Certainlythisevil,forone,has_not_“wroughtitsowncure;“
buthaswroughtpreciselythereverse,andhasbeenhourlyeatingawaywhatpossibilitiesofcuretherewere。Andso,Ifear,inspiteofrumorstothecontrary,italwaysiswithevils,withsolecismsagainstNature,andcontradictionstothedivinefactofthings:notanevilofthemhaseverwroughtitsowncureinmyexperience;——buthascontinuallygrownworseandwideranduglier,tillsome_good_generallyagood_man_notabletoenduretheabominationlonger,roseuponitandcuredorelseextinguishedit。EvilGovernments,divestedofGod’slightbecausetheyhaveloveddarknessrather,arenotlikelierthanotherevilstoworktheirowncureoutofthatbadplight。
ItisurgentuponallGovernmentstopauseinthisfatalcourse;
persistedin,thegoalisfearfullyevident;everyhour’spersistenceinitismakingreturnmoredifficult。Intellectexistsinallcountries;andthefunctionappointeditbyHeaven,——Governmentshadbetternotattempttocontradictthat,fortheycannot!Intellect_has_togoverninthisworldandwilldoit,ifnotinalliancewithso-called“Governments“ofred-tapeandroutine,thenindivinehostilitytosuch,andsometimesalasindiabolichostilitytosuch;andintheend,assureasHeavenishigherthanDowningStreet,andtheLawsofNaturearetougherthanred-tape,withentirevictoryoverthemandentireruintothem。IfthereisonethinkingmanamongthePoliticiansofEngland,Iconsiderthesethingsextremelywellworthhisattentionjustnow。
WhoareavailabletoyourOfficesinDowningStreet?Allthegiftedsouls,ofeveryrank,whoareborntoyouinthisgeneration。Theseareappointed,bythetrueeternal“divineright“whichwillneverbecomeobsolete,tobeyourgovernorsandadministrators;andpreciselyasyouemploythem,orneglecttoemploythem,willyourStatebefavoredofHeavenordisfavored。
Thisnobleyoungsoul,youcanhavehimoneitheroftwoconditions;andononeofthem,sinceheishereintheworld,youmusthavehim。Asyourallyandcoadjutor;orfailingthat,asyournaturalenemy:whichshallitbe?IconsiderthateveryGovernmentconvictsitselfofinfatuationandfutility,orabsolvesandjustifiesitselfbeforeGodandman,accordingasitanswersthisquestion。Withallsublunaryentities,thisisthequestionofquestions。Whattalentisborntoyou?Howdoyouemploythat?Thecropofspiritualtalentthatisborntoyou,ofhumannoblenessandintellectandheroicfaculty,thisisinfinitelymoreimportantthanyourcropsofcottonorcorn,orwineorherringsorwhale-oil,whichtheNewspapersrecordwithsuchanxietyeveryseason。Thisisnotquitecountedbyseasons,thereforetheNewspapersaresilent:butbygenerationsandcenturies,Iassureyouitbecomesamazinglysensible;andsurpasses,asHeavendoesEarth,allthecornandwine,andwhale-oilandCaliforniabullion,oranyothercropyougrow。Ifthatcropcease,theothercrops——pleasetotakethemalso,ifyouareanxiousaboutthem。Thatonceceasing,wemayshutshop;
fornoothercropwhateverwillstaywithus,norisworthhavingifitwould。
Topromotemenoftalent,tosearchandsiftthewholesocietyineveryclassformenoftalent,andjoyfullypromotethem,hasnotalwaysbeenfoundimpossible。Inmanyformsofpolitytheyhavedoneit,andstilldoit,toacertaindegree。Thedegreetowhichtheysucceedindoingitmarks,asIhavesaid,withverygreataccuracythedegreeofdivineandhumanworththatisinthem,thedegreeofsuccessorrealultimatevictorytheycanexpecttohaveinthisworld——Think,forexample,oftheoldCatholicChurch,initsmerelyterrestrialrelationstotheState;andseeifyourreflections,andcontrastswithwhatnowis,areofanexultingcharacter。Progressofthespecieshasgoneonaswithseven-leagueboots,andinvariousdirectionshasshotaheadamazingly,withthreecheersfromalltheworld;butinthisdirection,themostvitalandindispensable,ithaslaggedterribly,andhasevenmovedbackward,tillnowitisquitegoneoutofsightincloudsofcotton-fuzzandrailway-scrip,andhasfallenfairlyoverthehorizontorearward!
