The Night-Born

第5章

Allthesethingsbearquiteadifferentcomplexion,owingto

theexistenceofaflourishingmanufacturingpowerintheAtlantic

states。Nowpopulation,capital,technicalskillandintellectual

power,flowintothemfromallEuropeancountries;nowthedemand

forthemanufacturedproductsoftheAtlanticstatesincreases

simultaneouslywiththeirconsumptionoftherawmaterialssupplied

bythewest。Nowthepopulationofthesestates,theirwealth,and

thenumberandextentoftheirtownsincreaseinequalproportion

withthecultivationofthewesternvirginlands;now,onaccount

ofthelargerpopulation,andtheconsequentlyincreaseddemandfor

meat,butter,cheese,milk,gardenproduce,oleaginousseeds,

fruit,&c。,theirownagricultureisincreasing;nowthesea

fisheriesareflourishinginconsequenceofthelargerdemandfor

saltedfishandtrainoil;nowquantitiesofprovisions,building

materials,coal,&c。arebeingconveyedalongthecoasttofurnish

thewantsofthemanufacturingpopulation;nowthemanufacturing

populationproducealargequantityofcommoditiesforexportto

allthenationsoftheearth,fromwhenceresultprofitablereturn

freights;nowthenation\'snavalpowerincreasesbymeansofthe

coastingtrade,thefisheries,andnavigationtodistantlands,and

withittheguaranteeofnationalindependenceandinfluenceover

othernations,particularlyoverthoseofSouthAmerica;now

scienceandart,civilisationandliterature,areimprovinginthe

easternstates,whencetheyarebeingdiffusedamongstthewestern

states。

ThesewerethecircumstanceswhichinducedtheUnitedStatesto

layrestrictionsupontheimportationofforeignmanufactured

goods,andtoprotecttheirnativemanufactures。Withwhatamount

ofsuccessthishasbeendone,wehaveshowninthepreceding

pages。Thatwithoutsuchapolicyamanufacturingpowercouldnever

havebeenmaintainedsuccessfullyintheAtlanticstates,wemay

learnfromtheirownexperienceandfromtheindustrialhistoryof

othernations。

ThefrequentlyrecurringcommercialcrisesinAmericahavebeen

veryoftenattributedtotheserestrictionsonimportationof

foreigngoods,butwithoutreasonablegrounds。Theearlieraswell

asthelaterexperienceofNorthAmericashows,onthecontrary,

thatsuchcriseshaveneverbeenmorefrequentanddestructivethan

whencommercialintercoursewithEnglandwasleastsubjectto

restrictions。Commercialcrisesamongstagriculturalnations,who

procuretheirsuppliesofmanufacturedgoodsfromforeignmarkets,

arisefromthedisproportionbetweenimportsandexports。

Manufacturingnationsricherincapitalthanagriculturalstates,

andeveranxioustoincreasethequantityoftheirexports,deliver

theirgoodsoncreditandencourageconsumption。Infact,theymake

advancesuponthecomingharvest。Butiftheharvestturnoutso

poorthatitsvaluefallsgreatlybelowthatofthegoods

previouslyconsumed;oriftheharvestprovesorichthatthe

supplyofproducemeetswithnoadequatedemandandfallsinprice;

whileatthesametimethemarketsstillcontinuetobeoverstocked

withforeigngoods——thenacommercialcrisiswilloccurbyreason

ofthedisproportionexistingbetweenthemeansofpaymentandthe

quantityofgoodspreviouslyconsumed,asalsobyreasonofthe

disproportionbetweensupplyanddemandinthemarketsforproduce

andmanufacturedgoods。Theoperationsofforeignandnativebanks

mayincreaseandpromotesuchacrisis,buttheycannotcreateit。

Inafuturechapterweshallendeavourmorecloselytoelucidatc

thissubject。

NOTES:

1。StatisticalTableofMassachusettsfortheYearendingApril1,

1837,byJ。P。Bigelow,SecretaryoftheCommonwealth(Boston,

1838)。NoAmericanstatebutMassachusettspossessessimilar

statisticalabstracts。Weowethoseherereferredto,toGovernor

Everett,distinguishedalikeasascholar,anauthor,anda

statesman。

2。TheAmericanpapersofJuly1839reportthatinthe

manufacturingtownofLowellalonethereareoverahundred

workwomenwhohaveeachoverathousanddollarsdepositedtotheir

creditinthesavingsbank。

Chapter10

TheTeachingsofHistory

Everywhereandatalltimeshasthewell-beingofthenation

beeninequalproportiontotheintelligence,morality,and

industryofitscitizens;accordingtothese,wealthhasaccruedor

beendiminished;butindustryandthrift,inventionandenterprise,

onthepartofindividuals,haveneverasyetaccomplishedaughtof

importancewheretheywerenotsustainedbymunicipalliberty,by

suitablepublicinstitutionsandlaws,bytheStateadministration

andforeignpolicy,butaboveallbytheunityandpower,ofthe

nation。

Historyeverywhereshowsusapowerfulprocessofreciprocal

actionbetweenthesocialandtheindividualpowersandconditions。

IntheItalianandtheHanseaticcities,inHollandandEngland,in

FranceandAmerica,wefindthepowersofproduction,and

consequentlythewealthofindividuals,growinginproportionto

thelibertiesenjoyed,tothedegreeofperfectionofpoliticaland

socialinstitutions,whilethese,ontheotherhand,derive

materialandstimulusfortheirfurtherimprovementfromthe

increaseofthematerialwealthandoftheproductivepowerof

individuals。

TherealriseoftheindustryandpowerofEnglanddatesonly

fromthedaysoftheactualfoundationofEngland\'snational

freedom,whiletheindustryandpowerofVenice,oftheHanse

Towns,oftheSpanishandPortuguese,decayedconcurrentlywith

theirlossoffreedom。Howeverindustrious,thrifty,inventive,and

intelligent,individualcitizensmightbe,theycouldnotmakeup

forthelackoffreeinstitutions。Historyalsoteachesthat

individualsderivethegreaterpartoftheirproductivepowersfrom

thesocialinstitutionsandconditionsunderwhichtheyareplaced。

Theinfluenceofliberty,intelligence,andenlightenmentover

thepower,andthereforeovertheproductivecapacityandwealthof

anation,isexemplifiedinnorespectsoclearlyasinnavigation。

Ofallindustrialpursuits,navigationmostdemandsenergy,

personalcourage,enterprise,andendurance;qualificationsthat

canonlyflourishinanatmosphereoffreedom。Innoothercalling

doignorance,superstition,andprejudice,indolence,cowardice,

effeminacy,andweaknessproducesuchdisastrousconsequences;

