； as it were； imperceptible to the English themselvesthat
England was the only country in which the system of caste had been not
only modified； but effectually destroyed。 The nobility and the middle
classes followed the same business； embraced the same professions； and；
what is far more significant； intermarried with each other。 The daughter
of the greatest nobleman〃 （and this； if true of the eighteenth century； has
become far more true of the nineteenth） 〃could already； without disgrace；
marry a man of yesterday。〃 。 。 。
〃It has often been remarked that the English nobility has been more
prudent； more able； and less exclusive than any other。 It would have
been much nearer the truth to say； that in England； for a very long time
past； no nobility； properly so called； have existed； if we take the word in
the ancient and limited sense it has everywhere else retained。〃 。 。 。
〃For several centuries the word 'gentleman'〃 （he might have added；
〃burgess〃） 〃has altogether changed its meaning in England； and the word
'roturier' has ceased to exist。 In each succeeding century it is applied to
persons placed somewhat lower in the social scale〃 （as the 〃bagman〃 of
Pickwick has become； and has deserved to become； the 〃commercial
gentleman〃 of our day）。 〃At length it travelled with the English to
America； where it is used to designate every citizen indiscriminately。 Its
history is that of democracy itself。〃 。 。 。
〃If the middle classes of England； instead of making war upon the
aristocracy； have remained so intimately connected with it； it is not
especially because the aristocracy is open to all； but rather； because its
outline was indistinct； and its limit unknown： not so much because any
man might be admitted into it； as because it was impossible to say with
certainty when he took rank there： so that all who approached it might
look on themselves as belonging to it； might take part in its rule； and
derive either lustre or profit from its influence。〃
Just so； and therefore the middle classes of Britain； of whatever their
special political party； are conservative in the best sense of that word。
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
For there are not three； but only two； classes in England； namely； rich
and poor： those who live by capital （from the wealthiest landlord to the
smallest village shopkeeper）； and those who live by hand…labour。
Whether the division between those two classes is increasing or not； is a
very serious question。 Continued legislation in favour of the hand…
labourer； and a beneficence towa
