a new view of society-第12章

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n　individual　characters；　and　possess　merit　or　demerit　for　the　peculiar　notions　impressed　on　the　mind　during　its　early　growth；　before　they　have　acquired　strength　and　experience　to　judge　of　or　resist　the　impression　of　those　notions　or　opinions；　which；　on　investigation；　appear　contradictions　to　facts　existing　around　them；　and　which　are　therefore　false。　　　　　That　these　false　notions　have　ever　produced　evil　and　misery　in　the　world；　and　that　they　still　disseminate　them　in　every　direction。　　　　　That　the　sole　cause　of　their　existence　hitherto　has　been　man's　ignorance　of　human　nature：　while　their　consequences　have　been　all　the　evil　and　misery；　except　those　of　accidents；　disease；　and　death；　with　which　man　has　been　and　is　afflicted：　and　that　the　evil　and　misery　which　arise　from　accidents；　disease；　and　death；　are　also　greatly　increased　and　extended　by　man's　ignorance　of　himself。　　　　　That；　in　proportion　as　man's　desire　of　self…happiness；　or　his　self…love；　is　directed　by　true　knowledge；　those　actions　will　abound　which　are　virtuous　and　beneficial　to　man；　that　in　proportion　as　it　is　influenced　by　false　notions；　or　the　absence　of　true　knowledge；　those　actions　will　prevail　which　generate　crimes；　from　whence　arises　an　endless　variety　of　misery。　and；　consequently；　that　every　rational　means　should　be　now　adopted　to　detect　error；　and　to　increase　true　knowledge　among　men。　　　　　That　when　these　truths　are　made　evident；　every　individual　will　necessarily　endeavour　to　promote　the　happiness　of　every　other　individual　within　his　sphere　of　action；　because　he　must　clearly；　and　without　any　doubt；　comprehend　such　conduct　to　be　the　essence　of　self…interest；　or　the　true　cause　of　self…happiness。　　　　　Here；　then；　is　a　firm　foundation　on　which　to　erect　vital　religion；　pure　and　undefiled；　and　the　only　one　which；　without　any　counteracting　evil；　can　give　peace　and　happiness　to　man。　　　　　It　is　to　bring　into　practical　operation；　in　forming　the　character　of　men；　these　most　important　of　all　truths；　that　the　religious　part　of　the　Institution　at　New　Lanark　will　be　chiefly　directed；　and　such　are　the　fundamental　principles　upon　which　the　Instructor　will　proceed。　They　are　thus　publicly　avowed　before　all　men；　that　they　may　undergo　discussion　and　the　most　severe　scrutiny　and　investigation。　　　　　Let　those；　therefore；　who　are　esteemed　the　most　learned　and　wise；　throughout　the　various　states　and　empires　in　the　world；　examine　them　to　their　foundation；　compare　them　with　every　fact　which　exists；　and　if　the　shadow　of　inconsistency　and　falsehood　be　discovered；　let　it　be　publicly　exposed；　that　error　may　not　more　abound。　　　　　But　should　they　withstand　this　extended　ordeal；　and　prove　themselves　uniformly　consistent　with　every　known　fact；　and　therefore　true；　then　let　it　be　declared；　that　man　may　be　permitted　by　man　to　become　rational；　and　that　the　misery　of　the　world　may　be　speedily　removed。　　　　　Having　alluded　to　the　chief　uses　of　the　playground　and　exercise　rooms；　with　the　School；　Lecture　Room；　and　Church；　it　remains；　to　complete　the　account　of　the　New　Institution；　that　the　object　of　the　drill　exercises　mentioned　when　stating　the　purposes　of　the　playground；　should　be　explained；　and　to　this　we　now　proceed。　　　　　Were　all　men　trained　to　be　rational；　the　art　of　war　would　be　rendered　useless。　While；　however；　any　part　of　mankind　shall　be　taught　that　they　form　their　own　characters；　and　shall　continue　to　be　trained　from　infancy　to　think　and　act　irrationally　that　is；　to　acquire　feelings　of　enmity；　and　to　deem　it　a　duty　to　engage　in　war　against　those　who　have　been　instructed　to　differ　from　them　in　sentiments　and　habits　…　even　the　most　rational　must；　for　their　personal　security；　learn　the　means　of　defence；　and　every　community　of　such　characters；　while　surrounded　by　men　who　have　been　thus　improperly　taught；　should　acquire　a　knowledge　of　this　destructive　art；　that　they　may　be　enabled　to　overrule　the　actions　of　irrational　beings；　and　maintain　peace。　　　　　