第8章

Likegeology，itinterfereswiththatDeusemachinatheoryofhumanaffairswhichhasbeeninallagesthestrongholdofpriestcraft。ThattheDeityisnormallyabsent，andnotpresent；

thatheworksontheworldbyinterference，andnotbycontinuouslaws；thatitistheprivilegeofthepriesthoodtoassigncausesforthese"judgments"and"visitations"oftheAlmighty，andtotellmankindwhyHeisangrywiththem，andhasbrokenthelawsofnaturetopunishthem——this，ineveryage，hasseemedtothemajorityofpriestsadoctrinetobedefendedatallhazards；forwithoutit，sotheyhold，theiroccupationweregoneatonce。{13}

Nowonder，then，iftheyviewwithjealousyasetoflaymenattributingthese"judgments"topurelychemicallaws，andtomisdoingsandignorancewhichhaveasyetnoplaceintheecclesiasticalcatalogueofsins。True，itmaybethattheSanitaryReformersareright；buttheyhadrathernotthinkso。

Anditisveryeasynottothinkso。Theyonlyhavetoignore，toavoidexamining，thefacts。Theircanonofutilityisapeculiarone；andwithfactswhichdonotcomeunderthatcanontheyhavenoconcern。Itmaybetrue，forinstance，thattheeighteenthcentury，whichtotheclergyisaperiodofscepticism，darkness，andspiritualdeath，istheverycenturywhichsawmoredoneforscience，forcivilisation，foragriculture，formanufacture，fortheprolongationandsupportofhumanlifethananyprecedingoneforathousandyearsandmore。Whatmatter？Thatisa"secular"

question，ofwhichtheyneedknownothing。Andsanitaryreform（iftrue）isjustsuchanother；amatter（asslaveryhasbeenseentobebythepreachersoftheUnitedStates）forthelegislator，andnotforthosewhosekingdomis"notofthisworld。"

Othersagainexpected，withequalwisdom，theassistanceofthepoliticaleconomist。Thefactisundeniable，butatthesametimeinexplicable。Whattheycouldhavefoundinthedoctrinesofmostmodernpoliticaleconomistswhichshouldleadthemtosupposethathumanlifewouldbepreciousintheireyes，isunknowntothewriterofthesepages。Thosewhosebugbearhasbeenover-

population，whosemottohasbeenaneuphuisticversionofThemorethemerrier；butthefewerthebetterfare-

cannotbeexpectedtolendtheiraidinincreasingthepopulationbysavingthelivesoftwo-thirdsofthechildrenwhonowdieprematurelyinourgreatcities；andsostillfurtherovercrowdingthisunhappylandwiththosehelplessandexpensivesourcesofnationalpoverty——rationalhumanbeings，instrengthandhealth。

Moreover——andthispointisworthyofseriousattention——thatschoolofpoliticaleconomy，whichhasnowreacheditsfulldevelopment，hastakenallalongaviewofman’srelationtoNaturediametricallyoppositetothattakenbytheSanitaryReformer，orindeedbyanyothermenofscience。TheSanitaryReformerholds，incommonwiththechemistortheengineer，thatNatureistobeobeyedonlyinordertoconquerher；thatmanistodiscoverthelawsofherexistingphenomena，inorderthathemayemploythemtocreatenewphenomenahimself；toturnthelawswhichhediscoverstohisownuse；ifneedbe，tocounteractonebyanother。Inthispower，ithasseemedtothem，layhisdignityasarationalbeing。Itwasthis，thepowerofinvention，whichmadehimaprogressiveanimal，notboundasthebirdandthebeeare，tobuildexactlyashisforefathersbuiltfivethousandyearsago。

Bypoliticaleconomyalonehasthisfacultybeendeniedtoman。

Initaloneheisnottoconquernature，butsimplytoobeyher。

Letherstarvehim，makehimaslave，abankrupt，orwhatnot，hemustsubmit，asthesavagedoestothehailandthelightning。

"Laissez-faire，"saysthe"Scienceduneant，"the"Sciencedelamisere，"asithastrulyandbitterlybeencalled；"Laissez-

faire。"Analyseeconomicquestionsifyouwill：butbeyondanalysisyoushallnotstep。Anyattempttoraisepoliticaleconomytoitssyntheticstageistobreakthelawsofnature，tofightagainstfacts——asiffactswerenotmadetobefoughtagainstandconquered，andputoutoftheway，whensoevertheyinterfereintheleastwiththewelfareofanyhumanbeing。Thedrowningmanisnottostrikeoutforhislifelestbykeepinghisheadabovewaterheinterferewiththelawsofgravitation。Notthatthepoliticaleconomist，oranyman，canbetruetohisownfallacy。Hemustneedstryhishandatthesyntheticmethodthoughheforbidsittotherestoftheworld：buttheonlydeductivehintwhichhehasasyetgiventomankindis，quaintlyenough，themostunnatural"eidolonspecus"whicheverenteredtheheadofadehumanisedpedant——namely，thatoncefamous"PreventiveCheck，"which，ifanationdideverapplyit——asitneverwill——

couldissue，aseverydoctorknows，innothinglessthanthequestionablehabitsofabortion，child-murder，andunnaturalcrime。

