第 21 节
作者:水王      更新:2022-05-01 22:41      字数:9321
  common welfare。
  The foundation for the revival of German nationality was
  undoubtedly laid by the Governments them selves; by their
  conscientious devotion of the proceeds of the secularised Church
  lands to the uses of education and instruction; of art and science;
  of morality and objects of public utility。 By these measures light
  made its way into the State administration and the administration
  of justice; into education and literature; into agriculture;
  industry; and commerce; and above all amongst the masses。 Thus
  Germany developed herself in a totally different way from all other
  nations。 Elsewhere high mental culture rather grew out of the
  evolution of the material powers of production; whilst in Germany
  the growth of material powers of production was the outcome chiefly
  of an antecedent intellectual development。 Hence at the present day
  the whole culture of the Germans is theoretical。 Hence also those
  many unpractical and odd traits in the German character which other
  nations notice in us。
  For the moment the Germans are in the position of an individual
  who; having been formerly deprived of the use of his limbs; first
  learned theoretically the arts of standing and walking; of eating
  and drinking; of laughing and weeping; and then only proceeded to
  put them in practice。 Hence comes the German predilection for
  philosophic systems and cosmopolitan dreams。 The intellect; which
  was not allowed to stir in the affairs of this world; strove to
  exercise itself in the realms of speculation。 Hence; too; we find
  that nowhere has the doctrine of Adam Smith and of his disciples
  obtained a larger following than in Germany; nowhere else have
  people more thoroughly believed in the cosmopolitan magnanimity of
  Messrs Canning and Huskisson。
  For the first progress in manufactures Germany is indebted to
  the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and to the numerous refugees
  who by that insane measure were driven to emigrate to almost every
  part of Germany; and established everywhere manufactures of wool;
  silk; jewellery; hats; glass; china; gloves; and industries of
  every kind。
  The first Government measures for the promotion of manufactures
  in Germany were introduced by Austria and Prussia; in Austria under
  Charles VI and Maria Theresa; but even more under Joseph II。
  Austria had formerly suffered enormously from the banishment of the
  Protestants; her most industrious citizens; nor can it be exactly
  affirmed that she distinguished herself in the immediate sequel by
  promoting enlightenment and mental culture。 Afterwards; in
  consequence of a protective tariff; improved sheep farming; better
  roads; and other encouragements; industry made considerable strides
  even under Maria Theresa。
  More energetically still was this work pushed forward under
  Joseph II and with immensely greater success。 At first; indeed; the
  results could not be called important; because the Emperor;
  according to his wont; was too precipitate in these as in all his
  other schemes of reform; and Austria; in relation to other states;
  still occupied too backward a position。 Here as elsewhere it became
  evident that one might get 'too much of a good thing' at once; and
  that protective duties; in order to work beneficially and not as a
  disturbing element upon an existing state of things; must not be
  made too high at the commencement。 But the longer that system
  continued; the more clearly was its wisdom demonstrated。 To that
  tariff Austria is indebted for her present prosperous industries
  and the flourishing condition of her agriculture。
  The industry of Prussia had suffered more than that of any
  other country from the devastations of the Thirty Years' War。 Her
  most important industry; the manufacture of cloth in the Margravate
  of Brandenburg; was almost entirely annihilated。 The majority of
  cloth workers had migrated to Saxony; while English imports at the
  time held every competition in check。 To the advantage of Prussia
  now came the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and the persecution
  of the Protestants in the Palatinate and in Salzburg。 The great
  Elector saw at a glance what Elizabeth before him had so clearly
  understood。 In consequence of the measures devised by him a great
  number of the fugitives directed their steps to Prussia; fertilised
  the agricultural industry of the land; established a large number
  of manufactures; and cultivated science and art。 All his successors
  followed in his footsteps; none with more zeal than the great King
  greater by his policy in times of peace than by his successes in
  war。 Space is wanting to treat at length of the countless measures
  whereby Frederick II attracted to his dominions large numbers of
  foreign agriculturists; brought tracts of waste land into
  cultivation; and established the cultivation of meadows; of cattle
  fodder; vegetables; potatoes; and tobacco; improved sheep farming;
  cattle breeding; horse breeding; the use of mineral manures; &c。;
  by which means he created capital and credit for the benefit of the
  agricultural classes。 Still more than by these direct measures he
  promoted indirectly the interests of agriculture by means of those
  branches of manufacture which; in consequence of the customs tariff
  and the improved means of transport which he established; as well
  as the establishment of a bank; made greater advances in Prussia
  than in any other German state; notwithstanding that that country's
  geographical position; and its division into several provinces
  separated from one another; were much less favourable for the
  success of such measures; and that the disadvantages of a customs
  cordon; namely; the damaging effects of a contraband trade; must be
  felt more acutely there than in great states whose territories are
  compact and well protected by boundaries of seas; rivers; and
  chains of mountains。
  At the same time we are nowise anxious; under cover of this
  eulogy; to defend the faults of the system; such as; for example;
  the restrictions laid upon the exportation of raw material。 Still;
  that in despite of these faults the national industry was
  considerably advanced by it; no enlightened and impartial historian
  would venture to dispute。
  To every unprejudiced mind; unclouded by false theories; it
  must be clear that Prussia gained her title to rank amongst the
  European powers not so much by her conquests as by her wise policy
  in promoting the interests of agriculture; industry; and trade; and
  by her progress in literature and science; and all this was the
  work of one great genius alone。
  And yet the Crown was not yet supported by the energy of free
  institutions; but simply by an administrative system; well ordered
  and conscientious; but unquestionably trammelled by the dead
  mechanical routine of a hierarchical bureaucracy。
  Meanwhile all the rest of Germany had for centuries been under
  the influence of free trade  that is to say; the whole world was
  free to export manufactured products into Germany; while no one
  consented to admit German manufactured goods into other countries。
  This rule had its exceptions; but only a few。 It cannot; however;
  be asserted that the predictions and the promises of the school
  about the great benefits of free trade have been verified by the
  experience of this country; for everywhere the movement was rather
  retrograde than progressive。 Cities like Augsburg; N黵nberg;
  Mayence; Cologne; &c。; numbered no more than a third or a fourth
  part of their former population; and wars were often wished for
  merely for the sake of getting rid of a valueless surplus of
  produce。
  The wars came in the train of the French Revolution; and with
  them English subsidies together with increased English competition。
  Hence a new downward tendency in manufactures coupled with an
  increase in agricultural prosperity; which; however; was only
  apparent and transitory。
  Next followed Napoleon's Continental Blockade; an event which
  marked an era in the history of both German and French industry;
  notwithstanding that Mons。 J。 B。 Say; Adam Smith's most famous
  pupil; denounced it as a calamity。 Whatever theorists; and notably
  the English; may urge against it; this much is clearly made out
  and all who are conversant with German industry must attest it; for
  there is abundant evidence of the fact in all statistical writings
  of that day  that; as a result of this blockade; German
  manufactures o