nowhereelseisasenseofself-reliancesoindispensable。Hence

historycannotpointtoasingleexampleofanenslavedpeople

takingaprominentpartinnavigation。TheHindoos,theChinese,

andtheJapanesehaveeverstrictlyconfinedtheireffortstocanal

andrivernavigationandthecoastingtrade。InancientEgypt

maritimenavigationwasheldinabhorrence,probablybecause

priestsandrulersdreadedlestbymeansofitthespiritof

freedomandindependenceshouldbeencouraged。Thefreestandmost

enlightenedstatesofancientGreecewerealsothemostpowerfulat

sea;theirnavalpowerceasedwiththeirfreedom,andhowevermuch

historymaynarrateofthevictoriesofthekingsofMacedoniaon

land,sheissilentastotheirvictoriesatsea。

WhenweretheRomanspowerfulatsea,andwhenisnothingmore

heardoftheirfleets?WhendidItalylaydownthelawinthe

Mediterranean,andsincewhenhasherverycoastingtradefallen

intothehandsofforeigners?UpontheSpanishnavytheInquisition

hadpassedsentenceofdeathlongeretheEnglishandtheDutch

fleetshadexecutedthedecree。Withthecomingintopowerofthe

mercantileoligarchiesintheHanseTowns,powerandthespiritof

enterprisetookleaveoftheHanseaticLeague。

OftheSpanishNetherlandsonlythemaritimeprovincesachieved

theirfreedom,whereasthoseheldinsubjectionbytheInquisition

hadeventosubmittotheclosingoftheirrivers。TheEnglish

fleet,victoriousovertheDutchintheChannel,nowtook

possessionofthedominionoftheseas,whichthespiritoffreedom

hadassignedtoEnglandlongbefore;andyetHolland,downtoour

owndays,hasretainedalargeproportionofhermercantilemarine,

whereasthatoftheSpaniardsandthePortugueseisalmost

annihilated。Invainweretheeffortsofagreatindividual

ministernowandthenunderthedespotickingsofFrancetocreate

afleet,foritinvariablywentagaintoruin。

Buthowisitthatatthepresentdaywewitnessthegrowing

strengthofFrenchnavigationandnavalpower?Hardlyhadthe

independenceoftheUnitedStatesofNorthAmericacometolife,

whenwefindtheAmericanscontendingwithrenownagainstthegiant

fleetsofthemothercountry。Butwhatisthepositionofthe

CentralandSouthAmericannations?Solongastheirflagswavenot

overeverysea,butlittledependencecanbeplaceduponthe

effectivenessoftheirrepublicanformsofgovernment。Contrast

thesewithTexas,aterritorythathasscarcelyattainedto

politicallife,andyetalreadyclaimsitsshareintherealmof

Neptune。

Butnavigationismerelyonepartoftheindustrialpowerofa

nation——apartwhichcanflourishandattaintoimportanceonly

inconjunctionwithalltheothercomplementaryparts。Everywhere

andatalltimesweseenavigation,inlandandforeigntrade,and

evenagricultureitself,flourishonlywheremanufactureshave

reachedahighstateofprosperity。Butiffreedombean

indispensableconditionfortheprosperityofnavigation,howmuch

woremustitbesofortheprosperityofthemanufacturingpower,

forthegrowthoftheentireproducingpowerofanation?History

containsnorecordofarich,commercial,andindustrialcommunity

thatwasnotatthesametimeintheenjoymentoffreedom。

Manufactureseverywherefirstbroughtintooperationimproved

weansoftransport,improvedrivernavigation,improvedhighways,

steamnavigationandrailways,whichconstitutethefundamental

elementsofimprovedsystemsofagricultureandofcivilisation。

Historyteachesthatartsandtradesmigratedfromcityto

city,fromonecountrytoanother。Persecutedandoppressedat

home,theytookrefugeincitiesandincountrieswherefreedom,

protection,andsupportwereassuredtothem。Inthiswaythey

migratedfromGreeceandAsiatoItaly;fromItalytoGermany,

Flanders,andBrabant;andfromthencetoHollandandEngland。

Everywhereitwaswantofsenseanddespotismthatdrovethemaway,

andthespiritoffreedomthatattractedthem。Butforthefollyof

theContinentalgovernments,Englandwouldhavehaddifficultyin

attainingsupremacyinindustry。Butdoesitappearmoreconsistent

withwisdomforusinGermanytowaitpatientlyuntilothernations

areimpoliticenoughtodriveouttheirindustriesandthuscompel

themtoseekarefugewithus,orthatweshould,withoutwaiting

forsuchcontingencies,invitethembyprofferedadvantagesto

settledownamongstus?

Itistruethatexperienceteachesthatthewindbearstheseed

fromoneregiontoanother,andthatthuswastemoorlandshavebeen

transformedintodenseforests;butwoulditonthataccountbe

wisepolicyfortheforestertowaituntilthewindinthecourse

ofageseffectsthistransformation?