Theonlyexplanationofsuchconduct（thoughonewhichthementhemselveswillhardlyaccept）isthis——thattheysecretlysharesomewhatinthedoubtwhichmanyeducatedmenhaveofthecorrectnessoftheirinductions；thatthesesamelawsofpoliticaleconomy（wheretheyleavetheplainandsafesubject-matteroftrade）havebeenarrivedatsomewhattoohastily；thattheyare，inplainEnglish，notquitesoundenoughyettobuildupon；andthatwemustwaitforafewmorefactsbeforewebeginanytheories。Beitso。Atleast，thesemen，intheirpresenttemperofmind，arenotlikelytobeveryusefultotheSanitaryReformer。

Wouldthatthesemen，ortheclergy，hadbeentheonlybruisedreedinwhichtheSanitaryReformersputtheirtrust。Theyfoundanotherreed，however，andthatwasPublicOpinion；buttheyforgotthat（whateverthestump-oratorsmaysayaboutthisbeingtheageofelectricthought，whentruthflashestriumphantfrompoletopole，etc。）wehavenoproofwhatsoeverthattheproportionoffoolsislessinthisgenerationthaninthosebeforeit，orthattruth，whenunpalatable（asitalmostalwaysis），travelsanyfasterthanitdidfivehundredyearsago。Theyforgotthateverysocialimprovement，andmostmechanicalones，havehadtomaketheirwayagainstlaziness，ignorance，envy，vestedwrongs，vestedsuperstitions，andthewholevisinertiaeoftheworld，theflesh，andthedevil。Theywereguiltyindeed，inthiscase，notmerelyofignoranceofhumannature，butofforgetfulnessoffact。DidtheynotknowthattheexcellentNewPoor-lawwasgreetedwiththecursesofthoseveryfarmersandsquireswhonownotonlycarryitoutlovinglyandwillinglytotheveryletter，butareoftentooreadytoresistanyimprovementorrelaxationinitwhichmaybeproposedbythatveryPoor-lawBoardfromwhichitemanated？DidtheynotknowthatAgriculturalScience，thoughofsixtyyears’steadygrowth，hasnotyetpenetratedintoathirdofthefarmsofEngland；andthathundredsoffarmersstilldawdleonafterthefashionoftheirforefathers，whenbylookingoverthenexthedgeintotheirneighbour’sfieldtheymightdoubletheirproduceandtheirprofits？Didtheynotknowthattheadaptationofsteamtomachinerywouldhaveprogressedjustasslowly，haditnotbeenafactpatenttobabiesthatanengineisstrongerthanahorse；andthatifcotton，likewheatandbeef，hadtakentwelvemonthstomanufacture，insteadoffiveminutes，ManchesterforesightwouldprobablyhavebeenasshortandaspurblindasthatoftheBritishfarmer？WhatrighthadtheytoexpectabetterreceptionforthefactsofSanitaryScience？——factswhichoughtto，andultimatelywill，disturbthevestedinterestsofthousands，willputthemtoinconvenience，possiblyatfirsttogreatexpense；andyetfactswhichyoucanneitherseenorhandle，butmustacceptandpayhundredsofthousandsofpoundsfor，onthemerewordofadoctororinspectorwhogetshislivingthereby。PoorJohnBull！Toexpectthatyouwouldacceptsuchagospelcheerfullywasindeedtoexpecttoomuch！

Butyet，thoughthepublicopinionofthemasscouldnotbedependedon，therewasabodyleft，distinctfromthemass，andpridingitselfsomuchonthatdistinctnessthatitwasreadytosayattimes——ofcourseinmorecourteous——atleastinwhatitconsideredmoreScripturallanguage："Thispeoplewhichknowethnotthelawisaccursed。"Toittherefore——tothereligiousworld——someover-sanguineSanitaryReformersturnedtheireyes。

