Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 5, 1895 - Miscellanies, Volume II

MEN AND BOOKS
shanty beside Walden Pond, we have heard al-
together too much of these declarations of inde-
pendence. That the man wrote some books is
nothing to the purpose, for the same has been done
in a suburban villa. That he kept himself happy
is perhaps a sufficient excuse, but it is disappointing
to the reader. We may be unjust, but when a man
despises commerce and philanthropy ahke, and has
views of good so soaring that he must take himself
apart from mankind for their cultivation, we will
not be content without some striking act. It was
not Thoreau's fault if he were not martyred ; had
the occasion come, he would have made a noble
ending. As it is, he did once seek to interfere in
the world's course ; he made one practical appear-
ance on the stage of affairs ; and a strange one it
was, and strangely characteristic of the nobihty and
the eccentricity of the man. It was forced on him
by his calm but radical opposition to negro slavery.
' Voting for the right is doing nothing for it,' he
saw ; ' it is only expressing to men feebly your desire
that it should prevail.' For his part, he would not
' for an instant recognise that political organisation
for his government which is the slaves government
also.' ' I do not hesitate to say,' he adds, ' that
those who call themselves Abolitionists should at
once effectually withdraw their support, both in
person and property, from the government of Mas-
sachusetts.' That is what he did : in 1843 he ceased
to pay the poll-tax. The highway-tax he paid, for
he said he was as desirous to be a good neighbour
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