友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
essays-1-第30部分
快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
stry among them; for it is most certain; that all sums of money; or other assistance; given to the Poor in alms; which do not tend to make them industrious; never can fail to have a contrary tendency; and to operate as an encouragement to idleness and immorality。
And as the merit of an action is to be determined by the good it produces; the charity of a nation ought not to be estimated by the millions which are paid in Poor's taxes; but by the pains which are taken to see that the sums raised are properly applied。
As the providing useful employment for the Poor; and rendering them industrious; is; and ever has been; a great DESIDERATUM in political economy; it may be proper to enlarge a little here; upon that interesting subject。
The great mistake committed in most of the attempts which have been made to introduce a spirit of industry; where habits of idleness have prevailed; has been the too frequent and improper use of coercive measures; by which the persons to be reclaimed have commonly been offended and thoroughly disgusted at the very out…set。Force will not do it。Address; not force; must be used on those occasions。
The children in the house of industry at Munich; who; being placed upon elevated seats round the halls where other children worked; were made to be idle spectators of that amusing scene; cried most bitterly when their request to be permitted to descend from their places; and mix in that busy crowd; was refused;but they would; most probably; have cried still more; had they been taken abruptly from their play and FORCED to work。
〃Men are but children of a larger growth;〃 and those who undertake to direct them; ought ever to bear in mind that important truth。
That impatience of control; and jealousy and obstinate perseverance in maintaining the rights of personal liberty and independence; which so strongly mark the human character in all the stages of life; must be managed with great caution and address; by those who are desirous of doing good;or; indeed; of doing any thing effectually with mankind。
It has often been said; that the Poor are vicious and profligate; and that THEREFORE nothing but force will answer to make them obedient; and keep them in order;but; I should say; that BECAUSE the Poor are vicious and profligate; it is so much the more necessary to avoid the appearance of force in the management of them; to prevent their becoming rebellious and incorrigible。
Those who are employed to take up and tame the wild horses belonging to the Elector Palatine; which are bred in the forest near Dusseldorf; never use force in reclaiming that noble animal; and making him docile and obedient。 They begin with making a great circuit; in order to approach him; and rather decoy than force him into the situation in which they wish to bring him; and ever afterwards treat him with the greatest kindness; it having been found by experience; that ill…usage seldom fails to make him 〃a man…hater;〃 untameable; and incorrigibly vicious。It may; perhaps; be thought fanciful and trifling; but the fact really is; that an attention to the means used by these people to gain the confidence of those animals; and teach them to like their keepers; their stables; and their mangers; suggested to me many ideas which I afterwards put in execution with great success; in reclaiming those abandoned and ferocious animals in human shape; which I undertook to tame and render gentle and docile。
It is however necessary in every attempt to introduce a spirit of order and industry among the idle and profligate; not merely to avoid all harsh and offensive treatment; which; as has already been observed; could only serve to irritate them and render them still more vicious and obstinate; but it is also indispensably necessary to do every thing that can be devised to encourage and reward every symptom of reformation。
It will likewise be necessary sometimes to punish the obstinate; but recourse should never be had to punishments till GOOD USAGE has first been fairly tried and found to be ineffectual。 The delinquent must be made to see that he has deserved the punishment; and when it is inflicted; care should be taken to make him feel it。 But in order that the punishment may have the effects intended; and not serve to irritate the person punished; and excite personal hatred and revenge; instead of disposing the mind to serious reflection; it must be administered in the most solemn and most DISPASSIONATE manner; and it must be continued no longer than till the FIRST DAWN of reformation appears。
How much prudence and caution are necessary in dispensing rewards and punishments;and yethow little attention is in general paid to those important transactions!
REWARDS and PUNISHMENTS are the only means by which mankind can be controlled and directed; and yet; how often do we see them dispensed in the most carelessmost imprudentand most improper manner!how often are they confounded!how often misapplied! and how often do we see them made the instruments of gratifying the most sordid private passions!
To the improper use of them may be attributed all the disorders of civil society。To the improper or careless use of them may; most unquestionably; be attributed the prevalence of poverty; misery; and mendicity in most countries; and particularly in Great Britain; where the healthfulness and mildness of the climatethe fertility of the soilthe abundance of fuelthe numerous and flourishing manufacturesthe extensive commerce and the millions of acres of waste lands which still remain to be cultivated; furnish the means of giving useful employment to all its inhabitants; and even to a much more numerous population。
But if instead of encouraging the laudable exertions of useful industry; and assisting and relieving the unfortunate and the infirm(the only real objects of charity;)the means designed for those purposes are so misapplied as to operate as rewards to idleness and immorality; the greater the sums are which are levied on the rich for the relief of the poor; the more numerous will that class become; and the greater will be their profligacy; their insolence; and their shameless and clamorous importunity。
There is; it cannot be denied; in man; a natural propensity to sloth and indolence; and though habits of industry;like all habits;may render those exertions easy and pleasant which at first are painful and irksome; yet no person; in any situation; ever chose labour merely for its own sake。 It is always the apprehension of some greater evil;or the hope of some enjoyment; by which mankind are compelled or allured; when they take to industrious pursuits。
In the rude state of savage nature the wants of men are few; and these may all be easily supplied without the commission of any crime; consequently industry; under such circumstances; is not necessary; nor can indolence be justly considered as a vice; but in a state of civil society; where population is great; and the means of subsistence not to be had without labour; or without defrauding others of the fruits of their industry; idleness becomes a crime of the most fatal tendency; and consequently of the most heinous nature; and every means should be used to discountenance; puni
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!