Theysawinitreadyorganised（soitprofessed）forallgoodworks，abodysuchastheworldhadneverseenbefore。WherethereligionspublicofByzantium，Alexandria，orRomenumberedhundreds，thatofEnglandnumbereditsthousands。Itwasdivided，indeed，onminorpoints，butitwassurelyunitedbytheoneaimofsavingeverymanhisownsoul，andofprofessingthedeepestreverenceforthatDivineBookwhichtellsmenthatthewaytoattainthataimis，tobegoodandtodogood；andwhichcontainsamongothercommandmentsthisone——"Thoushaftnotkill。"Itswealthwasenormous。Itpossessedsomuchpoliticalpower，thatitwouldhavebeenabletocommandelections，tocompelministers，toencouragetheweakheartsofwillingbutfearfulclergymenbyfairhopesofdeaneriesandbishoprics。Itsmemberswerenocliqueofunpracticalfanatics——nomenless。Thoughitmightnumberamongthemafewmartinetex-post-captains，andnoblemenofquestionablesanity，capableofnomorepracticalstudythanthatofunfulfilledprophecy，thevastmajorityofthemwerelandowners，merchants，bankers，commercialmenofallranks，fullofworldlyexperience，andofthescienceoforganisation，skilledalltheirlivesinfindingandinemployingmenandmoney。Whatmightnotbehopedfromsuchabody，towhomthatcommercialimperiuminimperiooftheFrenchProtestantswhichtheedictofNantesdestroyedwaspoorandweak？Addtothisthatthesemen’scharitieswereboundless；thattheywerespendingyearly，andonthewholespendingwiselyandwell，tentimesasmuchaseverwasspentbeforeintheworld，oneducationalschemes，missionaryschemes，churchbuilding，reformatories，raggedschools，needlewomen’scharities——whatnot？Noobjectofdistress，itseemed，couldbediscovered，nofreshmeansofdoinggooddevised，butthesemen’smoneypouredbountifullyandatonceintothatfreshchannel，andanorganisationsprangupfortheemploymentofthatmoney，asthriftyandashandyaswastobeexpectedfromthemoney-holdingclassesofthisgreatcommercialnation。

Whatcouldnotthesemendo？Whatweretheynotboundbytheirownprinciplestodo？Nowonderthatsomeweakmen’sheartsbeathighatthethought。WhatifthereligiousworldshouldtakeupthecauseofSanitaryReform？Whatiftheyshouldhailwithjoyacauseinwhichall，whatevertheirtheologicaldifferences，mightjoininonesacredcrusadeagainstdirt，degradation，disease，anddeath？Whatiftheyshouldriseatthehustingstoinquireofeverycandidate："Willyouorwillyounot，pledgeyourselftocarryoutSanitaryReformintheplaceforwhichyouareelected，andletthehealthandthelivesofthelocalpoorbethat’localinterest’whichyouareboundbyyourelectiontodefend？Doyouconfessyourignoranceofthesubject？Thenknow，sir，thatyouareunfit，atthispointofthenineteenthcentury，tobeamemberoftheBritishSenate。Yougothithertomakelaws’forthepreservationoflifeandproperty。’Youconfessyourselfignorantofthosephysicallaws，strongerandwiderthananywhichyoucanmake，uponwhichallhumanlifedepends，byinfringingwhichthewholepropertyofadistrictisdepreciated。"Again，whatmightnotthe"religiousworld，"andthepublicopinionof"professingChristians，"havedoneinthelasttwenty——ay，inthelastthreeyears？

Whatithasdone，istoopatenttoneedcommenthere。

Thereasonsofsostrangeananomalyaretobeapproachedwithcaution。Itisaseriousthingtoimputemotivestoavastbodyofmen，ofwhomthemajorityarereallyrespectable，kind-hearted，anduseful；andifingivingone’sdeliberateopiniononeseemstoblamethem，letitberecollectedthattheblameliesnotsomuchonthemasontheirteachers：onthosewho，forsomereasonsbestknowntothemselves，havetruckledto，andevenjustified，theself-satisfiedignoranceofacomfortablemoneyedclass。

Butletitbesaid，andsaidboldly，thatthesemen’sconductinthematterofSanitaryReformseemsatleasttoshowthattheyvaluevirtue，notforitself，butforitsfuturerewards。Tothegreatmajorityofthesemen（withsomeheroicexceptions，whosenamesmaybewritteninnosubscriptionlist，butaresurelywritteninthebookoflife）thegreattruthhasneverbeenrevealed，thatgoodistheonethingtobedone，atallrisks，foritsownsake；thatgoodisabsolutelyandinfinitelybetterthanevil，whetheritpayornottoalleternity。Askoneofthem：

"Isitbettertodorightandgotohell，ordowrongandgotoheaven？"——theywilllookatyoupuzzled，halfangry，suspectingyouofsomesecretblasphemy，and，ifhardpressed，putoffthenewandstartlingquestionbysaying，thatitisabsurdtotalkofanimpossiblehypothesis。Thehumanportionoftheirvirtueisnotmercenary，fortheyaremostlyworthymen；thereligiouspartthereof，thatwhichtheykeepforSundaysandforcharitableinstitutions，istoooftenmercenary，thoughtheyknowitnot。

