Practicable Socialism, New SeriesBarnett, S. A. (Samuel Augustus)
Religion
Practicable Socialism, New Series
Barnett, S. A. (Samuel Augustus)
Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; Social problems; Working class
The family whose members are so smugly content with the virtue which has
secured wealth and comfort, whose charities are liberally supported, and
kindness frequently done, where hospitality is ready, would feel itself
unfairly charged if it were abused because it lived on abuses, and
opposed any change which might affect the established order. The labour
agitator, on the other hand, feels himself unfairly charged when he is
attacked as designing change for his own benefit and accused of enmity
because of his strong language. It may be that his words do mischief,
but in his heart he is kindly and generous. There are criminals in every
class, rich men who prey on poor men, and poor men who prey on rich men,
but the criminal class is limited and the mass of men do not intend
evil. The chief cause of social friction is, it may be said, not
designed selfishness so much as the want of moral thoughtfulness. The
rogue of the piece is not the criminal, but--you--I--every one.
The recognition of this fact suggests that the best Social Reformer is
not the philanthropist or the politician so much as the man or the woman
who brings moral thoughtfulness into every act and relation of daily
life.
There is abundance of what may be called financial thoughtfulness, and
people take much pains, not always with success--to inquire into the
soundness of their investments and the solvency of their debtors. The
Social Reformer who feels the obligation of moral thoughtfulness will
take as much pains to inquire whether his profits come by others’ loss.
He may not always succeed, but he will seek to know if the workers
employed by his capital receive a living wage and are protected from the
dangers of their trade. He will look to it that his tenants have houses
which ought to make homes.
There is much time spent in shopping, and women take great pains to
learn what is fashionable or suited to their means. If they were morally
thoughtful they would take as much pains to learn what sweated labour
had been used so that things might be cheap; what suffering others had
endured for their pleasure. They might not always succeed, but the fact
of seeking would have its effect, and they would help to raise public
opinion to a greater sense of responsibility.
Pleasure-seekers are proverbially free-handed, they throw their money to
passing beggars, they patronize any passing show which promises a
moment’s amusement; greater moral thoughtfulness would not prevent their
pleasure, but it would prevent them from making children greedy, so that
they might enjoy the fun of watching a scramble, and from listening to
songs or patronizing shows which degrade the performer. Gwendolen, in
George Eliot’s “Daniel Deronda,” did not realize that the cruelty of
gambling is taking profit by another’s loss, and so she laid the
foundation of a tragedy. Pleasure-seekers who make the same mistake are
responsible for some of the tragedies which disturb society.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account