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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
reat men of ancient times to serve their country in the lowest rank whenever they did not command。 Our age is afflicted with a disease that makes each of us seek to rise above his fellows； and there are more saints than shrines among us。
〃This is how it has come to pass。 The monarchy fell； and we lost Honor； Christian Virtue faded with the religion of our forefathers； and our own ineffectual attempts at government have destroyed Patriotism。 Ideas can never utterly perish； so these beliefs linger on in our midst； but they do not influence the great mass of the people； and Society has no support but Egoism。 Every individual believes in himself。 For us the future means egoism； further than that we cannot see。 The great man who shall save us from the shipwreck which is imminent will no doubt avail himself of individualism when he makes a nation of us once more； but until this regeneration comes； we bide our time in a materialistic and utilitarian age。 Utilitarianismto this conclusion we have come。 We are all rated； not at our just worth； but according to our social importance。 People will scarcely look at an energetic man if he is in shirt…sleeves。 The Government itself is pervaded by this idea。 A minister sends a paltry medal to a sailor who has saved a dozen lives at the risk of his own； while the deputy who sells his vote to those in power receives the Cross of the Legion of Honor。
〃Woe to a people made up of such men as these！ For nations； like men； owe all the strength and vitality that is in them to noble thoughts and aspirations； and men's feelings shape their faith。 But when self… interest has taken the place of faith and each one of us thinks only of himself； and believes in himself alone； how can you expect to find among us much of that civil courage whose very essence consists in self…renunciation？ The same principle underlies both military and civil courage； although you soldiers are called upon to yield your lives up once and for all； while ours are given slowly drop by drop； and the battle is the same for both； although it takes different forms。
〃The man who would fain civilize the lowliest spot on earth needs something besides wealth for the task。 Knowledge is still more necessary； and knowledge； and patriotism； and integrity are worthless unless they are accompanied by a firm determination on his part to set his own personal interests completely aside； and to devote himself to a social idea。 France； no doubt； possesses more than one well…educated man and more than one patriot in every commune； but I am fully persuaded that not every canton can produce a man who to these valuable qualifications unites the unflagging will and pertinacity with which a blacksmith hammers out iron。
〃The Destroyer and the Builder are two manifestations of Will； the one prepares the way； and the other accomplishes the work； the first appears in the guise of a spirit of evil； and the second seems like the spirit of good。 Glory falls to the Destroyer； while the Builder is forgotten； for evil makes a noise in the world that rouses little souls to admiration； while good deeds are slow to make themselves heard。 Self…love leads us to prefer the more conspicuous part。 If it should happen that any public work is undertaken without an interested motive； it will only be by accident； until the day when education has changed our ways of regarding things in France。
〃Yet suppose that this change had come to pass； and that all of us were public…spirited citizens； in spite of our comfortable lives among trivialities； should we not be in a fair way to become the most wearied； wearisome； and unfortunate race of philistines under the sun？
〃I am not at the helm of State； the decision of great questions of this kind is not within my province； but； setting these considerations aside； there are other difficulties in the way of laying down hard and fast rules as to government。 In the matter of civilization； everything is relative。 Ideas that suit one country admirably are fatal in anothermen's minds are as various as the soils of the globe。 If we have so often been ill governed； it is because a faculty for government； like taste； is the outcome of a very rare and lofty attitude of mind。 The qualifications for the work are found in a natural bent of the soul rather than in the possession of scientific formulae。 No one need fear； however； to call himself a statesman； for his actions and motives cannot be justly estimated； his real judges are far away； and the results of his deeds are even more remote。 We have a great respect here in France for men of ideasa keen intellect exerts a great attraction for us； but ideas are of little value where a resolute will is the one thing needful。 Administration； as a matter of fact； does not consist in forcing more or less wise methods and ideas upon the great mass of the nation； but in giving to the ideas； good or bad； that they already possess a practical turn which will make them conduce to the general welfare of the State。 If old… established prejudices and customs bring a country into a bad way； the people will renounce their errors of their own accord。 Are not losses the result of economical errors of every kind？ And is it not； therefore； to every one's interest to rectify them in the long run？
〃Luckily I found a tabula rasa in this district。 They have followed my advice； and the land is well cultivated； but there had been no previous errors in agriculture； and the soil was good to begin with； so that it has been easy to introduce the five…ply shift； artificial grasses； and potatoes。 My methods did not clash with people's prejudices。 The faultily constructed plowshares in use in some parts of France were unknown here； the hoe sufficed for the little field work that they did。 Our wheelwright extolled my wheeled plows because he wished to increase his own business； so I secured an ally in him； but in this matter； as in all others； I sought to make the good of one conduce to the good of all。
〃Then I turned my attention to another kind of production； that should increase the welfare rather than the wealth of these poor folk。 I have brought nothing from without into this district； I have simply encouraged the people to seek beyond its limits for a market for their produce； a measure that could not but increase their prosperity in a way that they felt immediately。 They had no idea of the fact； but they themselves were my apostles； and their works preached my doctrines。 Something else must also be borne in mind。 We are barely five leagues from Grenoble。 There is plenty of demand in a large city for produce of all kinds； but not every commune is situated at the gates of a city。 In every similar undertaking the nature； situation； and resources of the country must be taken into consideration； and a careful study must be made of the soil； of the people themselves； and of many other things； and no one should expect to have vines grow in Normandy。 So no tasks can be more various than those of government； and its general principles must be few in number。 The law is uniform； but not so the land and the minds and customs of those who dwell in it； and the administration of the law is the art of carrying it out in such a manner that no injury is done to people's interests。 Every place must be considered separately。
〃On the other side of the mountain at the foot of which our deserted village lies； they find it impossible to use wheeled plows； because the soil is not deep enough。 Now if the mayor of the commune were to take it into his head to follow in our footsteps； he would be the ruin of his neighborhood。 I advised him to plant vineyards； they had a capital vintage last year in the little district； and their wine is exchanged for our corn。
〃Then； lastly； it must be remembered that my words carried a certain weight with the people to whom I preached； and that we were continually brought into close contact。 I cured my peasants' complaints； an easy task； for a nourishing diet is； as a rule； all that is needed to restore them to health and strength。 Either through thrift； or through sheer poverty； the country people starve themselves； any illness among them is caused in this way； and as a rule they enjoy very fair health