Theirreligionistoooftenoneof"LossandGain，"asmuchasFatherNewman’sown；andtheiractions，whethertheyshallcallthem"goodworks"or"fruitsoffaith，"aresomuchspiritualcapital，toberepaidwithinterestatthelastday。

Therefore，likeallreligionists，theyaremostanxiousforthoseschemesofgoodwhichseemmostprofitabletothemselvesandtothedenominationtowhichtheybelong；andthebestofallsuchworksis，ofcourse，aswithallreligionists，themakingofproselytes。Theyreallycareforthebodies，butstilltheycaremoreforthesouls，ofthosewhomtheyassist——andnotwronglyeither，wereitnotthattocareforaman’ssoulusuallymeans，inthereligiousworld，tomakehimthinkwithyou；atleasttolayhimundersuchobligationsastogiveyouspiritualpoweroverhim。ThereforeitisthatallreligiouscharitiesinEnglandaremoreandmoreconducted，justasmuchasthoseofJesuitsandOratorians，withanulteriorviewofproselytism；thereforeitisthatthereligiousworld，thoughithasinvented，perhaps，nonewmethodofdoinggood；thoughithasbeenindebtedforeducationalmovements，prisonvisitations，infantschools，raggedschools，andsoforth，toQuakers，cobblers，eveninsomecasestomenwhomtheycallinfidels，havegladlyadoptedeachandeveryoneofthem，asfreshmeansofenlargingtheinfluenceorthenumbersoftheirowndenominations，andofbaitingforthebodyinordertocatchthesoul。Afairsampleoftoomuchoftheirlabourmaybeseenanywhere，inthosetractsinwhichtheprettieststories，withtheprettiestbindingandpictures，onthemostsecular——

even，sometimes，scientific——ofsubjects，endbyafewwordsofpiousexhortation，insertedbyadifferenthandfromthatwhichinditesthe"carnal"massofthebook。Theydidnotinventthescience，ortheartofstory-telling，orthewoodcutting，ortheplanofgettingbooksupprettily——or，indeed，thenotionofinstructingthemassesatall；butfindingthesethingsinthehandsof"theworld，"theyhave"spoiledtheEgyptians，"andfancythemselvesbeatingSatanwithhisownweapons。

If，indeed，thesemenclaimedboldlyallprinting，allwoodcutting，allstory-telling，allhumanartsandsciences，asgiftsfromGodHimself；andsaid，asthebookwhichtheyquotesooftensays："TheSpiritofGodgivesmanunderstanding，these，too，areHisgifts，sacred，miraculous，tobeaccountedfortoHim，"thentheywouldbeconsistent；andthen，too，theywouldhavelearnt，perhaps，toclaimSanitaryScienceforagiftdivineasanyother：butnothing，alas！isasyetfurtherfromtheircreed。AndthereforeitisthatSanitaryReformfindssolittlefavourintheireyes。Youhavesolittleinittoshowforyourwork。Youmaythinkyouhavesavedthelivesofhundreds；butyoucannotputyourfingerononeofthem：andtheyknowyounot；

knownoteventheirowndanger，muchlessyourbeneficence。

Therefore，youhavenolienonthem，noteventhatofgratitude；

youcannotsaytoaman："Ihavepreventedyouhavingtyphus，thereforeyoumustattendmychapel。"No！SanitaryReformmakesnoproselytes。Itcannotbeusedasareligiousengine。Itistoosimplyhuman，toolittlearespecterofpersons，tooliketotheworksofHimwhocausesHissuntoshineontheevilandthegood，andHisraintofallonthejustandontheunjust，andisgoodtotheunthankfulandtotheevil，tofindmuchfavourintheeyesofagenerationwhichwillcompassseaandlandtomakeoneproselyte。

Yes。TooliketheworksofourFatherinheaven，asindeedalltrulynaturalandhumanscienceneedsmustbe。True，tothosewhobelievethatthereisaFatherinheaven，thiswould，onesupposes，bethehighestrecommendation。Buthowmanyofthisgenerationbelievethat？Isnottheirdoctrine，thedoctrinetotestifyforwhichthereligiousworldexists，thedoctrinewhichifyoudeny，youaremetwithoneuniversalfrownandsnarl——thatmanhasnoFatherinheaven：butthatifhebecomesamemberofthereligiousworld，byprocessesvaryingwitheachdenomination，hemay——strangeparadox——createaFatherforhimself？

