not. Ages have passed by,
and they have not. They do not know what is evil. It has been observed
that savages are rarely civilized by efforts of their own. A vessel from
civilized parts comes and finds them savages. A generation passes away.
Another vessel comes, how differently propelled, how differently
constructed; manned by sailors who have different costume, food, ways of
speech and habits from the former ones; but they are able to recognize at
once the savages described by their forefathers. These have not changed.
The account of them is as exact as if it were written yesterday. In such
a land, we must not look for the germ of improvement amongst the
miserable inhabitants themselves. It must come from without, brought
thither by hopeful, all-sympathizing enterprize.

CHAP. IV.
IN WHAT SPIRIT THE REMEDIES ARE TO BE EFFECTED.

Whenever the condition of the labouring people becomes a general topic,
some erroneous modes of discussing it arise which deserve notice. In the
first place, there is a matter which, in all our friendly efforts for the
working classes, we must not forget, and that is, to make these efforts
with kindliness to other classes. The abuse of other people is an easy
mode of showing our own benevolence, more easy than profitable. To
alleviate the distress of the poor may be no gain, if, in the process, we
aggravate the envies and jealousies which may be their especial
temptation. The spirit to be wished for is sympathy; and that will not
be produced by needless reproaches. Besides, it is such foolish
injustice to lay the blame of the present state of things on any one
class. It is unpractical, unphilosophical, and inconsistent with
history. If we must select any class, do not let us turn to the wealthy,
whom, perhaps, we think of first. They have, in no time that I am aware
of, been the pre-eminent rulers of the world. The thinkers and writers,
they are the governing class. There is no doubt that the rich and great
have in most cases a large sphere of usefulness open to them; and they
are fatally blind, if they neglect it. That is, however, rather a matter
for them to think of, than for those who are under them. And I feel
quite certain that the evils we are now, as a nation, beginning to be
sensitive to, are such as may be more fairly attributed to the nation, in
its collective capacity, than to any one class, or even to any one
generation. I notice the error of the oppo