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！
He must bee the State。 〃Better one tyrant；〃 as Voltaire said； 〃than
many。〃 Better stand in fear of one lion far away； than of many wolves；
each in the nearest wood。 And so arise those truly monstrous Eastern
despotisms； of which modern Persia is； thank God； the only remaining
specimen； for Turkey and Egypt are too amenable of late years to the
influence of the free nations to be counted as despotisms pure and simple
despotisms in which men； instead of worshipping a God…man； worship the
hideous counterfeit； a Man…goda poor human being endowed by public
opinion with the powers of deity； while he is the slave of all the
weaknesses of humanity。 But such； as an historic fact； has been the last
stage of every civilisation even that of Rome； which ripened itself upon
this earth the last in ancient times； and； I had almost said； until this very
day； except among the men who speak Teutonic tongues； and who have
preserved through all temptations； and reasserted through all dangers； the
free ideas which have been our sacred heritage ever since Tacitus beheld
us； with respect and awe； among our German forests； and saw in us the
future masters of the Roman Empire。
Yes； it is very sad； the past history of mankind。 But shall we despise
those who went before us； and on whose accumulated labours we now
stand？
Shall we not reverence our spiritual ancestors？ Shall we not show
our reverence by copying them； at least whenever； as in those old Persians；
we see in them manliness and truthfulness； hatred of idolatries； and
devotion to the God of light and life and good？ And shall we not feel
pity； instead of contempt； for their ruder forms of government； their
ignorances； excesses； failuresso excusable in men who； with little or no
47
… Page 48…
Historical Lectures and Essays
previous teaching； were trying to solve for themselves for the first time the
deepest social and political problems of humanity。
Yes； those old despotisms we trust are dead； and never to revive。 But
their corpses are the corpses； not of our enemies； but of our friends and
predecessors； slain in the world…old fight of Ormuzd against Ahriman
light against darkness； order against disorder。 Confusedly they fought； and
sometimes ill： but their corpses piled the breach and filled the trench
for us； and over their corpses we step on to what should be to us an easy
victorywhat may be to us； yet； a shameful ruin。
For if we be； as we are wont to boast； the salt of the earth and the light
of the world； what if the salt should lose its savour？ What if the light
which is in us should bee darkness？ For myself； when I look upon
the responsibilities of the free nations of modern times； so far from
boasting of that liberty in which I delightand to keep which I freely； too；
could dieI rather say； in fear and trembling； God help us on whom He
has laid so heavy a burden as to make us free； responsible； each individual
of us； not only to ourselves； but to Him and all mankind。 For if we fall
we shall fall I know not whither； and I dare not think。
How those old despotisms； the mighty empires of old time； fell； we
know； and we can easily explain。 Corrupt； luxurious； effeminate； eaten
out by universal selfishness and mutual fear； they had at last no organic
coherence。 The moral anarchy within showed through； at last burst
through； the painted skin of prescriptive order which held them together。
Some braver and abler； and usually more virtuous people； often some little；
hardy； homely mountain tribe； saw that the fruit was ripe for gathering；
and； caring naught for superior numbersand saying with German Alaric
when the Romans boasted of their numbers； 〃The thicker the hay the
easier it is mowed〃struck one brave blow at the huge inflated wind…bag
as Cyrus and his handful of Persians struck at the Medes； as Alexander
and his handful of Greeks struck afterwards at the Persiansand behold； it
collapsed upon the spot。 And then the victors took the place of the
conquered； and became in their turn an aristocracy； and then a despotism；
48
… Page 49…
Historical Lectures and Essays
and in their turn rotted down and perished。 And so the vicious circle
repeated itself； age after age； from Egypt and Assyria to Mexico and Peru。
And therefore； we； free peoples as we are； have need to watch； and
sternly watch； ourselves。 Equality of some kind or other is； as I said； our
natural and seemingly inevitable goal。 But which equality？ For there
are twoa true one and a false； a noble and a base； a healthful and a
ruinous。 There is the truly divine equality； and there is the brute equality
of sheep and oxen； and of flies and worms。 There is the equality which is
founded on mutual envy。 The equality which respects others； and the
equality which asserts itself。 The equality which longs to raise all alike；
and the equality which desires to pull down all alike。 The equality which
says： Thou art as good as I； and it may be better too； in the sight of God。
And the equality which says： I am as good as thou； and will therefore