Isitunwiseonhispartifbysowingandplantingheseeksto

attainthesameobjectwithinafewdecades?Historytellsusthat

wholenationshavesuccessfullyaccomplishedthatwhichweseethe

foresterdo?Singlefreecities,orsmallrepublicsand

confederationsofsuchcitiesandstates,limitedinterritorial

possessions,ofsmallpopulationandinsignificantmilitarypower,

butfortifiedbytheenergyofyouthfulfreedomandfavouredby

geographicalpositionaswellasbyfortunatecircumstancesand

opportunities,flourishedbymeansofmanufacturesandcommerce

longbeforethegreatmonarchies;andbyfreecommercial

intercoursewiththelatter,bywhichtheyexportedtothem

manufacturedgoodsandimportedrawproduceinexchange,raised

themselvestoahighdegreeofwealthandpower。ThusdidVenice,

theHanseTownstheBelgiansandtheDutch。

Norwasthissystemoffreetradelessprofitableatfirstto

thegreatmonarchiesthemselves,withwhomthesesmaller

communitieshadcommercialintercourse。For,havingregardtothe

wealthoftheirnaturalresourcesandtotheirundevelopedsocial

conditionthefreeimportationofforeignmanufacturedgoodsand

theexportationofnativeproducepresentedthesurestandmost

effectualmeansofdevelopingtheirownpowersofproduction,of

instillinghabitsofindustryintotheirsubjectswhowereaddicted

toidlenessandturbulence,ofinducingtheirlandownersandnobles

tofeelaninterestinindustry,ofarousingthedormantspiritof

enterpriseamongsttheirmerchants,andespeciallyofraisingtheir

owncivilisation,industry,andpower。

TheseeffectswerelearnedgenerallybyGreatBritainfromthe

tradeandmanufacturingindustryoftheItalians,theHansards,the

Belgians,andtheDutch。Buthavingattainedtoacertaingradeof

developmentbymeansoffreetrade,thegreatmonarchiesperceived

thatthehighestdegreeofcivilisation,power,andwealthcanonly

beattainedbyacombinationofmanufacturesandcommercewith

agriculture。Theyperceivedthattheirnewlyestablishednative

manufacturescouldneverhopetosucceedinfreecompetitionwith

theoldandlongestablishedmanufacturesofforeigners;thattheir

nativefisheriesandnativemercantilemarine,thefoundationsof

theirnavalpower,couldnevermakesuccessfulprogresswithout

specialprivileges;andthatthespiritofenterpriseoftheir

nativemerchantswouldalwaysbekeptdownbytheoverwhelming

reservesofcapital,thegreaterexperienceandsagacityofthe

foreigners。Hencetheysought,byasystemofrestrictions,

privileges,andencouragements,totransplantontotheirnative

soilthewealth,thetalents,andthespiritofenterpriseofthe

foreigners。Thispolicywaspursuedwithgreaterorlesser,with

speedierormoretardysuccess,justinproportionasthemeasures

adoptedweremoreorlessjudiciouslyadaptedtotheobjectin

view,andappliedandpursuedwithmoreorlessenergyand

perseverance。

England,aboveallothernations,hasadoptedthispolicy。

Ofteninterruptedinitsexecutionfromthewantofintelligence

andself-restraintonthepartofherrulers,orowingtointernal

commotionsandforeignwars,itfirstassumedthecharacterofa

settledandpracticallyefficientpolicyunderEdwardVI,

Elizabeth,andtherevolutionaryperiod。Forhowcouldthemeasures

ofEdwardIIIworksatisfactorilywhenitwasnottillunderHenry

VIthatthelawpermittedthecarriageofcornfromoneEnglish

countytoanother,ortheshipmentofittoforeignparts;when

stillunderHenryVIIandHenryVIIIallinterestonmoney,even

discountonbills,washeldtobeusury,andwhenitwasstill

thoughtatthetimethattrademightbeencouragedbyfixingbylaw

atalowfigurethepriceofwoollengoodsandtherateofwages,

andthattheproductionofcorncouldbeincreasedbyprohibiting

sheepfarmingonalargescale?

AndhowmuchsoonerwouldEngland\'swoollenmanufacturesand

maritimetradehavereachedahighstandardofprosperityhadnot

HenryVIIIregardedariseinthepricesofcornasanevil;had

he,insteadofdrivingforeignworkmenbywholesalefromthe

kingdom,soughtlikehispredecessorstoaugmenttheirnumberby

encouragingtheirimmigration;andhadnotHenryVIIrefusedhis

sanctiontotheActofNavigationasproposedbyParliament?

InFranceweseenativemanufactures,freeinternal

intercourse,foreigntrade,fisheries,navigation,andnavalpower——

inaword,alltheattributesofagreat,mighty,andrich

nation(whichithadcostEnglandtheperseveringeffortsof

centuriestoacquire)——calledintoexistencebyagreatgenius

withinthespaceofafewyears,asitwerebyamagician\'swand;

andafterwardsallofthemyetmorespeedilyannihilatedbythe

ironhandoffanaticismanddespotism。

Weseetheprincipleoffreetradecontendinginvainunder

unfavourableconditionsagainstrestrictionpowerfullyenforced;

