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〃The Altruist in Politics〃
The Altruist in Politics
by Benjamin Cardozo
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〃The Altruist in Politics〃
There comes not seldom a crisis in the life of men； of nations； and of
worlds； when the old forms seem ready to decay； and the old rules of
action have lost their binding force。 The evils of existing systems
obscure the blessings that attend them； and； where reform is needed； the
cry is raised for subversion。 The cause of such phenomena is not far to
seek。 〃It used to appear to me；〃 writes Count Tolstoi； in a significant
passage； 〃it used to appear to me that the small number of cultivated； rich
and idle men； of whom I was one； composed the whole of humanity； and
that the millions and millions of other men who had lived and are still
living were not in reality men at all。〃 It is this spirit… the spirit that sees
the whole of humanity in the few； and throws into the background the
millions and millions of other men…it is this spirit that has aroused the
antagonism of reformers； and made the decay of the old forms； the rupture
of the old restrictions； the ideal of them and of their followers。 When
wealth and poverty meet each other face to face； the one the master and
the other the dependent； the one exalted and the other debased； it is
perhaps hardly matter for surprise that the dependent and debased and
powerless faction； in envy of their opponents' supremacy； should demand；
not simple reform； but absolute community and equality of wealth。 That
cry for communism is no new one in the history of mankind。 Thousands
of years ago it was heard and acted on； and； in the lapse of centuries； its
reverberations have but swelled in volume。 Again and again； the altruist
has arisen in politics； has bidden us share with others the product of our
toil； and has proclaimed the communistic dogma as the panacea for our
social ills。 So today； amid the buried hopes and buried projects of the
past； the doctrine of communism still lives in the minds of men。 Under
stress of misfortune； or in dread of tyranny； it is still preached in modern
times as Plato preached it in the world of the Greeks。
Yet it is indeed doubtful whether； in the history of mankind； a doctrine
was ever taught more impracticable or more false to the principles it
professes than this very doctrine of communism。 In a world where self…
interest is avowedly the ruling motive； it seeks to establish at once an all…
reaching and all…controlling altruism。 In a world where every man is
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〃The Altruist in Politics〃
pushing and fighting to outstrip his fellows； it would make him toil with
like vigor for their common welfare。 In a world where a man's activity is
measured by the nearness of reward； it would hold up a prospective
recompense as an equal stimulant to labor。 〃The more bitterly we feel；〃
writes George Eliot； 〃the more bitterly we feel the folly； ignorance； neglect；
or self…seeking of those who at different times have wielded power； the
stronger is the obligation we lay on ourselves to beware lest we also； by a
too hasty wresting of measures which seem to promise immediate relief；
make a worse time of it for our own generation； and leave a bad
inheritance for our children。〃 In the future； when the remoteness of his
reward shall have weakened the laborer's zeal； we shall be able to judge
more fairly of the blessings that the communist offers。 Instead of the
present world； where some at least are well…to…do and happy； the
communist holds before us a world where all alike are poor。 For the
activity； the push； the vigor of our modern life； his substitute is a life
aimless and unbroken。 And so we have to say to communists what
George Eliot might have said： Be not blinded by the passions of the
moment； but when you prate about your own wrongs and the sufferings of
your offspring； take heed lest in the long run you make a worse time of it
for your own generation； and leave a bad inheritance for your children。
Little thought has been taken by these altruistic reformers for the
application of the doctrines they uphold。 To the question how one kind
of labor can be measured against another； how the labor of the artisan can
be measured against the labor of the artist； how the labor of the strong can
be measured against the labor of the weak； the communists can give no
answer。 Absorbed； as they are； in the principle of equality； they have still
forgotten the equality of work in the equality of pay； they have forgotten
that reward； to be really equal； must be proportionate to effort； and they
and all socialists have forgotten that we cannot make an arithmetic of
human thought and feeling； and that for all our crude attempts to balance
recompense against toil； for all our crude attempts to determine the
relative severity of different kinds of toil； for all our crude attempts to
determine the relative strain on different persons of the same kind of toil；
yet not only will the ratio； dealing； as it does； with our subjective feelings；
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〃The Altruist in Politics〃
be a blundering one； but a system based upon it will involve inequalities
greater； because more insidious； than those of the present system it would
discard。
Instances； indeed； are not wanting to substantiate the claim that
communism； by unduly exalting our altruistic impulses； proceeds upon a
false psychological basis。 Yet if an instance is to be chosen； it would be
hard to find one more suggestive than that afforded by the efforts of
Robert Owen。 The year 1824 saw the rise of Owen's little community of
New Harmony； and the year of 1828 saw the community's final disruption。
Individuals