InthosemostbenightedFeudalsocieties,fullofmeretyrannoussteelBarons,andtotallydestituteofTenpoundFranchisesandBallot-boxes,theredidneverthelessauthenticallypreachitselfeverywherethisgrandestofgospels,withoutwhichnoothergospelcanavailusmuch,toallsoulsofmen,“Awakeyenoblesouls;hereisanoblecareerforyou!“Isay,everywherearoadtowardspromotion,forhumannobleness,laywideopentoallmen。
Thepioussoul,——which,ifyoureflect,willmeantheingenuousandingenious,thegifted,intelligentandnobly-aspiringsoul,——suchasoul,inwhateverrankoflifeitwereborn,hadonepathinvitingit;agenerouscareer,whereon,byhumanworthandvalor,allearthlyheightsandHeavenitselfwereattainable。
Intheloweststratumofsocialthraldom,nowherewasthenoblesouldoomedquitetochoke,anddieignobly。TheChurch,pooroldbenightedcreature,hadatleasttakencareofthat:thenobleaspiringsoul,notdoomedtochokeignoblyinitspenuries,couldatleastrunintotheneighboringConvent,andtheretakerefuge。Educationawaiteditthere;stricttrainingnotonlytowhateverusefulknowledgecouldbehadfromwritingandreading,buttoobedience,topiousreverence,self-restraint,annihilationofself,——reallytohumannoblenessinmanymostessentialrespects。Noquestionsaskedaboutyourbirth,genealogy,quantityofmoney-capitalorthelike;theonequestionwas,“Istheresomehumannoblenessinyou,oristherenot?“Thepoorneat-herd’sson,ifhewereaNobleofNature,mightrisetoPriesthood,toHigh-priesthood,tothetopofthisworld,——andbestofall,hehadstillhighHeavenlyinghighenoughabovehim,tokeephisheadsteady,onwhateverheightorinwhateverdepthhiswaymightlie!
Athrice-gloriousarrangement,whenIreflectonit;mostsalutarytoallhighandlowinterests;atrulyhumanarrangement。Youmadethebornnobleyours,welcominghimaswhathewas,theSentofHeaven:youdidnotforcehimeithertodieorbecomeyourenemy;idlyneglectingorsuppressinghimaswhathewasnot,athingofnoworth。Youacceptedtheblessed_light_;andintheshapeofinfernal_lightning_itneedednottovisityou。How,likeanimmensemine-shaftthroughthedimoppressedstrataofsociety,thisInstitutionofthePriesthoodran;opening,fromthelowestdepthstowardsallheightsandtowardsHeavenitself,afreeroadofegressandemergencetowardsvirtuousnobleness,heroismandwell-doing,foreverybornman。Thiswemaycallthelivinglungsandblood-circulationofthoseoldFeudalisms。WhenIthinkofthatimmeasurableall-pervadinglungs;presentineverycornerofhumansociety,everymeanesthuta_cell_ofsaidlungs;invitingwhatsoevernoblepioussoulwasborntheretothepaththatwasnobleforhim;andleadingtherebysometimes,ifhewereworthy,tobethePapaofChristendom,andCommanderofallKings,——I
perceivehowtheoldChristiansocietycontinuedhealthy,vital,andwasstrongandheroic。WhenIcontrastthiswiththenobleaimsnowheldouttonoblesoulsborninremotehuts,orbeyondthevergeofPalace-Yard;andthinkofwhatyourLordshiphasdoneinthewayofmakingpriestsandpapas,——Iseeasocietywithoutlungs,fastwheezingitselftodeath,inhorridconvulsions;anddeservingtodie。
OverEuropegenerallyintheseyears,IconsiderthattheStatehasdied,hasfairlycougheditslastinstreetmusketry,andfallendowndead,incapableofanybut_galvanic_lifehenceforth,——owingtothissamefatalwantof_lungs_,whichincludesallotherwantsforaState。Andfurthermorethatitwillnevercomealiveagain,tillitcontrivetogetsuchindispensablevitalapparatus;theoutlooktowardwhichconsummationisverydistantinmostcommunitiesofEurope。IfyouletitcometodeathorsuspendedanimationinStates,thecaseisverybad!Vaintocallinuniversal-suffrageparliamentsatthatstage:theuniversal-suffrageparliamentscannotgiveyouanybreathoflife,cannotfindany_wisdom_foryou;bylongimpiety,youhaveletthesupplyofnoblehumanwisdomdieout;
andthewisdomthatnowcourtsyouruniversalsuffragesisbeggarlyhuman_attorneyism_orsham-wisdom,whichis_not_aninsightintotheLawsofGod’sUniverse,butintothelawsofhungryEgoismandtheDevil’sChicane,andcanintheendprofitnocommunityorman。
No;thekindofheroesthatcomemountedontheshouldersoftheuniversalsuffrage,andinstallthemselvesasPrimeMinistersandhealingStatesmenbyforceofableeditorship,donotbidveryfairtobringNationsbacktothewaysofGod。Eloquenthigh-lacquered_pinchbeck_specimensthese,expertintheartsofBelialmainly;——fittertobemarkersatsomeexceedinglyexpensivebilliard-tablethansacredchief-priestsofmen!