theHanseaticLeagueisruined,whileHollandsinksundertheblows

ofEnglandandFrance。

Thatarestrictivecommercialpolicycanbeoperativeforgood

onlysofarasitissupportedbytheprogressivecivilisationand

freeinstitutionsofanation,welearnfromthedecayofVenice,

Spain,andPortugal,fromtherelapseofFranceinconsequenceof

therevocationoftheEdictofNantes,andfromthehistoryof

England,inwhichcountrylibertykeptpaceatalltimeswiththe

advanceofindustry,trade,andnationalwealth。

That,onthecontrary,ahighlyadvancedstateofcivilisation,

withorwithoutfreeinstitutions,unlesssupportedbyasuitable

systemofcommercialpolicy,willprovebutapoorguaranteefora

nation\'seconomicprogress,maybelearntontheonehandfromthe

historyoftheNorthAmericanfreestates,andontheotherfrom

theexperienceofGermany。

ModernGermany,lackingasystemofvigorousandunited

commercialpolicy,exposedinherhomemarketstocompetitionwith

aforeignmanufacturingpowerineverywaysuperiortoherown,

whileexcludedatthesametimefromforeignmarketsbyarbitrary

andoftencapriciousrestrictions,andveryfarindeedfrommaking

thatprogressinindustrytowhichherdegreeofcultureentitles

her,cannotevenmaintainherpreviouslyacquiredposition,andis

madeaconvenienceof(likeacolony)bythatverynationwhich

centuriesagowasworkeduponinlikemannerbythemerchantsof

Germany,untilatlasttheGermanstateshaveresolvedtosecure

theirhomemarketsfortheirownindustry,bytheadoptionofa

unitedvigoroussystemofcommercialpolicy。

TheNorthAmericanfreestates,who,morethananyothernation

beforethem,areinapositiontobenefitbyfreedomoftrade,and

influencedevenfromtheverycradleoftheirindependencebythe

doctrinesofthecosmopolitanschool,arestrivingmorethanany

othernationtoactonthatprinciple。ButowingtowarswithGreat

Britain,wefindthatnationtwicecompelledtomanufactureathome

thegoodswhichitpreviouslypurchasedunderfreetradefromother

countries,andtwice,aftertheconclusionofpeace,broughttothe

brinkofruinbyfreecompetitionwithforeigners,andthereby

admonishedofthefactthatunderthepresentconditionsofthe

worldeverygreatnationmustseektheguaranteesofitscontinued

prosperityandindependence,beforeallotherthings,inthe

independentanduniformdevelopmentofitsownpowersand

resources。

Thushistoryshowsthatrestrictionsarenotsomuchthe

inventionsofmerespeculativeminds,asthenaturalconsequences

ofthediversityofinterests,andofthestrivingsofnations

afterindependenceoroverpoweringascendency,andthusofnational

emulationandwars,andthereforethattheycannotbedispensed

withuntilthisconflictofnationalinterestsshallcease,in

otherwordsuntilallnationscanbeunitedunderoneandthesame

systemoflaw。Thusthequestionastowhether,andhow,the

variousnationscanbebroughtintooneunitedfederation,andhow

thedecisionsoflawcanbeinvokedintheplaceofmilitaryforce

todeterminethedifferenceswhicharisebetweenindependent

nations,hastobesolvedconcurrentlywiththequestionhow

universalfreetradecanbeestablishedintheplaceofseparate

nationalcommercialsystems。

Theattemptswhichhavebeenmadebysinglenationsto

introducefreedomoftradeinfaceofanationwhichispredominant

inindustry,wealth,andpower,nolessthandistinguishedforan

exclusivetariffsystem——asPortugaldidin1703,Francein1786,

NorthAmericain1786and1816,Russiafrom1815till1821,andas

Germanyhasdoneforcenturies——gotoshowusthatinthisway

theprosperityofindividualnationsissacrificed,withoutbenefit

tomankindingeneral,solelyfortheenrichmentofthepredominant

manufacturingandcommercialnation。Switzerland(aswehopeto

showinthesequel)constitutesanexception,whichprovesjustas

muchasitproveslittlefororagainstoneortheothersystem。

Colbertappearstousnottohavebeentheinventorofthat

systemwhichtheItalianshavenamedafterhim;for,aswehave

seen,itwasfullyelaboratedbytheEnglishlongbeforehistime。

ColbertonlyputinpracticewhatFrance,ifshewishedtofulfil

herdestinies,wasboundtocarryoutsoonerorlater。IfColbert

istobeblamedatall,itcanonlybechargedagainsthimthathe

attemptedtoputintoforceunderadespoticgovernmentasystem

whichcouldsubsistonlyafterafundamentalreformofthe

politicalconditions。ButagainstthisreproachtoColbert\'smemory

itmayverywellbearguedthat,hadhissystembeencontinuedby

wiseprincesandsagaciousministers,itwouldinallprobability

haveremovedbymeansofreformsallthosehindranceswhichstood

inthewayofprogressinmanufactures,agriculture,andtrade,as

wellasofnationalfreedom;andFrancewouldthenhaveundergone

norevolution,butrather,impelledalongthepathofdevelopment

bythereciprocatinginfluencesofindustryandfreedom,shemight

forthelastcenturyandahalfhavebeensuccessfullycompeting

withEnglandinmanufactures,inthepromotionofherinternal

trade,inforeigncommerce,andincolonisation,aswellasinher

fisheries,hernavigation,andhernavalpower。

Finally,historyteachesushownationswhichhavebeenendowed

byNaturewithallresourceswhicharerequisitefortheattainment

ofthehighestgradeofwealthandpower,mayandmust——without

onthataccountforfeitingtheendinview——modifytheirsystems

accordingtothemeasureoftheirownprogress:inthefirststage,

adoptingfreetradewithmoreadvancednationsasameansof

raisingthemselvesfromastateofbarbarism,andofmaking

advancesinagriculture;inthesecondstage,promotingthegrowth

ofmanufactures,fisheries,navigation,andforeigntradebymeans

ofcommercialrestrictions;andinthelaststage,afterreaching

thehighestdegreeofwealthandpower,bygraduallyrevertingto

theprincipleoffreetradeandofunrestrictedcompetitioninthe

homeaswellasinforeignmarkets,thatsotheiragriculturists,

manufacturers,andmerchantsmaybepreservedfromindolence,and

stimulatedtoretainthesupremacywhichtheyhaveacquired。Inthe

firststage,weseeSpain,Portugal,andtheKingdomofNaples;in

thesecond,GermanyandtheUnitedStatesofNorthAmerica;France

apparentlystandscloseupontheboundarylineofthelaststage;

butGreatBritainaloneatthepresenttimehasactuallyreached

it。

EndSecondBook

TheTheory

Chapter11

PoliticalandCosmopoliticalEconomy

BeforeQuesnayandtheFrencheconomiststhereexistedonlya

practiceofpoliticaleconomywhichwasexercisedbytheState

officials,administrators,andauthorswhowroteaboutmattersof

administration,occupiedthemselvesexclusivelywiththe

agriculture,manufactures,commerce,andnavigationofthose

countriestowhichtheybelonged,withoutanalysingthecausesof

wealth,ortakingatallintoconsiderationtheinterestsofthe

wholehumanrace。

Quesnay(fromwhomtheideaofuniversalfreetradeoriginated)

wasthefirstwhoextendedhisinvestigationstothewholehuman

race,withouttakingintoconsiderationtheideaofthenation。He

callshiswork\'Physiocratie,ouduGouvernementleplusavantageux

auGenreHumain,\'hisdemandsbeingthatwemustimaginethatthe

merchantsofallnationsformedonecommercialrepublic。Quesnay

undoubtedlyspeaksofcosmopoliticaleconomy,i。e。ofthatscience

whichteacheshowtheentirehumanracemayattainprosperity;in

oppositiontopoliticaleconomy,orthatsciencewhichlimitsits

teachingtotheinquiryhowagivennationcanobtain(underthe

existingconditionsoftheworld)prosperity,civilisation,and

power,bymeansofagriculture,industry,andcommerce。

AdamSmith(1*)treatshisdoctrineinasimilarlyextended

sense,bymakingithistasktoindicatethecosmopoliticalideaof

theabsolutefreedomofthecommerceofthewholeworldinspiteof

thegrossmistakesmadebythephysiocratesagainsttheverynature

ofthingsandagainstlogic。AdamSmithconcernedhimselfaslittle

asQuesnaydidwithtruepoliticaleconomy,i。e。thatpolicywhich

eachseparatenationhadtoobeyinordertomakeprogressinits

economicalconditions。Heentitleshiswork,\'TheNatureandCauses

oftheWealthofNations\'(i。e。ofallnationsofthewholehuman

race)。HespeaksofthevarioussystemsofPoliticaleconomyina

separatepartofhisworksolelyforthepurposeofdemonstrating

theirnon-efficiency,andofprovingthat\'political\'ornational

economymustbereplacedby\'cosmopoliticalorworld-wideeconomy。\'

Althoughhereandtherehespeaksofwars,thisonlyoccurs

incidentally。Theideaofaperpetualstateofpeaceformsthe

foundationofallhisarguments。Moreover,accordingtothe

explicitremarksofhisbiographer,DugaldStewart,his

investigationsfromthecommencementarebasedupontheprinciple

that\'mostoftheStateregulationsforthepromotionofpublic

prosperityareunnecessary,andanationinordertobetransformed

fromtheloweststateofbarbarismintoastateofthehighest

possibleprosperityneedsnothingbutbearabletaxation,fair

administrationofjustice,andpeace。\'AdamSmithnaturally

understoodundertheword\'peace\'the\'perpetualuniversalpeace\'

oftheAbb?St。Pierre。

J。B。Sayopenlydemandsthatweshouldimaginetheexistence

ofauniversalrepublicinordertocomprehendtheideaofgeneral

freetrade。Thiswriter,whoseeffortsweremainlyrestrictedto

theformationofasystemoutofthematerialswhichAdamSmithhad

broughttolight,saysexplicitlyinthesixthvolume(p。288)of

his\'Economiepolitiquepratique\'。\'Wemaytakeintoour

considerationtheeconomicalinterestsofthefamilywiththe

fatheratitshead;theprinciplesandobservationsreferring

theretowillconstituteprivateeconomy。Thoseprinciples,however,

whichhavereferencetotheinterestsofwholenations,whetherin

themselvesorinrelationtoothernations,formpubliceconomy

(l\'閏onomiepublique)。Politicaleconomy,lastly,relatestothe

interestsofallnations,tohumansocietyingeneral。\'

