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！
ON THE DUTY OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
I heartily accept the motto； 〃That government is best which
governs least〃； and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly
and systematically。 Carried out； it finally amounts to this； which
also I believe； 〃That government is best which governs not at
all〃； and when men are prepared for it； that will be the kind of
government which they will have。 Government is at best but an
expedient； but most governments are usually； and all governments are
sometimes； inexpedient。 The objections which have been brought
against a standing army； and they are many and weighty； and deserve
to prevail； may also at last be brought against a standing
government。 The standing army is only an arm of the standing
government。 The government itself； which is only the mode which the
people have chosen to execute their will； is equally liable to be
abused and perverted before the people can act through it。 Witness
the present Mexican war； the work of comparatively a few individuals
using the standing government as their tool； for； in the outset； the
people would not have consented to this measure。
This American government what is it but a tradition； though a
recent one； endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity；
but each instant losing some of its integrity？ It has not the
vitality and force of a single living man； for a single man can bend
it to his will。 It is a sort of wooden gun to the people
themselves。 But it is not the less necessary for this； for the
people must have some complicated machinery or other； and hear its
din； to satisfy that idea of government which they have。
Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on； even
impose on themselves； for their own advantage。 It is excellent； we
must all allow。 Yet this government never of itself furthered any
enterprise； but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way。
It does not keep the country free。 It does not settle the West。 It
does not educate。 The character inherent in the American people has
done all that has been accomplished； and it would have done somewhat
more； if the government had not sometimes got in its way。 For
government is an expedient by which men would fain succeed in
letting one another alone； and； as has been said； when it is most
expedient； the governed are most let alone by it。 Trade and
commerce； if they were not made of India rubber； would never manage
to bounce over the obstacles which legislators are continually
putting in their way； and； if one were to judge these men wholly by
the effects of their actions； and not partly by their intentions；
they would deserve to be classed and punished with those mischievous
persons who put obstructions on the railroads。
But； to speak practically and as a citizen； unlike those who
call themselves no…government men； I ask for； not at once no
government； but at once a better government。 Let every man make
known what kind of government would command his respect； and that
will be one step toward obtaining it。
After all； the practical reason why； when the power is once in
the hands of the people； a majority are permitted； and for a long
period continue； to rule； is not because they are most likely to be
in the right； nor because this seems fairest to the minority； but
because they are physically the strongest。 But a government in
which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice；
even as far as men understand it。 Can there not be a government in
which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong； but
conscience？ in which majorities decide only those questions to
which the rule of expediency is applicable？ Must the citizen ever
for a moment； or in the least degree； resign his conscience to the
legislator？ Why has every man a conscience； then？ I think that we
should be men first； and subjects afterward。 It is not desirable to
cultivate a respect for the law； so much as for the right。 The only
obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what
I think right。 It is truly enough said that a corporation has no
conscience； but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation
with a conscience。 Law never made men a whit more just； and； by
means of their respect for it； even the well…disposed are daily made
the agents of injustice。 A common and natural result of an undue
respect for law is； that you may see a file of soldiers； colonel；
captain； corporal； privates； powder…monkeys； and all； marching in
admirable order over hill and dale to the wars； against their wills；
ay； against their common sense and consciences； which makes it very
steep marching indeed； and produces a palpitation of the heart。
They have no doubt that it is a damnable business in which they are
concerned； they are all peaceably inclined。 Now； what are they？
Men at all？ or small movable forts and magazines； at the service of
some unscrupulous man in power？ Visit the Navy Yard； and behold a
marine； such a man as an American government can make； or such as it
can make a man with its black arts a mere shadow and reminiscence
of humanity； a man laid out alive and standing； and already； as one
may say； buried under arms with funeral accompaniments； though it
may be
〃Not a drum was heard； not a funeral note；
As his corse to the rampart we hurried；
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O'er the grave where our hero we buried。〃
The mass of men serve the state thus； not as men mainly； but as
machines； with their bodies。 They are the standing army； and the
militia； jailers； constables； posse comitatus； etc。 In most cases
there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral
sense； but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and
stones； and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve
the purpose as well。 Such command no more respect than men of straw
or a lump of dirt。 They have the same sort of worth only as horses
and dogs。 Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good
citizens。 Others； as most legislators； politicians； lawyers；
ministers； and office…holders； serve the state chiefly with their
heads； and； as they rarely make any moral distinctions； they are as
likely to serve the devil； without intending it； as God。 A very
few； as heroes； patriots； martyrs； reformers in the great sense； and
men； serve the state with their consciences also； and so necessarily
resist it for the most part； and they are commonly treated as
enemies by it。 A wise man will only be useful as a man； and will
not submit to be 〃clay；〃 and 〃stop a hole to keep the wind away；〃
but leave that office to his dust at least：
〃I am too high…born to be propertied；
To be a secondary at control；
Or useful serving…man and instrument
To any sovereign state throughout the world。〃
He who gives himself entirely to his fellow…men appears to them
useless and selfish； but he who gives himself partially to them is
pronounced a benefactor and philanthropist。
How does it become a man to behave toward this American
government to…day？ I answer； that he cannot without disgrace be
associated with it。 I cannot for an instant recognize that
political organization as my government which is the slave's
government also。
All men recognize the right of revolution； that is； the right to
refuse allegiance to； and to resist； the government； when its
tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable。 But almost
all say that such is not the case now。 But such was the case； they
think； in the Revolution of '75。 If one were to tell me that this
was a bad government because it taxed certain foreign commodities
brought to its ports； it is most probable that I should not make an
ado about it； for I can do without them。 All machines