the malay archipelago-2-第56章

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　a　country　which　boasts　of　its　rapid　increase　in　wealth；　of　its　enormous　commerce　and　gigantic　manufactures；　of　its　mechanical　skill　and　scientific　knowledge；　of　its　high　civilization　and　its　pure　Christianity；I　can　but　term　a　state　of　social　barbarism。　We　also　boast　of　our　love　of　justice；　and　that　the　law　protects　rich　and。　poor　alike；　yet　we　retain　money　fines　as　a　punishment；　and　male　the　very　first　steps　to　obtain　justice　a。　matter　of　expense…in　both　cases　a　barbarous　injustice；　or　denial　of　justice　to　the　poor。　Again；　our　laws　render　it　possible；　that；　by　mere　neglect　of　a　legal　form；　and　contrary　to　his　own　wish　and　intention；　a　man's　property　may　all　go　to　a　stranger；　and　his　own　children　be　left　destitute。　Such　cases　have　happened　through　the　operation　of　the　laws　of　inheritance　of　landed　property；　and　that　such　unnatural　injustice　is　possible　among　us；　shows　that　we　are　in　a　state　of　social　barbarism。　Ono　more　example　to　justify　my　use　of　the　term；　and　I　have　done。　We　permit　absolute　possession　of　the　soil　of　our　country；　with　no　legal　rights　of　existence　on　the　soil；　to　the　vast　majority　who　do　not　possess　it。　A　great　landholder　may　legally　convert　his　whole　property　into　a　forest　or　a　hunting…　ground；　and　expel　every　human　being　who　has　hitherto　lived　upon　it。　In　a　thickly…populated　country　like　England；　where　every　acre　has　its　owner　and　its　occupier；　this　is　a　power　of　legally　destroying　his　fellow…creatures；　and　that　such　a　power　should　exist；　and　be　exercised　by　individuals；　in　however　small　a　degree；　indicates　that；　as　regards　true　social　science；　we　are　still　in　a　state　of　barbarism。





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