Butsoitis。ThereligiousworldhaslostthebeliefwhicheventheelderGreeksandRomanshad，ofa"Zeus，Fatherofgodsandmen。"Eventhatithaslost。Thereforehavemanandthesimplehumanneedsofman，nosacrednessintheireyes；thereforeisNaturetothemnolonger"thewillofGodexprestinfacts，"andtobreakalawofnaturenolongertosinagainstHimwho"lookedonallthatHehadmade，andbehold，itwasverygood。"AndyettheyreadtheirBibles，andbelievethattheybelieveinHimwhostoodbythelake-sideinGalilee，andtoldmenthatnotasparrowfelltothegroundwithouttheirFather’sknowledge——andthattheywereofmorevaluethanmanysparrows。Dothosewordsnowseemtosomesoself-evidentastobeneedless？TheywillneverseemsototheSanitaryReformer，whohascalledonthe"BritishPublic"

toexertthemselvesinsavingthelivesofthousandsyearly；andhasreceivedpracticalanswerswhichwillfurnishmanyabitterjestfortheVoltaireofthenextso-called"ageofunbelief，"orfillasad，butaninstructivechapterinsomefutureenlargededitionofAdelung’s"HistoryofHumanFolly。"

Allbutdespairing，SanitaryReformershaveturnedagainandagaintoherMajesty’sGovernment。Alasforthem！TheGovernmentwasreadyandwillingenoughtohelp。Thewickedworldsaid："Ofcourse。Itwillcreateanewdepartment。Itwillgivethemmoreplacestobestow。"ButtherealreasonofthewillingnessofGovernmentseemstobethatthosewhocomposeitarethoroughlyawaketotheimportanceofthesubject。

ButwhatcanapoorGovernmentdo，whosestrengthconsists（asthatofallEnglishGovernmentsmust）innotseemingtoostrong；

whichisallowedtodoanything，onlyonconditionofdoingtheminimum？Ofcourse，aGovernmentismorallyboundtokeepitselfinexistence；forisitnotboundtobelievethatitcangovernthecountrybetterthananyotherknotofmen？Butitsonlychanceofself-preservationistoknow，withHesiod’swiseman，"howmuchbetterthehalfisthanthewhole，"andtothrowovermanyameasurewhichitwouldliketocarry，forthesakeofsavingthefewwhichitcancarry。

AnEnglishGovernment，nowadays，issimplyatthemercyofthefortyorfiftymembersoftheHouseofCommonswhoarecrotchetyenoughordishonestenoughtoputitunexpectedlyinaminority；

andthey，withthevastmajorityoftheHouse，arebecomingmoreandmorethedelegatesofthatveryclasswhichismostopposedtoSanitaryReform。ThehonourablemembergoestoParliamentnottoexpresshisopinions，（forhehasstatedmostdistinctlyatthelastelectionthathehasnoopinionswhatsoever），buttoprotectthelocalinterestsofhisconstituents。Andthegreatmajorityofthoseconstituentsaresmallhouseowners——thepoorerportionofthemiddleclass。WerehetosupportGovernmentinanythinglikeasweepingmeasureofSanitaryReform，woetohisseatatthenextelection；andheknowsit；andtherefore，evenifheallowtheGovernmenttohaveitsCentralBoardofHealth，hewilltakegoodcare，forhisownsake，thatthesaidBoardshallnotdotoomuch，andthatitshallnotcompelhisconstituentstodoanythingatall。

Nowonder，thatwhiletheattitudeoftheHouseofCommonsissuchtowardamatterwhichinvolvesthelivesofthousandsyearly，someeducatedmenshouldbecryingthatRepresentativeinstitutionsareontheirtrial，andshouldsighforastrongdespotism。

Thereisananswer，nevertheless，tosuchsentimentalists，andonehopesthatpeoplewillseetheanswerforthemselves，andthattheinfectionofImperialism，whichseemsspreadingsomewhatrapidly，willbestoppedbycommonsenseandhonestobservationoffacts。

AdespotismdoubtlesscouldcarryoutSanitaryReform：butdoubtless，also，itwouldnot。

Adespotinthenineteenthcenturyknowswellhowinsecurehistenureis。Hismottomustbe，"Letuseatanddrink，forto-

morrowwedie；"and，therefore，thefirstobjectsofhisrulewillbe，privateluxuryandastandingarmy；whileifheengageinpublicworks，forthesakeofkeepingthepopulacequiet，theywillbecertainnottobesuchaswillembroilhimwiththemiddleclasses，whiletheywillwinhimnoadditionalfavourwiththemasses，utterlyunawareoftheirnecessity。WouldthemassesofParishavethankedLouisNapoleonthemoreif，insteadofcompletingtheTuileries，hehadseweredtheSt。Antoine？Allargumentstothecontraryareutterlyfallacious，whicharedrawnfromancientdespotisms，Roman，Eastern，Peruvian，orother；andforthissimplereason，thattheyhadnomiddleclass。Iftheydidworkwell（whichisaquestion）itwasjustbecausetheyhadnomiddleclass——thatclass，whichinafreeStateistheverylifeofanation，andyetwhich，inadespotism，issuretobetherootofitsrottenness。Foradespotwhofinds，asLouisNapoleonhasdone，astrongmiddleclassalreadyexisting，musttreatitashedoes；hemusttruckletoit，pandertoitsbasestpropensities，seemtomakehimselfitstool，inorderthathemaymakeithis。