To　accomplish　these　objects　to　the　utmost　practical　limit；　and　with　the　least　inconvenience；　every　male　should　be　instructed　how　best　to　defend；　when　attacked；　the　community　to　which　he　belongs。　And　these　advantages　are；　only　to　be　obtained　by　providing　proper　means　for　the　instruction　of　all　boys　in　the　use　of　arms　and　the　arts　of　war。　　　　　As　an　example　how　easily　and　effectually　this　might　be　accomplished　over　the　British　Isles；　it　is　intended　that　the　boys　trained　and　educated　at　the　Institution　at　New　Lanark　shall　be　thus　instructed；　that　the　person　appointed　to　attend　the　children　in　the　playground　shall　be　qualified　to　drill　and　teach　the　boys　the　manual　exercise；　and　that　he　shall　be　frequently　so　employed；　that　afterwards；　firearms；　of　proportionate　weight　and　size　to　the　age　and　strength　of　the　boys；　shall　be　provided　for　them；　when　also　they　might　be　taught　to　practise　and　understand　the　more　complicated　military　movements。　　　　　This　exercise；　properly　administered；　will　greatly　contribute　to　the　health　and　spirits　of　the　boys；　give　them　an　erect　and　proper　form；　and　habits　of　attention；　celerity；　and　order。　They　will；　however；　be　taught　to　consider　this　exercise；　an　art；　rendered　absolutely　necessary　by　the　partial　insanity　of　some　of　their　fellow　creatures　who　by　the　errors　of　their　predecessors；　transmitted　through　preceding　generations；　have　been　taught　to　acquire　feelings　of　enmity；　increasing　to　madness；　against　those　who　could　not　avoid　differing　from　them　in　sentiments　and　habits；　that　this　art　should　never　be　brought　into　practice　except　to　restrain　the　violence　of　such　madmen；　and；　in　these　cases；　that　it　should　be　administered　with　the　least　possible　severity；　and　solely　to　prevent　the　evil　consequences　of　those　rash　acts　of　the　insane；　and；　if　possible；　to　cure　them　of　their　disease。　　　　　Thus；　in　a　few　years；　by　foresight　and　arrangement；　may　almost　the　whole　expense　and　inconvenience　attending　the　local　military　be　superseded；　and　a　permanent　force　created；　which　in　numbers；　discipline；　and　principles；　would　be　superior；　beyond　all　comparison；　for　the　purposes　of　defence；　always　ready　in　case　of　need；　yet　without　the　loss　which　is　now　sustained　by　the　community　of　efficient　and　valuable　labour。　The　expenditure　which　would　be　saved　by　this　simple　expedient；　would　be　far　more　than　competent　to　educate　the　whole　of　the　poor　and　labouring　classes　of　these　kingdoms。　　　　　There　is　still　another　arrangement　in　contemplation　for　the　community　at　New　Lanark；　and　without　which　the　establishment　will　remain　incomplete。　　　　　It　is　an　expedient　to　enable　the　individuals；　by　their　own　foresight；　prudence；　and　industry；　to　secure　to　themselves　in　old　age　a　comfortable　provision　and　asylum。　　　　　Those　now　employed　at　the　establishment　contribute　to　a　fund　which　supports　them　when　too　ill　to　work；　or　superannuated。　This　fund；　however；　is　not　calculated　to　give　them　more　than　a　bare　existence；　and　it　is　surely　desirable　that；　after　they　have　spent　nearly　half　a　century　in　unremitting　industry；　they　should；　if　possible；　enjoy　a　comfortable　independence。　　　　　To　effect　this　object；　it　is　intended　that　in　the　most　pleasant　situation　near　the　present　village；　neat　and　convenient　dwellings　should　be　erected；　with　gardens　attached；　that　they　should　be　surrounded　and　sheltered　by　plantations；　through　which　public　walks　should　be　formed；　and　the　whole　arranged　to　give　the　occupiers　the　most　substantial　comforts。　　　　　That　these　dwellings；　with　the　privileges　of　the　public　walks；　etc。