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a new view of society-第15部分
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at the simplicity and irresistible power of truth alone can disentangle them and expose their fallacy。 It becomes then necessary； to prevent the evils of a too sudden change； that those who have been thus nursed in ignorance may be progressively removed from the abodes of mental darkness to the intellectual light which this principle cannot fail to produce。 The light of true knowledge； therefore； must be first made to dawn on those dwellings of darkness； and afterwards gradually to increase； as it can be borne； by the opening faculties of their inhabitants。 To proceed on this plan it becomes necessary to direct our attention to the actual state of the British population； to disclose the cause of those great and leading evils of which all now complain。 It will then be seen that the foundation on which these evils have been erected is ignorance； proceeding from the errors which have been impressed on the minds of the present generation by its predecessors； and chiefly by that greatest of all errors； the notion that individuals form their own characters。 For while this most inconsistent； and therefore most absurd； of all human conceptions shall continue to be forced upon the young mind； there will remain no foundation whatever on which to build a sincere love and extended charity for man to his fellow creatures。 But destroy this hydra of human calamity； this immolator of every principle of rationality； this monster； which hitherto has effectually guarded every avenue that can lead to true benevolence and active kindness； and human happiness will be speedily established on a rock from whence it shall never more be removed。 This enemy of humanity may now be most easily destroyed。 Let it be dragged forth from beneath the dark mysterious veil by which till now it has been hid from the eyes of the world； expose it but for an instant to the clear light of intellectual day； and； as though conscious of its own deformity； it will instantaneously vanish； never to reappear。 As a groundwork； then； of a rational system； let this absurd doctrine； and all the chain of consequences which follow from it； be withdrawn； and let that only be taught as sacred； which can be demonstrated by its never…failing consistency to be true。 This essential object being accomplished （and accomplished it must be before another step can be taken to form man into a rational being）； the next is to withdraw those national laws which chiefly emanate from that erroneous doctrine； and which now exist in full vigour； training the population to almost every kind of crime。 For these laws are； without chance of failure； adapted to produce a long train of crimes； which crimes are accordingly produced。 Some of the most prominent to which allusion is made； are such as encourage the consumption of ardent spirits； by fostering and extending those receptacles to seduce the ignorant and wretched； called gin…shops and pot…houses； those laws which sanction and legalize gambling among the poor； under the name of a state lottery； those which are insidiously destroying the real strength of the country； under the name of providing for the poor； and those of punishment； which； under the present irrational system of legislation； are supposed to be absolutely necessary to hold society together。 To prove the accuracy of this deduction； millions of facts exist around us； speaking in a language so clearly connected and audible； that it is scarcely credible any man can misunderstand it。 These facts proclaim aloud to the universe； that ignorance generates； fosters； and multiplies sentiments and actions which must produce private and public misery； and that when evils are experienced； instead of withdrawing the cause which created them； it invents and applies punishments； which； to a superficial observer； may appear to lessen the evils which afflict society； while； in reality； they greatly increase them。 Intelligence； on the contrary； traces to its source the cause of every evil which exists； adopts the proper measures to remove the cause； and then； with the most unerring confidence； rests satisfied that its object will be accomplished。 Thus then intelligence； or in other words plain unsophisticated reason； will consider the various sentiments and actions which now create misery in society； will patiently trace the cause whence those sentiments and actions proceed； and immediately apply the proper remedies to remove them。 And attention； thus directed； discovers that the cause of such sentiments and actions in the British population is the laws which have been enumerated； and others which shall be hereafter noticed。 To withdraw； therefore； the existing evils which afflict society； these unwise laws must be progressively repealed or modified。 The British constitution； in its present outline； is admirably adapted to effect these changes； without the evils which always accompany a coerced or ill…prepared change。 As a preliminary step； however； to the commencement of national improvements； it should be declared with a sincerity which shall not admit of any after deviation； that no individual of the present generation should be deprived of the emolument which he now receives； or of that which has been officially or legally promised。 The next step in national reform is to withdraw from the national church those tenets which constitute its weakness and create its danger。 Yet still； to prevent the evils of any premature change； let the church in other respects remain as it is； because under the old established forms it may effect the most valuable purposes。 To render it truly a national church； all tests； as they are called； that is； declarations of belief in which all cannot conscientiously join； should be withdrawn： this alteration would tend more perhaps than any other which can be devised； to give stability both to the national church and to the state； and a conduct thus rational would at once terminate all the theological differences which now confound the intellects of men and disseminate universal discord。 The next measure of national improvement should be to repeal or modify those laws which leave the lower orders in ignorance； train them to become intemperate； and produce idleness； gambling； poverty； disease； and murder。 The production and consumption of ardent spirits are now legally encouraged； licences to keepers of gin…shops and unnecessary pot…houses are by thousands annually distributed； the laws of the state now direct those licences to be distributed； and yet； perhaps； not one of the authors or guardians of these laws has once reflected how much each of those houses daily contributes to public crime； disease； and weakness； or how much they add to the stock of private misery。 Shall we then continue to surround our fellow creatures with a temptation which； as many of them are now trained； we know they are unable to resist with a temptation； too； which predisposes its victims to proceed gradually from a state of temporary insanity； into which they had been led by the example and instruction of those around them； to one of madness and bodily disease； creating more than infantile weakness； which again produces mental torments and horrors； that silently； yet most effectually； undermine every faculty in man which can contribute to private or public happiness？ Can the British government longer preserve such laws； or countenance a system which trains man to devise and enforce such laws？ （In the year 1736； an act of parliament … stat。 9； Geo； II。； c。 23 … was passed； of which the preamble is as follows： 'Whereas the drinking of spirituous liquors or strong waters is become very common； especially among the people of lower and inferior rank； the constant and excessive use of which tends greatly to the destruction。 of their health； rendering them unfit for useful labour and business； debauching their morals； and inciting them to perpetrate all manner of vices； and the ill consequences of the excessive use of such liquors are not confined to the present generation； but extend to future ages； and tend to the devastation and ruin of this kingdom。' It was therefore enacted； that no person should retail spirits without a licence； for which �50 was to be paid annually； with other provisions to restrain the sale of spirits。 By a report of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the county of Middlesex； made in January； 1736； it appeared that there were then within Westminster； Holborn； the Tower； and Finsbury division exclusive of London and Southwark 7；044 houses and shops wherein spirituous liquors were publicly sold by retail； of which they had got an account； and that they believed it was far short of the true number。） Enough surely has been said to exhibit the evil consequences of these laws in their true colours。 Let the duties therefore on the production of ardent spirits be gradually increased； until the price shall exceed the means of ordinary consumption。 Let the licences be progressively withdrawn from the present occupiers of gin…shops and unnecessary pot…houses； and let the duties on the production and consumption of malt liquor be diminished； that the poor and working classes may be the more readily induced to abandon their destructive habits of dram…drinking； and by degrees to withdraw altogether from this incentive to crime and sure source of misery。 The next improvement should be to discontinue the state lottery。 The law which creates this measure is neither more nor less than a law to legalize gambling； entrap the unwary； and rob the ignorant。 How great must be the error of that system which can induce a state to deceive and injure its subjects； and yet expect that those subjects shall not be necessarily trained to injure and to deceive。 These measures may be thought detrimental to the national revenues。 Those who have reflected on the nature of public revenue； and who possess minds capable of comprehending the subject； know that revenue has but one legitimate source that it is derived directly or indirectly from the labour of man； and that it may be more or less from any given number of men （other circumstances being similar）； in proportion to their strength； industry； and capacity。 The efficient s
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