Forthesakeofhisownlife，hemustdoit；andwereadespottogovernEnglandtomorrow，weshouldseethatthemanwhowasshrewdenoughtohaveclimbedtothatbademinence，wouldbeshrewdenoughtoknowthathecouldscarcelycommitamoresuicidalactthan，bysomedespoticmeasureofSanitaryReform，toexcitetheill-willofallthemostcovetous，themoststupid，andthemoststubbornmenineverytownofEngland。

Thereisanotheranswer，too，to"Imperialists"whotalkofRepresentativeinstitutionsbeingontheirtrial，andletitbemadeboldlyjustnow。

ItwillbetimetotalkofRepresentativeinstitutionsbeinggoodorbad，whenthepeopleofEnglandareproperlyrepresented。

Inthefirstplace，itdoesseemonlyfairthattheclasswhosuffermostfromepidemicsshouldhavesomelittleshareintheappointmentofthemenonwhosevotesexterminationofepidemicsnowmainlydepends。Butthatistoolargeaquestiontoarguehere。LettheGovernmentseetoitinthecomingsession。

Yethowmuchsoever，orhowlittlesoever，thesuffragebeextendedinthedirectionoftheworkingman，letitbeextended，atleastinsomeequaldegree，inthedirectionoftheeducatedman。FewbodiesinEnglandnowexpresstheopinionsofeducatedmenlessthandoesthepresentHouseofCommons。Itisnotchosenbyeducatedmen，anymorethanitisbyproletaires。Itisnot，onanaverage，composedofeducatedmen；andthemanyeducatedmenwhoareinithave，forthemostpart，tokeeptheirknowledgeverymuchtothemselves，forfearofhurtingthefeelingsof"ten-

poundJack，"orofthelocalattorneywholooksafterJack’svote。

AndthereforetheHouseofCommonsdoesnotrepresentpublicopinion。

For，toenouncewithfittingclearnessagreatbutmuch-forgottentruth，Tohaveanopinion，youmusthaveanopinion。

Strange：buttrue，andpregnanttoo。For，fromitmaybededucedthiscorollary，thatnine-tenthsofwhatiscalledPublicOpinionisnoopinionatall；for，onthematterswhichcomeunderthecognizanceoftheHouseofCommons（savewheresuperstition，asinthecaseoftheSabbath，ortheJewBill，setsfolksthinking——

generallyonthewrongside），ninepeopleoutoftenhavenoopinionatall；knownothingaboutthematter，andcareless；

wherefore，havingnoopinionstoberepresented，itisnotimportantwhetherthatnothingberepresentedornot。

ThetruepublicopinionofEnglandiscomposedoftheopinionsoftheshrewd，honest，practicalmeninher，whethereducatedornot；

andofsuch，thankGod，therearemillions：butitconsistsalsooftheopinionsoftheeducatedmeninher；menwhohavehadleisureandopportunityforstudy；whohavesomechanceofknowingthefuture，becausetheyhaveexaminedthepast；whocancompareEnglandwithothernations；Englishcreeds，laws，customs，withthoseoftherestofmankind；whoknowsomewhatofhumanity，humanprogress，humanexistence；whohavebeenpractisedintheprocessesofthought；andwho，fromstudy，haveformeddefiniteopinions，differingdoubtlessininfinitevariety，butstillallfoundeduponfacts，bysomethinglikefairandscientificinduction。

TillwehavethisclassofmenfairlyrepresentedintheHouseofCommons，thereislittlehopeforSanitaryReform：whenitissorepresented，weshallhavenoreasontotalkofRepresentativeinstitutionsbeingontheirtrial。

Anditisoneofthefewhopefulfeaturesofthepresenttime，thatanattemptisatlastbeingmadetosecureforeducatedmenofallprofessionsafairterritorialrepresentation。AmemorialtotheGovernmenthasbeenpresented，appendedtowhich，inverygreatnumbers，arethenamesofmenofnote，ofallranks，allshadesinpoliticsandreligion，allprofessions——legal，clerical，military，medical，andliterary。Alistofnamesrepresentingsomuchintellect，somuchlearning，somuchacknowledgedmoderation，somuchgoodworkalreadydoneandacknowledgedbythecountry，hasnever，perhaps，beencollectedforanypoliticalpurpose；andiftheirscheme（thedetailsofwhicharenotyetmadepublic）

shouldinanywisesucceed，itwilldomorefortheprospectsofSanitaryReformthananyforwardmovementofthequarterofacentury。

