第 27 节
作者:热带雨淋      更新:2021-02-20 05:16      字数:9321
  body; from the country in which they first grew up; while; now that
  they have been chased into a solitary recess in the midst of a desert;
  many in this country openly declare that it would be right (only
  that it is not convenient) to send an expedition against them; and
  compel them by force to conform to the opinions of other people。 The
  article of the Mormonite doctrine which is the chief provocative to
  the antipathy which thus breaks through the ordinary restraints of
  religious tolerance; is its sanction of polygamy; which; though
  permitted to Mahomedans; and Hindoos; and Chinese; seems to excite
  unquenchable animosity when practised by persons who speak English and
  profess to be a kind of Christians。 No one has a deeper disapprobation
  than I have of this Mormon institution; both for other reasons; and
  because; far from being in any way countenanced by the principle of
  liberty; it is a direct infraction of that principle; being a mere
  riveting of the chains of one half of the community; and an
  emancipation of the other from reciprocity of obligation towards them。
  Still; it must be remembered that this relation is as much voluntary
  on the part of the women concerned in it; and who may be deemed the
  sufferers by it; as is the case with any other form of the marriage
  institution; and however surprising this fact may appear; it has its
  explanation in the common ideas and customs of the world; which
  teaching women to think marriage the one thing needful; make it
  intelligible that many woman should prefer being one of several wives;
  to not being a wife at all。 Other countries are not asked to recognise
  such unions; or release any portion of their inhabitants from their
  own laws on the score of Mormonite opinions。 But when the dissentients
  have conceded to the hostile sentiments of others far more than
  could justly be demanded; when they have left the countries to which
  their doctrines were unacceptable; and established themselves in a
  remote corner of the earth; which they have been the first to render
  habitable to human beings; it is difficult to see on what principles
  but those of tyranny they can be prevented from living there under
  what laws they please; provided they commit no aggression on other
  nations; and allow perfect freedom of departure to those who are
  dissatisfied with their ways。
  A recent writer; in some respects of considerable merit; proposes
  (to use his own words) not a crusade; but a civilisade; against this
  polygamous community; to put an end to what seems to him a
  retrograde step in civilisation。 It also appears so to me; but I am
  not aware that any community has a right to force another to be
  civilised。 So long as the sufferers by the bad law do not invoke
  assistance from other communities; I cannot admit that persons
  entirely unconnected with them ought to step in and require that a
  condition of things with which all who are directly interested
  appear to be satisfied; should be put an end to because it is a
  scandal to persons some thousands of miles distant; who have no part
  or concern in it。 Let them send missionaries; if they please; to
  preach against it; and let them; by any fair means (of which silencing
  the teachers is not one); oppose the progress of similar doctrines
  among their own people。 If civilisation has got the better of
  barbarism when barbarism had the world to itself; it is too much to
  profess to be afraid lest barbarism; after having been fairly got
  under; should revive and conquer civilisation。 A civilisation that can
  thus succumb to its vanquished enemy; must first have become so
  degenerate; that neither its appointed priests and teachers; nor
  anybody else; has the capacity; or will take the trouble; to stand
  up for it。 If this be so; the sooner such a civilisation receives
  notice to quit the better。 It can only go on from bad to worse;
  until destroyed and regenerated (like the Western Empire) by energetic
  barbarians。
  Chapter 5。
  Applications。
  THE PRINCIPLES asserted in these pages must be more generally
  admitted as the basis for discussion of details; before a consistent
  application of them to all the various departments of government and
  morals can be attempted with any prospect of advantage。 The few
  observations I propose to make on questions of detail are designed
  to illustrate the principles; rather than to follow them out to
  their consequences。 I offer; not so much applications; as specimens of
  application; which may serve to bring into greater clearness the
  meaning and limits of the two maxims which together form the entire
  doctrine of this Essay; and to assist the judgment in holding the
  balance between them; in the cases where it appears doubtful which
  of them is applicable to the case。
  The maxims are; first; that the individual is not accountable to
  society for his actions; in so far as these concern the interests of
  no person but himself。 Advice; instruction; persuasion; and
  avoidance by other people if thought necessary by them for their own
  good; are the only measures by which society can justifiably express
  its dislike or disapprobation of his conduct。 Secondly; that for
  such actions as are prejudicial to the interests of others; the
  individual is accountable; and may be subjected either to social or to
  legal punishment; if society is of opinion that the one or the other
  is requisite for its protection。
  In the first place; it must by no means be supposed; because damage;
  or probability of damage; to the interests of others; can alone
  justify the interference of society; that therefore it always does
  justify such interference。 In many cases; an individual; in pursuing a
  legitimate object; necessarily and therefore legitimately causes
  pain or loss to others; or intercepts a good which they had a
  reasonable hope of obtaining。 Such oppositions of interest between
  individuals often arise from bad social institutions; but are
  unavoidable while those institutions last; and some would be
  unavoidable under any institutions。 Whoever succeeds in an overcrowded
  profession; or in a competitive examination; whoever is preferred to
  another in any contest for an object which both desire; reaps
  benefit from the loss of others; from their wasted exertion and
  their disappointment。 But it is; by common admission; better for the
  general interest of mankind; that persons should pursue their
  objects undeterred by this sort of consequences。 In other words;
  society admits no right; either legal or moral; in the disappointed
  competitors to immunity from this kind of suffering; and feels
  called on to interfere; only when means of success have been
  employed which it is contrary to the general interest to
  permit… namely; fraud or treachery; and force。
  Again; trade is a social act。 Whoever undertakes to sell any
  description of goods to the public; does what affects the interest
  of other persons; and of society in general; and thus his conduct;
  in principle; comes within the jurisdiction of society: accordingly;
  it was once held to be the duty of governments; in all cases which
  were considered of importance; to fix prices; and regulate the
  processes of manufacture。 But it is now recognised; though not till
  after a long struggle; that both the cheapness and the good quality of
  commodities are most effectually provided for by leaving the producers
  and sellers perfectly free; under the sole check of equal freedom to
  the buyers for supplying themselves elsewhere。 This is the so…called
  doctrine of Free Trade; which rests on grounds different from;
  though equally solid with; the principle of individual liberty
  asserted in this Essay。 Restrictions on trade; or on production for
  purposes of trade; are indeed restraints; and all restraint; qua
  restraint; is an evil: but the restraints in question affect only that
  part of conduct which society is competent to restrain; and are
  wrong solely because they do not really produce the results which it
  is desired to produce by them。 As the principle of individual
  liberty is not involved in the doctrine of Free Trade; so neither is
  it in most of the questions which arise respecting the limits of
  that doctrine; as; for example; what amount of public control is
  admissible for the prevention of fraud by adulteration; how far
  sanitary precautions; or arrangements to protect workpeople employed
  in dangerous occupations; should be enforced on employers。 Such
  questions involve considerations of liberty; only in so far as leaving
  people to themselves is always better; caeteris paribus; than
  controlling them: but that they may be legitimately controlled for
  these ends is in