“GreeksoftheLowerEmpire;“withavarnishofparliamentaryrhetoric;and,Isuppose,thisothergreatgift,toughnessofcharacter,——proofthattheyhave_persevered_intheirMaster’sservice。Poorwretches,theirindustryismob-worship,place-worship,parliamentaryintrigue,andthemultiplexartoftongue-fence:flungintothatbadelement,theretheyswimfordecadeslong,throttlingandwrestlingoneanotheraccordingtotheirstrength,——andthetoughestorluckiestgetstoland,andbecomesPremier。AmoreentirelyunbeautifulclassofPremierswasneverrakedoutoftheooze,andsetonhighplaces,byanyingenuityofman。DameDubarry’spetticoatwasabetterseine-netforfishingoutPremiersthanthat。LetallNationswhomnecessityisdrivingtowardsthatmethod,takewarningintime!
Alas,thereis,inamanner,butoneNationthatcanstilltakewarning!InEnglandaloneofEuropeanCountriestheStateyetsurvives;andmighthelpitselfbybettermethods。InEnglandheroicwisdomisnotyetdead,andquitereplacedbyattorneyism:
thehonestbeaverfacultyyetaboundswithus,theheroicmanfulfacultyshowsitselfalsototheobservanteye,notdeadbutdangerouslysleeping。Isaidthereweremany_kings_inEngland:
ifthesecanyetberalliedintostrenuousactivity,andsettogovernEnglandinDowningStreetandelsewhere,whichtheirfunctionalwaysis,——thenEnglandcanbesavedfromanarchiesanduniversalsuffrages;andthatApotheosisofAttorneyism,blackestofterrestrialcurses,maybesparedus。Ifthesecannot,theotherissue,insuchformsasmaybeappropriatetous,isinevitable。Whatescapeisthere?Englandmustconformtotheeternallawsoflife,orEnglandtoomustdie!
EnglandwiththelargestmassofreallivinginterestseverintrustedtoaNation;andwithamassofextinctimaginaryandquitedeadinterestspileduponittotheveryHeavens,andencumberingitfromshoretoshore,——doesreelandstaggerominouslyintheseyears;urgedbytheDivineSilencesandtheEternalLawstotakepracticalholdofitslivinginterestsandmanagethem:andclutchingblindlyintoitsvenerableextinctandimaginaryinterests,asifthatwerestillthewaytodoit。
Englandmustcontrivetomanageitslivinginterests,andquititsdeadonesandtheirmethods,orelsedepartfromitsplaceinthisworld。SurelyEnglandiscalledasnoNationeverwas,tosummonoutits_kings_,andsetthemtothathighwork!——HugeinorganicEngland,nighchokedundertheexuviaeofathousandyears,andblindlysprawlingamidchartisms,ballot-boxes,prevenientgraces,andbishops’nightmares,must,asthepreliminaryandcommencementoforganization,learnto_breathe_
again,——get“lungs“forherselfagain,aswedefinedit。Thatisimperativeuponher:shetoowilldie,otherwise,andcoughherlastuponthestreetssomeday;——howcanshecontinueliving?ToenfranchisewhatsoeverofWisdomisborninEngland,andsetthattothesacredtaskofcoercingandamendingwhatofFollyisborninEngland:Heaven’sblessingispurchasablebythat;bynotthat,onlyHeaven’scurseispurchasable。Thereformcontemplated,myliberalfriendsperceive,isatrulyradicalone;noballot-boxeverwentsodeepintotheroots:aradical,mostpainful,slowanddifficult,butmostindispensablereformofreforms!
Howshortandfeebleanapproximationtothesehighulteriorresults,thebestReformofDowningStreet,presidedoverbythefittestStatesmanonecanimaginetoexistatpresent,wouldbe,istooapparenttome。Alongtimeyettillwegetourlivinginterestsputunderdueadministration,tillwegetourdeadinterestshandsomelydismissed。Alongtimeyettill,byextensivechangeofhabitandwaysofthinkingandacting,_we_
getliving“lungs“forourselves!Nevertheless,byReformofDowningStreet,wedobegintobreathe:wedostartinthewaytowardsthatandallhighresults。Noristherevisibletomeanyotherway。Blessedenoughwerethewayonceenteredon;
couldwe,inourevildays,butseethenobleenterprisebegun,andfairlyinprogress!
Whatthe“_New_DowningStreet“cangrowto,andwillandmustifEnglandistohaveaDowningStreetbeyondafewyearslonger,itisfarfromme,inmyremotewatch-tower,tosaywithprecision。
ADowningStreetinhabitedbythegiftedoftheintellectsofEngland;directingallitsenergiesupontherealandlivinginterestsofEngland,andsilentlybutincessantly,inthealembicsoftheplace,burninguptheextinctimaginaryinterestsofEngland,thatwemayseeGod’sskyalittleplaineroverhead,andhaveallofusagreataccessionof“heroicwisdom“
todisposeof:suchaDowningStreet——todrawtheplanofit,willrequirearchitects;manysuccessivearchitectsandbuilderswillbeneededthere。Letnoteditors,andremoteunprofessionalpersons,interferetoomuch!——Changeinthepresentedifice,however,radicalchange,allmencandiscerntobeinevitable;