ForifSanitaryReform，orperhapsanyreallyprogressivemeasure，istobecarriedouthenceforth，wemustgobacktosomethingliketheoldprincipleoftheEnglishconstitution，bywhichintellect，assuch，haditspropershareinthepubliccouncils。Duringthosemiddleageswhenalltheintellectandlearningwaspracticallypossessedbytheclergy，theyconstitutedaseparateestateoftherealm。Thiswastheoldplan——thebestwhichcouldbethendevised。Afterlearningbecamecommontothelaity，theeducatedclasseswererepresentedmoreandmoreonlybysuchcleveryoungmenascouldbethrustintoParliamentbytheprivatepatronageofthearistocracy。SincethelastReformBill，eventhatsupplyoftalenthasbeencutoff；andtheconsequencehasbeen，thesteadydeteriorationofourHouseofCommonstowardsuchalevelofmediocrityasshallsatisfytheignoranceofthepracticallyelectingmajority，namely，thetailofthemiddleclass；menwhoareapttopossessallthefailingswithfewofthevirtuesofthoseabovethemandbelowthem；whohavenomoreintellectualtrainingthanthesimpleworkingman，andfarlessthantheaverageshopman，andwhoyetlose，undertheinfluenceofasmallcompetence，thatpracticaltrainingwhichgivestotheworkingman，madestrongbywholesomenecessity，chivalry，endurance，courage，andself-restraint；whosebusinessmoralityismadeupofthelowestandnarrowestmaximsofthecommercialworld，unbalancedbythatpublicspirit，thatpoliticalknowledge，thatpracticalenergy，thatrespectforthegoodopinionofhisfellows，whichelevatethelargeemployer。Onthehustings，ofcourse，thisdescriptionoftheaveragefreeandindependentelectorwouldbecalledacalumny；andyet，whereisthememberofParliamentwhowillnot，inhisstudy，assenttoitstruth，andconfess，thatofallmenwhomhemeets，thosewholeastcommandhisrespectarethoseamonghisconstituentstosecurewhomhetakesmosttrouble；unless，indeed，itbethepettifoggerswhomanagehiselectionforhim？

Whetherthisistheclasstowhosepublicopinionthehealthandlivesofthemassesaretobeentrusted，isaquestionwhichshouldbesettledassoonaspossible。

MeanwhileleteverymanwhowouldawaketotheimportanceofSanitaryquestions，dohisbesttoteachandpreach，inseasonandoutofseason，andtoinstruct，asfarashecan，thatpublicopinionwhichisasyetbutpublicignorance。Lethimthrow，forinstance，whatweighthehasintothe"NationalAssociationfortheAdvancementofSocialScience。"Inithewilllearn，aswellasteach，notonlyonSanitaryReforms，butuponthosecognatequestionswhichmustbeconsideredwithit，ifitisevertobecarriedout。

Indeed，thisnew"NationalAssociation"seemsthemosthopefulandpracticalmoveyetmadebythesanitarists。Itmaybelaughedatsomewhatatfirst，astheBritishAssociationwas；buttheworldwillfindafterawhilethat，liketheBritishAssociation，itcandogreatthingstowardsmouldingpublicopinion，andcompelmentoconsidercertainsubjects，simplybyaccustomingpeopletohearthemmentioned。TheAssociationwillnothaveexistedinvain，ifitonlyremovesthatdullfearandsuspicionwithwhichEnglishmenareapttoregardanewsubject，simplybecauseitisnew。ButtheAssociationwilldofarmorethanthat。IthaswiselynotconfineditselftoanyonebranchofSocialScience，buttakenthesubjectinallitscomplexity。Todootherwisewouldhavebeentocrippleitself。Itwouldhaveshutoutmanysubjects——LawReform，forinstance——whicharenecessaryadjunctstoanySanitaryscheme；