Itmustberemarkedhere,thatinthefirstplaceSay

recognisestheexistenceofanationaleconomyorpolitical

economy,underthename\'閏onomiepublique,\'butthathenowhere

treatsofthelatterinhisworks;secondly,thatheattributesthe

namepoliticaleconomytoadoctrinewhichisevidentlyof

cosmopoliticalnature;andthatinthisdoctrineheinvariably

merelyspeaksofaneconomywhichhasforitssoleobjectthe

interestsofthewholehumansociety,withoutregardtothe

separateinterestsofdistinctnations。

ThissubstitutionoftermsmightbepassedoverifSay,after

havingexplainedwhathecallspoliticaleconomy(which,however,

isnothingelsebutcosmopoliticalorworld-wideeconomy,or

economyofthewholehumanrace),hadacquainteduswiththe

principlesofthedoctrinewhichhecalls\'閏onomiepublique,\'

whichhoweveris,properlyspeaking,nothingelsebuttheeconomy

ofgivennations,ortruepoliticaleconomy。

Indefininganddevelopingthisdoctrinehecouldscarcely

forbeartoproceedfromtheideaandthenatureofthenation,and

toshowwhatmaterialmodificationsthe\'economyofthewholehuman

race\'mustundergobythefactthatatpresentthatraceisstill

separatedintodistinctnationalitieseachheldtogetherbycommon

powersandinterests,anddistinctfromothersocietiesofthesame

kindwhichintheexerciseoftheirnaturallibertyareopposedto

oneanother。However,bygivinghiscosmopoliticaleconomythename

political,hedispenseswiththisexplanation,effectsbymeansof

atranspositionoftermsalsoatranspositionofmeaning,and

therebymasksaseriesofthegravesttheoreticalerrors。

Alllaterwritershaveparticipatedinthiserror。Sismondi

alsocallspoliticaleconomyexplicitly\'Lasciencequisecharge

dubonheurdel\'esp鑓ehumaine。\'AdamSmithandhisfollowersteach

usfromthismainlynothingmorethanwhatQuesnayandhis

followershadtaughtusalready,forthearticleofthe\'Revue

M閠hodique\'treatingofthephysiocraticschoolstates,inalmost

thesamewords:\'Thewell-beingoftheindividualisdependent

altogetheronthewell-beingofthewholehumanrace。\'

ThefirstoftheNorthAmericanadvocatesoffreetrade,as

understoodbyAdamSmith——ThomasCooper,PresidentofColumbia

College——denieseventheexistenceofnationality;hecallsthe

nation\'agrammaticalinvention,\'createdonlytosaveperiphrases,

anonentity,whichhasnoactualexistencesaveintheheadsof

politicians。Cooperismoreoverperfectlyconsistentwithrespect

tothis,infactmuchmoreconsistentthanhispredecessorsand

instructors,foritisevidentthatassoonastheexistenceof

nationswiththeirdistinctnatureandinterestsisrecognised,it

becomesnecessarytomodifytheeconomyofhumansocietyin

accordancewiththesespecialinterests,andthatifCooper

intendedtorepresentthesemodificationsaserrors,itwasvery

wiseonhispartfromthebeginningtodisowntheveryexistenceof

nations。

Forourownpart,wearefarfromrejectingthetheoryof

cosmopoliticaleconomy,asithasbeenperfectedbytheprevailing

school;weare,however,ofopinionthatpoliticaleconomy,oras

Saycallsit\'閏onomiepublique,\'shouldalsobedeveloped

scientifically,andthatitisalwaysbettertocallthingsby

theirpropernamesthantogivethemsignificationswhichstand

opposedtothetrueimportofwords。

Ifwewishtoremaintruetothelawsoflogicandofthe

natureofthings,wemustsettheeconomyofindividualsagainst

theeconomyofsocieties,anddiscriminateinrespecttothelatter

betweentruepoliticalornationaleconomy(which,emanatingfrom

theideaandnatureofthenation,teacheshowagivennationin

thepresentstateoftheworldanditsownspecialnational

relationscanmaintainandimproveitseconomicalconditions)and

cosmopoliticaleconomy,whichoriginatesintheassumptionthatall

nationsoftheearthformbutonesocietylivinginaperpetual

stateofpeace。

If,astheprevailingschoolrequites,weassumeauniversal

unionorconfederationofallnationsastheguaranteeforan

everlastingpeace,theprincipleofinternationalfreetradeseems

tobeperfectlyjustified。Thelesseveryindividualisrestrained

inpursuinghisownindividualprosperity,thegreaterthenumber

andwealthofthosewithwhomhehasfreeintercourse,thegreater

theareaoverwhichhisindividualactivitycanexerciseitself,

theeasieritwillbeforhimtoutilisefortheincreaseofhis

prosperitythepropertiesgivenhimbynature,theknowledgeand

talentswhichhehasacquired,andtheforcesofnatureplacedat

hisdisposal。Aswithseparateindividuals,soisitalsothecase

withindividualcommunities,provinces,andcountries。Asimpleton

onlycouldmaintainthataunionforfreecommercialintercourse

betweenthemselvesisnotasadvantageoustothedifferentstates

includedintheUnitedStatesofNorthAmerica,tothevarious

departmentsofFrance,andtothevariousGermanalliedstates,as

wouldbetheirseparationbyinternalprovincialcustomstariffs。

IntheunionofthethreekingdomsofGreatBritainandIreland

theworldwitnessesagreatandirrefragableexampleofthe

immeasurableefficacyoffreetradebetweenunitednations。Letus

onlysupposeallothernationsoftheearthtobeunitedina

similarmanner,andthemostvividimaginationwillnotbeableto

picturetoitselfthesumofprosperityandgoodfortunewhichthe

wholehumanracewouldtherebyacquire。

Unquestionablytheideaofauniversalconfederationanda

perpetualpeaceiscommendedbothbycommonsenseandreligion。(2*)