；　shall　become　the　property　of　those　individuals　who；　without　compulsion；　shall　subscribe　each　equitable　sums　monthly；　as；　in　a　given　number　of　years　will　be　equal　to　the　purchase；　and　to　create　a　fund　from　which；　when　these　individuals　become　occupiers　of　their　new　residences　they　may　receive　weekly；　monthly；　or　quarterly　payments；　sufficient　for　their　support；　the　expenses　of　which　may　be　reduced　to　a　very　low　rate　individually；　by　arrangements　which　may　be　easily　formed　to　supply　all　their　wants　with　little　trouble　to　themselves；　and　by　their　previous　instruction　they　will　be　enabled　to　afford　the　small　additional　subscription　which　will　be　required　for　these　purposes。　　　　　This　part　of　the　arrangement　would　always　present　a　prospect　of　rest；　comfort；　and　happiness　to　those　employed；　in　consequence；　their　daily　occupations　would　be　performed　with　more　spirit　and　cheerfulness；　and　their　labour　would　appear　comparatively　light　and　easy。　Those　still　engaged　in　active　operations　would；　of　course；　frequently　visit　their　former　companions　and　friends；　who；　after　having　spent　their　years　of　toil；　were　in　the　actual　enjoyment　of　this　simple　retreat；　and　from　this　intercourse　each　party　would　naturally　derive　pleasure。　The　reflections　of　each　would　be　most　gratifying。　The　old　would　rejoice　that　they　had　been　trained　in　habits　of　industry；　temperance；　and　foresight；　to　enable　them　to　receive　and　enjoy　in　their　declining　years　every　reasonable　comfort　which　the　present　state　of　society　will　admit；　the　young　and　middle…aged；　that　they　were　pursuing　the　same　course；　and　that　they　had　not　been　trained　to　waste　their。　money；　time；　and　health；　in　idleness　and　intemperance。　These　and　many　similar　reflections　could　not　fail　often　to　arise　in　their　minds；　and　those　who　could　look　forward　with　confident　hopes　to　such　certain　comfort　and　independence　would；　in　part；　enjoy　by　anticipation　these　advantages。　In　short；　when　this　part　of　the　arrangement　is　well　considered；　it　will　be　found　to　be　the　most　important　to　the　community　and　to　the　proprietors；　indeed；　the　extensively　good　effects　of　it　will　be　experienced　in　such　a　variety　of　ways；　that　to　describe　them　even　below　the　truth　would　appear　an　extravagant　exaggeration。　They　will　not；　however；　prove　the　less　true　because　mankind　are　yet　ignorant　of　the　practice；　and　of　the　principles　on　which　it　has　been　founded。　　　　　These；　then；　are　the　plans　which　are　in　progress　or　intended　for　the　further　improvement　of　the　inhabitants　of　New　Lanark。　They　have　uniformly　proceeded　from　the　principles　which　have　been　developed　through　these　Essays；　restrained；　however；　hitherto；　in　their　operations；　by　the　local　sentiments　and　unfounded　notions　of　the　community　and　neighbourhood；　and　by　the　peculiar　circumstances　of　the　establishment。　　　　　In　every　measure　to　be　introduced　at　the　place　in　question；　for　the　comfort　and　happiness　of　man；　the　existing　errors　of　the　country　were　always　to　be　considered；　and　as　the　establishment　belonged　to　parties　whose　views　were　various；　it　became　also　necessary　to　devise　means　to　create　pecuniary　gains　from　each　improvement；　sufficient　to　satisfy　the　spirit　of　commerce。　　　　　All；　therefore；　which　has　been　done　for　the　happiness　of　this　community；　which　consists　of　between　two　and　three　thousand　individuals；　is　far　short　of　what　might　have　been　easily　effected　in　practice　had　not　mankind　been　previously　trained　in　error。　Hence；　in　devising　these　plans；　the　sole　consideration　was　not；　what　were　the　measures　dictated　by　these　principles；　which　would　produce　the　greatest　happiness　to　man；　but　what　could　be　effected　in　practice　under　the　present　irrational　systems　by　which　these　proceedings　were　surrounded？　　　　　Imperfect；　however；　as　these　proceedings　must　yet　be；　in　consequence　of　the　formidable　obstructions　enumerated；　they　will　yet　appear；　upon　a　full　minute　investig