whileitwouldhaveshutoutthatverylargeclassofbenevolentpeoplewhohaveasyetbeendevotingtheirenergiestoprisons，workhouses，andschools。Suchwillnowhaveanopportunityoflearningthattheyhavebeentreatingthesymptomsofsocialdiseaseratherthanthediseaseitself。Theywillseethatviceisrathertheeffectthanthecauseofphysicalmisery，andthatthesurestmodeofattackingitistoimprovethephysicalconditionsofthelowerclasses；toabolishfoulair，fouledwater，foullodging，andovercrowdeddwellings，inwhichmoralityisdifficult，andcommondecencyimpossible。Theywillnotgiveup——Heavenforbidthattheyshouldgiveup！——theirspecialgoodworks；buttheywillsurelythrowtheweightoftheirnames，theirtalents，theirearnestness，intothegreatcentralobjectofpreservinghumanlife，assoonastheyshallhaverecognisedthatpreventionisbetterthancure；andthatthesimpleandonemethodofpreventionis，togivetheworkingmanhisrights。Water，air，light。Arighttothesethreeatleasthehas。Indemandingthem，hedemandsnomorethanGodgivesfreelytothewildbeastoftheforest。Tillsocietyhasgivenhimthem，itdoeshimaninjusticeindemandingofhimthatheshouldbeausefulmemberofsociety。Ifheisexpectedtobeaman，lethimatleastbeputonalevelwiththebrutes。Whenthebenevolentoftheland（andtheymaybenumberedbytensofthousands）shalloncehavelearntthisplainandyetawfultruth，avastupwardstepwillhavebeengained。BecausethisnewAssociationwillteachitthem，duringthenexttenortwentyyears，mayGod’sblessingbeonit，and，onthenobleoldmanwhopresidesoverit。Oftenalreadyhashedeservedwellofhiscountry；butneverbetterthannow，whenhehaslenthisgreatnameandgreatgeniustotheobjectofpreservinghumanlifefromwholesaledestructionbyunnecessarypoison。

AndmeanwhilelettheSanitaryReformerworkandwait。"Gonotaftertheworld，"saidawiseman，"forifthoustandstilllongenoughtheworldwillcomeroundtothee。"AndtoSanitaryReformtheworldwillcomeroundatlast。Grumbling，scoffing，cursingitsbenefactors；boastingatlast，asusual，thatitdiscoveredforitselftheverytruthswhichittriedtosilence，itwillcome；andwillbegladatlasttoaccepttheonesibyllineleaf，atthesamepriceatwhichitmighthavehadthewhole。TheSanitaryReformermustmakeuphismindtoseenofruitofhislabours，muchlessthanksorreward。Hemustdieinfaith，asSt。

Paulsaysalltruemendie，"nothavingreceivedthepromises；"

wornout，perhaps，byill-paidandunappreciatedlabour，asthattruest-heartedandmostunselfishofmen，CharlesRobertWalsh，diedbuttwoyearsago。Buthisworkswillfollowhim——not，asthepreacherstellus，toheaven——forofwhatusewouldtheybethere，tohimortomankind？——buthere，onearth，wherehesetthem，thattheymightgooninhispath，afterhisexample，andprosperandtriumphlongyearsafterheisdead，whenhismemoryshallbeblessedbygenerationsnotmerely"yetunborn，"butwhoneverwouldhavebeenbornatall，hadhenotinculcatedintotheirunwillingfathersthesimplestlawsofphysicalhealth，decency，life——lawswhichthewildcatofthewood，buryingitsownexcrementapartfromitslair，haslearntbythelightofnature；butwhichneithernaturenorGodHimselfcanasyetteachtoaselfish，perverse，andhypocriticalgeneration。

Footnotes：

{1}Thislecturewasoneofaseriesof"LecturestoLadies，"

giveninLondonin1855，attheNeedlewoman’sInstitution。

{2}ThesubstanceofthisEssaywasalectureonPhysicalEducation，givenattheMidlandInstitute，Birmingham，in1872。

{3}9，AdamStreet，Adelphi，London。

{4}ALecturedeliveredatWinchester，May31，1869。

{5}LecturedeliveredatWinchester，March17，1869。

{6}IquotefromthetranslationofthelatelamentedPhilipStanhopeWorsley，ofCorpusChristiCollege，Oxford。

{7}Odyssey，bookvi。127-315；vol。i。pp。143-150ofMr。

Worsley’stranslation。

{8}Sincethisessaywaswritten，IhavebeensincerelydelightedtofindthatmywisheshadbeenanticipatedatGirtonCollege，nearCambridge，andpreviouslyatHitchin，whencethecollegewasremoved：andthatthewiseladieswhosuperintendthatestablishmentproposealsothatmostexcellentinstitution——aswimming-bath。Apaper，moreover，readbeforetheLondonAssociationofSchool-mistressesin1866，on"PhysicalExercisesandRecreationforGirls，"deservesallattention。Maythosewhopromotesuchthingsprosperastheydeserve。

{9}LecturedeliveredatBristol，October5，1857。

{10}ThiswasspokenduringtheIndianMutiny。

{11}SpeechinbehalfofLadies’SanitaryAssociation。DeliveredatSt。James’sHall，London，1859。

{12}Fraser’sMagazine，No。CCCXXXVII。1858。

{13}WefindamosthonourableexceptiontothisruleinasermonbytheRev。C。Richson，ofManchester，ontheSanitaryLawsoftheOldTestament，withnotesbyDr。Sutherland。