第 5 节
作者:嘟嘟      更新:2021-04-30 16:07      字数:9322
  their safety depended upon their doing so; and that their own
  militia was altogether incapable of resisting the attack of such
  an army。
  The soldiers of a standing army; though they may never have
  seen an enemy; yet have frequently appeared to possess all the
  courage of veteran troops and the very moment that they took the
  field to have been fit to face the hardiest and most experienced
  veterans。 In 1756; when the Russian army marched into Poland; the
  valour of the Russian soldiers did not appear inferior to that of
  the Prussians; at that time supposed to be the hardiest and most
  experienced veterans in Europe。 The Russian empire; however; had
  enjoyed a profound peace for near twenty years before; and could
  at that time have very few soldiers who had ever seen an enemy。
  When the Spanish war broke out in 1739; England had enjoyed a
  profound peace for about eight…and…twenty years。 The valour of
  her soldiers; however; far from being corrupted by that long
  peace; was never more distinguished than in the attempt upon
  Carthagena; the first unfortunate exploit of that unfortunate
  war。 In a long peace the generals; perhaps; may sometimes forget
  their skill; but; where a well…regulated standing army has been
  kept up; the soldiers seem never to forget their valour。
  When a civilised nation depends for its defence upon a
  militia; it is at all times exposed to be conquered by any
  barbarous nation which happens to be in its neighbourhood。 The
  frequent conquests of all the civilised countries in Asia by the
  Tartars sufficiently demonstrates the natural superiority which
  the militia of a barbarous has over that of a civilised nation。 A
  well…regulated standing army is superior to every militia。 Such
  an army; as it can best be maintained by an opulent and civilised
  nation; so it can alone defend such a nation against the invasion
  of a poor and barbarous neighbour。 It is only by means of a
  standing army; therefore; that the civilization of any country
  can be perpetuated; or even preserved for any considerable time。
  As it is only by means of a well…regulated standing army
  that a civilised country can be defended; so it is only by means
  of it that a barbarous country can be suddenly and tolerably
  civilised。 A standing army establishes; with an irresistible
  force; the law of the sovereign through the remotest provinces of
  the empire; and maintains some degree of regular government in
  countries which could not otherwise admit of any。 Whoever
  examines; with attention; the improvements which Peter the Great
  introduced into the Russian empire; will find that they almost
  all resolve themselves into the establishment of a well regulated
  standing army。 It is the instrument which executes and maintains
  all his other regulations。 That degree of order and internal
  peace which that empire has ever since enjoyed is altogether
  owing to the influence of that army。
  Men of republican principles have been jealous of a standing
  army as dangerous to liberty。 It certainly is so wherever the
  interest of the general and that of the principal officers are
  not necessarily connected with the support of the constitution of
  the state。 The standing army of Caesar destroyed the Roman
  republic。 The standing army of Cromwell turned the Long
  Parliament out of doors。 But where the sovereign is himself the
  general; and the principal nobility and gentry of the country the
  chief officers of the army; where the military force is placed
  under the command of those who have the greatest interest in the
  support of the civil authority; because they have themselves the
  greatest share of that authority; a standing army can never be
  dangerous to liberty。 On the contrary; it may in some cases be
  favourable to liberty。 The security which it gives to the
  sovereign renders unnecessary that troublesome jealousy; which;
  in some modern republics; seems to watch over the minutest
  actions; and to be at all times ready to disturb the peace of
  every citizen。 Where the security of the magistrate; though
  supported by the principal people of the country; is endangered
  by every popular discontent; where a small tumult is capable of
  bringing about in a few hours a great revolution; the whole
  authority of government must be employed to suppress and punish
  every murmur and complaint against it。 To a sovereign; on the
  contrary; who feels himself supported; not only by the natural
  aristocracy of the country; but by a well…regulated standing
  army; the rudest; the most groundless; and the most licentious
  remonstrances can give little disturbance。 He can safely pardon
  or neglect them; and his consciousness of his own superiority
  naturally disposes him to do so。 That degree of liberty which
  approaches to licentiousness can be tolerated only in countries
  where the sovereign is secured by a well…regulated standing army。
  It is in such countries only that the public safety does not
  require that the sovereign should be trusted with any
  discretionary power for suppressing even the impertinent
  wantonness of this licentious liberty。
  The first duty of the sovereign; therefore; that of
  defending the society from the violence and injustice of other
  independent societies; grows gradually more and more expensive as
  the society advances in civilization。 The military force of the
  society; which originally cost the sovereign no expense either in
  time of peace or in time of war; must; in the progress of
  improvement; first be maintained by him in time of war; and
  afterwards even in time of peace。
  The great change introduced into the art of war by the
  invention of firearms has enhanced still further both the expense
  of exercising and disciplining any particular number of soldiers
  in time of peace; and that of employing them in time of war。 Both
  their arms and their ammunition are become more expensive。 A
  musket is a more expensive machine than a javelin or a bow and
  arrows; a cannon or a mortar than a balista or a catapulta。 The
  powder which is spent in a modern review is lost irrecoverably;
  and occasions a very considerable expense。 The javeline and
  arrows which were thrown or shot in an ancient one could easily
  be picked up again; and were besides of very little value。 The
  cannon and the mortar are not only much dearer; but much heavier
  machines than the balista or catapulta; and require a greater
  expense; not only to prepare them for the field; but to carry
  them to it。 As the superiority of the modern artillery too over
  that of the ancients is very great; it has become much more
  difficult; and consequently much more expensive; to fortify a
  town so as to resist even for a few weeks the attack of that
  superior artillery。 In modern times many different causes
  contribute to render the defence of the society more expensive。
  The unavoidable effects of the natural progress of improvement
  have; in this respect; been a good deal enhanced by a great
  revolution in the art of war; to which a mere accident; the
  invention of gunpowder; seems to have given occasion。
  In modern war the great expense of firearms gives an evident
  advantage to the nation which can best afford that expense; and
  consequently to an opulent and civilised over a poor and
  barbarous nation。 In ancient times the opulent and civilised
  found it difficult to defend themselves against the poor and
  barbarous nations。 In modern times the poor and barbarous find it
  difficult to defend themselves against the opulent and civilised。
  The invention of firearms; an invention which at first sight
  appears to be so pernicious; is certainly favourable both to the
  permanency and to the extension of civilization。
  PART 2
  Of the Expense of Justice
  THE second duty of the sovereign; that of protecting; as far
  as possible; every member of the society from the injustice or
  oppression of every other member of it; or the duty of
  establishing an exact administration of justice; requires; too;
  very different degrees of expense in the different periods of
  society。
  Among nations of hunters; as there is scarce any property;
  or at least none that exceeds the value of two or three days'
  labour; so there is seldom any established magistrate or any
  regular administration of justice。 Men who have no property can
  injure one another only in their persons or reputations。 But when
  one man kills; wounds; beats; or defames another; though he to
  whom the injury is done suffers; he who does it receives no
  benefit。 It is otherwise with the injuries to property。 The
  benefit of the person who does the injury is often equal to the
  loss of him who suffers it。 Envy; malice; or resentment are the
  only passions which can prompt one man to injure another in his
  person or reputation。 But the greater part of men are not very
  frequently under the influence of those passions; and the very
  worst of men are so only occasionally