Ifsinglecombatbetweenindividualsisatpresentconsideredtobe

contrarytoreason,howmuchmoremustcombatbetweentwonations

besimilarlycondemned?Theproofswhichsocialeconomycanproduce

fromthehistoryofthecivilisationofmankindofthe

reasonablenessofbringingabouttheunionofallmankindunderthe

lawofright,areperhapsthosewhicharetheclearesttosound

humanunderstanding。

Historyteachesthatwhereverindividualsareengagedinwars,

theprosperityofmankindisatitsloweststage,andthatit

increasesinthesameproportioninwhichtheconcordofmankind

increases。Intheprimitivestateofthehumanrace,firstunions

offamiliestookplace,thentowns,thenconfederationsoftowns,

thenunionofwholecountries,finallyunionsofseveralstates

underoneandthesamegovernment。Ifthenatureofthingshasbeen

powerfulenoughtoextendthisunion(whichcommencedwiththe

family)overhundredsofmillions,weoughttoconsiderthatnature

tobepowerfulenoughtoaccomplishtheunionofallnations。If

thehumanmindwerecapableofcomprehendingtheadvantagesofthis

greatunion,sooughtwetoventuretodeemitcapableof

understandingthestillgreaterbenefitswhichwouldresultfroma

unionofthewholehumanrace。Manyinstancesindicatethis

tendencyinthespiritofthepresenttimes。Weneedonlyhintat

theprogressmadeinsciences,arts,anddiscoveries,inindustry

andsocialorder。Itmaybealreadyforeseenwithcertainty,that

afteralapseofafewdecadesthecivilisednationsoftheearth

will,bytheperfectionofthemeansofconveyance,beunitedas

respectsbothmaterialandmentalinterchangeinascloseamanner

as(orevencloserthan)thatinwhichacenturyagothevarious

countiesofEnglandwereconnected。Continentalgovernmentspossess

alreadyatthepresentmomentinthetelegraphthemeansof

communicatingwithoneanother,almostasiftheywereatoneand

thesameplace。Powerfulforcespreviouslyunknownhavealready

raisedindustrytoadegreeofperfectionhithertonever

anticipated,andothersstillmorepowerfulhavealreadyannounced

theirappearance。Butthemorethatindustryadvances,and

proportionatelyextendsoverthecountriesoftheearth,the

smallerwillbethepossibilityofwars。Twonationsequallywell

developedinindustrycouldmutuallyinflictononeanothermore

injuryinoneweekthantheywouldbeabletomakegoodinawhole

generation。Buthenceitfollowsthatthesamenewforceswhich

havehithertoservedparticularlyforproductionwillnotwithhold

theirservicesfromdestruction,andwillprincipallyfavourthe

sideofdefence,andespeciallytheEuropeanContinentalnations,

whiletheythreatentheinsularStatewiththelossofthose

advantageswhichhavebeengainedbyherinsularpositionforher

defence。InthecongressesofthegreatEuropeanpowersEurope

possessesalreadytheembryoofafuturecongressofnations。The

endeavourstosettledifferencesbyprotocolareclearlyalready

prevailingoverthosewhichobtainjusticebyforceofarms。A

clearerinsightintothenatureofwealthandindustryhasledthe

wiserheadsofallcivilisednationstotheconvictionthatboth

thecivilisationofbarbarousandsemi-barbarousnations,andof

thosewhosecultureisretrograding,aswellastheformationof

colonies,offertocivilisednationsafieldforthedevelopmentof

theirproductivepowerswhichpromisesthemmuchricherandsafer

fruitsthanmutualhostilitiesbywarsorrestrictionsontrade。

Thefartherweadvanceinthisperception,andthemorethe

uncivilisedcountriescomeintocontactwiththecivilisedonesby

theprogressmadeinthemeansoftransport,somuchmorewillthe

civilisedcountriescomprehendthatthecivilisationofbarbarous

nations,ofthosedistractedbyinternalanarchy,orwhichare

oppressedbybadgovernment,isataskwhichofferstoallequal

advantages——adutyincumbentonthemallalike,butonewhichcan

onlybeaccomplishedbyunity。

Thatthecivilisationofallnations,thecultureofthewhole

globe,formsataskimposedonthewholehumanrace,isevident

fromthoseunalterablelawsofnaturebywhichcivilisednations

aredrivenonwithirresistiblepowertoextendortransfertheir

powersofproductiontolesscultivatedcountries。Wesee

everywhere,undertheinfluenceofcivilisation,population,powers

ofmind,materialcapitalattainingtosuchdimensionsthatthey

mustnecessarilyflowoverintootherlesscivilisedcountries。If

thecultivableareaofthecountrynolongersufficestosustain

thepopulationandtoemploytheagriculturalpopulation,the

redundantportionofthelatterseeksterritoriessuitablefor

cultivationindistantlands;ifthetalentsandtechnical

abilitiesofanationhavebecomesonumerousastofindnolonger

sufficientrewardswithinit,theyemigratetoplaceswherethey

aremoreindemand;ifinconsequenceoftheaccumulationof

materialcapital,theratesofinterestfallsoconsiderablythat

thesmallercapitalistcannolongerliveonthem,hetriesto

investhismoneymoresatisfactorilyinlesswealthycountries。

Atrueprinciple,therefore,underliesthesystemofthe

popularschool,butaprinciplewhichmustberecognisedand

appliedbyscienceifitsdesigntoenlightenpracticeistobe

fulfilled,anideawhichpracticecannotignorewithoutgetting

astray;onlytheschoolhasomittedtotakeintoconsiderationthe

natureofnationalitiesandtheirspecialinterestsandconditions,

andtobringtheseintoaccordwiththeideaofuniversalunionand

aneverlastingpeace。

Thepopularschoolhasassumedasbeingactuallyinexistence

astateofthingswhichhasyettocomeintoexistence。Itassumes

theexistenceofauniversalunionandastateofperpetualpeace,

anddeducestherefromthegreatbenefitsoffreetrade。Inthis

manneritconfoundseffectswithcauses。Amongtheprovincesand

stateswhicharealreadypoliticallyunited,thereexistsastate

ofperpetualpeace;fromthispoliticalunionoriginatestheir

commercialunion,anditisinconsequenceoftheperpetualpeace

thusmaintainedthatthecommercialunionhasbecomesobeneficial

tothem。Allexampleswhichhistorycanshowarethoseinwhichthe

politicalunionhasledtheway,andthecommercialunionhas

followed。(3*)Notasingleinstancecanbeadducedinwhichthe