see if I cannot master thee。
Side by side； in the heart of every free man； and every free people； are
the two instincts struggling for the mastery； called by the same name； but
bearing the same relation to each other as Marsyas to Apollo； the Satyr to
the God。 Marsyas and Apollo； the base and the noble； are； as in the old
Greek legend； contending for the prize。 And the prize is no less a one than
all free people of this planet。
In proportion as that nobler idea conquers； and men unite in the
equality of mutual respect and mutual service； they move one step farther
towards realising on earth that Kingdom of God of which it is written：
〃The despots of the nations exercise dominion over them； and they that
exercise authority over them are called benefactors。 But he that will be
great among you let him be the servant of all。〃
And in proportion as that base idea conquers； and selfishness； not self…
sacrifice； is the ruling spirit of a State； men move on； one step forward；
towards realising that kingdom of the devil upon earth； 〃Every man for
himself and the devil take the hindmost。〃 Only； alas！ in that evil equality
of envy and hate； there is no hindmost； and the devil takes them all alike。
And so is a period of discontent； revolution； internecine anarchy；
49
… Page 50…
Historical Lectures and Essays
followed by a tyranny endured； as in old Rome； by men once free； because
tyranny will at least do for them what they were too lazy and greedy and
envious to do for themselves。
And all because they have forgot What 'tis to be a manto curb and
spurn。 The tyrant in us： the ignobler self Which boasts； not loathes； its
likeness to the brute； And owns no good save ease； no ill save pain； No
purpose； save its share in that wild war In which； through countless ages；
living things pete in internecine greed。 Ah； loving God； Are we as
creeping things； which have no lord？ That we are brutes； great God； we
know too well； Apes daintier…featured； silly birds； who flaunt Their plumes；
unheeding of the fowler's step； Spiders； who catch with paper； not with
webs； Tigers； who slay with cannon and sharp steel； Instead of teeth and
claws：… all these we are。 Are we no more than these； save in degree？ Mere
fools of nature； puppets of strong lusts； Taking the sword； to perish by the
sword Upon the universal battle…field； Even as the things upon the moor
outside？
The heath eats up green grass and delicate herbs； The pines eat up the
heath； the grub the pine； The finch the grub； the hawk the silly finch； And
man； the mightiest of all beasts of prey； Eats what he lists。 The strong eat
up the weak； The many eat the few； great nations； small； And he who
eth in the name of all Shall； greediest； triumph by the greed of all； And；
armed by his own victims； eat up all。 While ever out of the eternal heavens
Looks patient down the great magnanimous God； Who； Master of all
worlds； did sacrifice All to Himself？ Nay： but Himself to all； Who
taught mankind； on that first Christmas Day； What 'tis to be a manto give；
not take； To serve； not rule； to nourish； not devour； To lift； not crush； if
need； to die； not live。
〃He that eth in the name of all〃the popular military despot the
〃saviour of his country〃he is our internecine enemy on both sides of the
Atlantic； whenever he risesthe inaugurator of that Imperialism； that
Caesarism into which Rome sank； when not her liberties merely； but her
virtues； were decaying out of herthe sink into which all wicked States；
50
… Page 51…
Historical Lectures and Essays
whether republics or monarchies； are sure to fall； simply because men
must eat and drink for to… morrow they die。 The Military and
Bureaucratic Despotism which keeps the many quiet； as in old Rome； by
PANEM ET CIRCENSESbread and gamesor； if need be； Pilgrimages；
that the few may make money； eat； drink； and be merry； as long as it can
last。 That； let it ape as it mayas did the Caesars of old Rome at firstas
another Emperor did even in our own daysthe forms of dead freedom；
really upholds an artificial luxury by brute force； and consecrates the
basest of all aristocracies； the aristocracy of the money…bag； by the divine
sanction of the bayonet。
That at all risks； even at the price of precious blood； the free peoples of
the earth must ward off from them； for； makeshift and stop…gap as it is； it
does not even succeed in what it tries to do。 It does not last。 Have we not
seen that it does not； cannot last？ How can it last？ This falsehood； like
all falsehoods； must collapse at one touch of Ithuriel's spear of truth and
fact。 And …
〃Then saw I the end of these men。 Namely； how Thou dost set them
in slippery places； and casteth them down。 Suddenly do they perish； and
e to a fearful end。 Yea； like as a dream when one awaketh； so shalt
Thou make their image to vanish out of the city。〃
Have we not seen that too； though； thank God； neither in England nor
in the United States？
And then？ What then？ None knows； and none can know。
The future of France and Spain； the future of the Tropical Republics of
Spanish