latterhastakenthelead,andtheformerhasgrownupfromit。

That,however,undertheexistingconditionsoftheworld,the

resultofgeneralfreetradewouldnotbeauniversalrepublic,

but,onthecontrary,auniversalsubjectionofthelessadvanced

nationstothesupremacyofthepredominantmanufacturing,

commercial,andnavalpower,isaconclusionforwhichthereasons

areverystrongand,accordingtoourviews,irrefragable。A

universalrepublic(inthesenseofHenryIVandoftheAbb?St。

Pierre),i。e。aunionofthenationsoftheearthwherebythey

recognizethesameconditionsofrightamongthemselvesand

renounceself-redress,canonlyberealisedifalargenumberof

nationalitiesattaintoasnearlythesamedegreeaspossibleof

industryandcivilisation,politicalcultivation,andpower。Only

withthegradualformationofthisunioncanfreetradebe

developed,onlyasaresultofthisunioncanitconferonall

nationsthesamegreatadvantageswhicharenowexperiencedby

thoseprovincesandstateswhicharepoliticallyunited。Thesystem

ofprotection,inasmuchasitformstheonlymeansofplacingthose

nationswhicharefarbehindincivilisationonequaltermswith

theonepredominatingnation(which,however,neverreceivedatthe

handsofNatureaperpetualrighttoamonopolyofmanufacture,but

whichmerelygainedanadvanceoverothersinpointoftime),the

systemofprotectionregardedfromthispointofviewappearstobe

themostefficientmeansoffurtheringthefinalunionofnations,

andhencealsoofpromotingtruefreedomoftrade。Andnational

economyappearsfromthispointofviewtobethatsciencewhich,

correctlyappreciatingtheexistinginterestsandtheindividual

circumstancesofnations,teacheshoweveryseparatenationcanbe

raisedtothatstageofindustrialdevelopmentinwhichunionwith

othernationsequallywelldeveloped,andconsequentlyfreedomof

trade,canbecomepossibleandusefultoit。

Thepopularschool,however,hasmixedupbothdoctrineswith

oneanother;ithasfallenintothegraveerrorofjudgingofthe

conditionsofnationsaccordingtopurelycosmopolitical

principles,andofignoringfrommerelypoliticalreasonsthe

cosmopoliticaltendencyoftheproductivepowers。

Onlybyignoringthecosmopoliticaltendencyoftheproductive

powerscouldMalthusbeledintotheerrorofdesiringtorestrict

theincreaseofpopulation,orChalmersandTorrensmaintainmore

recentlythestrangeideathataugmentationofcapitaland

unrestrictedproductionareevilstherestrictionofwhichthe

welfareofthecommunityimperativelydemands,orSismondideclare

thatmanufacturesarethingsinjurioustothecommunity。Their

theoryinthiscaseresemblesSaturn,whodevourshisownchildren——

thesametheorywhichallowsthatfromtheincreaseof

population,ofcapitalandmachinerydivisionoflabourtakes

place,andexplainsfromthisthewelfareofsociety,finally

considerstheseforcesasmonsterswhichthreatentheprosperityof

nations,becauseitmerelyregardsthepresentconditionsof

individualnations,anddoesnottakeintoconsiderationthe

conditionsofthewholeglobeandthefutureprogressofmankind。

Itisnottruethatpopulationincreasesinalargerproportion

thanproductionofthemeansofsubsistence;itisatleastfoolish

toassumesuchdisproportion,ortoattempttoproveitby

artificialcalculationsorsophisticalarguments,solongasonthe

globeamassofnaturalforcesstillliesinertbymeansofwhich

tentimesorperhapsahundredtimesmorepeoplethanarenow

livingcanbesustained。Itismerenarrow-mindednesstoconsider

thepresentextentoftheproductiveforcesasthetestofhowmany

personscouldbesupportedonagivenareaofland。Thesavage,the

hunter,andthefisherman,accordingtohisowncalculation,would

notfindroomenoughforonemillionpersons,theshepherdnotfor

tenmillions,therawagriculturistnotforonehundredmillionson

thewholeglobe;andyettwohundredmillionsarelivingatpresent

inEuropealone。Thecultureofthepotatoandoffood-yielding

plants,andthemorerecentimprovementsmadeinagriculture

generally,haveincreasedtenfoldtheproductivepowersofthe

humanraceforthecreationofthemeansofsubsistence。Inthe

MiddleAgestheyieldofwheatofanacreoflandinEnglandwas

fourfold,to-dayitistentotwentyfold,andinadditiontothat

fivetimesmorelandiscultivated。InmanyEuropeancountries(the

soilofwhichpossessesthesamenaturalfertilityasthatof

England)theyieldatpresentdoesnotexceedfourfold。Whowill

venturetosetfurtherlimitstothediscoveries,inventions,and

improvementsofthehumanrace?Agriculturalchemistryisstillin

itsinfancy;whocantellthatto-morrow,bymeansofanew

inventionordiscovery,theproduceofthesoilmaynotbe

increasedfiveortenfold?Wealreadypossess,intheartesian

well,themeansofconvertingunfertilewastesintorichcorn

fields;andwhatunknownforcesmaynotyetbehiddeninthe

interioroftheearth?Letusmerelysupposethatthroughanew

discoverywewereenabledtoproduceheateverywhereverycheaply

andwithouttheaidofthefuelsatpresentknown:whatspacesof

landcouldthusbeutilisedforcultivation,andinwhatan

incalculabledegreewouldtheyieldofagivenareaoflandbe

increased?IfMalthus\'doctrineappearstousinitstendency

narrow-minded,itisalsointhemethodsbywhichitcouldactan

unnaturalone,whichdestroysmoralityandpower,andissimply

horrible。Itseekstodestroyadesirewhichnatureusesasthe

mostactivemeansforincitingmentoexertbodyandmind,andto

awakenandsupporttheirnoblerfeelings——adesiretowhich

humanityforthegreaterpartowesitsprogress。Itwouldelevate

themostheartlessegotismtothepositionofalaw;itrequiresus

tocloseourheartsagainstthestarvingman,becauseifwehand

himfoodanddrink,anothermightstarveinhisplaceinthirty

years\'time。Itsubstitutescoldcalculationforsympathy。This

doctrinetendstoconverttheheartsofmenintostones。Butwhat

couldbefinallyexpectedofanationwhosecitizensshouldcarry

stonesinsteadofheartsintheirbosoms?Whatelsethanthetotal

destructionofallmorality,andwithitofallproductiveforces,

andthereforeofallthewealth,civilisation,andpowerofthe

nation?

Ifinanationthepopulationincreasesmorethanthe

productionofthemeansofsubsistence,ifcapitalaccumulatesat

lengthtosuchanextentasnolongertofindinvestment,if

machinerythrowsanumberofoperativesoutofworkand

manufacturedgoodsaccumulatetoalargeexcess,thismerely

proves,thatnaturewillnotallowindustry,civilisation,wealth,

andpowertofallexclusivelytothelotofasinglenation,or

thatalargeportionoftheglobesuitableforcultivationshould

bemerelyinhabitedbywildanimals,andthatthelargestportion

ofthehumanraceshouldremainsunkinsavagery,ignorance,and

poverty。

Wehaveshownintowhaterrorstheschoolhasfallenbyjudging

theproductiveforcesofthehumanracefromapoliticalpointof

view;wehavenowalsotopointoutthemistakeswhichithas

committedbyregardingtheseparateinterestsofnationsfroma

cosmopoliticalpointofview。

Ifaconfederationofallnationsexistedinreality,asisthe

casewiththeseparatestatesconstitutingtheUnionofNorth

America,theexcessofpopulation,talents,skilledabilities,and

materialcapitalwouldflowoverfromEnglandtotheContinental

states,inasimilarmannertothatinwhichittravelsfromthe

easternstatesoftheAmericanUniontothewestern,providedthat

intheContinentalstatesthesamesecurityforpersonsand

property,thesameconstitutionandgenerallawsprevailed,and

thattheEnglishGovernmentwasmadesubjecttotheunitedwillof

theuniversalconfederation。Underthesesuppositionstherewould

benobetterwayofraisingallthesecountriestothesamestage

ofwealthandcultivationasEnglandthanfreetrade。Thisisthe

argumentoftheschool。Buthowwouldittallywiththeactual

operationoffreetradeundertheexistingconditionsoftheworld?

TheBritonsasanindependentandseparatenationwould

henceforthtaketheirnationalinterestasthesoleguideoftheir

policy。TheEnglishman,frompredilectionforhislanguage,forhis

laws,regulations,andhabits,wouldwheneveritwaspossible

devotehispowersandhiscapitaltodevelophisownnative

industry,forwhichthesystemoffreetrade,byextendingthe

marketforEnglishmanufacturesoverallcountries,wouldofferhim

sufficientopportunity;hewouldnotreadilytakeafancyto

establishmanufacturesinFranceorGermany。Allexcessofcapital

inEnglandwouldbeatoncedevotedtotradingwithforeignparts

oftheworld。IftheEnglishmantookitintohisheadtoemigrate,

ortoinvesthiscapitalelsewherethaninEngland,hewouldashe

nowdoespreferthosemoredistantcountrieswherehewouldfind

alreadyexistinghislanguage,hislaws,andregulations,rather

thanthebenightedcountriesoftheContinent。AllEnglandwould

thusbedevelopedintooneimmensemanufacturingcity。Asia,

Africa,andAustraliawouldbecivilisedbyEngland,andcovered

withnewstatesmodelledaftertheEnglishfashion。Intimeaworld

ofEnglishstateswouldbeformed,underthepresidencyofthe

motherstate,inwhichtheEuropeanContinentalnationswouldbe

lostasunimportant,unproductiveraces。Bythisarrangementit

wouldfalltothelotofFrance,togetherwithSpainandPortugal,

tosupplythisEnglishworldwiththechoicestwines,andtodrink

thebadonesherself:atmostFrancemightretainthemanufacture

ofalittlemillinery。Germanywouldscarcelyhavemoretosupply

thisEnglishworldwiththanchildren\'stoys,woodenclocks,and

philologicalwritings,andsometimesalsoanauxiliarycorps,who

mightsacrificethemselvestopineawayinthedesertsofAsiaor

Africa,forthesakeofextendingthemanufacturingandcommercial

supremacy,theliteratureandlanguageofEngland。Itwouldnot

requiremanycenturiesbeforepeopleinthisEnglishworldwould

thinkandspeakoftheGermansandFrenchinthesametoneaswe

speakatpresentoftheAsiaticnations。

Truepoliticalscience,however,regardssucharesultof

universalfreetradeasaveryunnaturalone;itwillarguethat

haduniversalfreetradebeenintroducedatthetimeofthe

HanseaticLeague,theGermannationalityinsteadoftheEnglish

wouldhavesecuredanadvanceincommerceandmanufactureoverall

othercountries。

Itwouldbemostunjust,evenoncosmopoliticalgrounds,nowto

resigntotheEnglishallthewealthandpoweroftheearth,merely

becausebythemthepoliticalsystemofcommercewasfirst

establishedandthecosmopoliticalprincipleforthemostpart

ignored。Inordertoallowfreedomoftradetooperatenaturally,

thelessadvancednationsmustfirstberaisedbyartificial

measurestothatstageofcultivationtowhichtheEnglishnation

hasbeenartificiallyelevated。Inorderthat,throughthat

cosmopoliticaltendencyofthepowersofproductiontowhichwe

havealluded,themoredistantpartsoftheworldmaynotbe

benefitedandenrichedbeforetheneighbouringEuropeancountries,

thosenationswhichfeelthemselvestobecapable,owingtotheir

moral,intellectual,social,andpoliticalcircumstances,of

developingamanufacturingpoweroftheirownmustadoptthesystem

ofprotectionasthemosteffectualmeansforthispurpose。The

effectsofthissystemforthepurposeinviewareoftwokinds:in

thefirstplace,bygraduallyexcludingforeignmanufactured

articlesfromourmarkets,asurpluswouldbeoccasionedinforeign

nations,ofworkmen,talents,andcapital,whichmustseek

employmentabroad;andsecondlybythepremiumwhichoursystemof

protectionwouldoffertotheimmigrationintoourcountryof

workmen,talents,andcapital,thatexcessofproductivepower

wouldbeinducedtofindemploymentwithus,insteadofemigrating

todistantpartsoftheworldandtocolonies。Politicalscience

referstohistory,andinquireswhetherEnglandhasnotinformer

timesdrawnfromGermany,Italy,Holland,France,Spain,and

PortugalbythesemeansamassofproDuctivepower。Sheasks:Why

doesthecosmopoliticalschool,whenitpretendstoweighinthe

balancetheadvantagesandthedisadvantagesofthesystemof

protection,utterlyignorethisgreatandremarkableinstanceof

theresultsofthatsystem?

NOTES:

1。ItisallegedthatAdamSmithintendedtohavededicatedhis

greatworktoQuesnay——TR。(SeeLifeofSmith,publishedbyT。

andJ。Allman。1825。)

2。TheChristianreligioninculcatesperpetualpeace。Butuntilthe

promise,\'Thereshallbeonefoldandoneshepherd,\'hasbeen

fulfilled,theprincipleoftheQuakers,howevertrueitbein

itself,canscarcelybeactedupon。Thereisnobetterprooffor

theDivineoriginoftheChristianreligionthanthatitsdoctrines

andpromisesareinperfectagreementwiththedemandsofboththe

materialandspiritualwell-beingofthehumanrace。

3。ThisstatementwasprobablyaccurateuptotheperiodwhenList

wrote,butanotableexceptiontoitmaynowbeadduced。The

commercialunionofthevariousGermanstatesundertheZollverein

precededbymanyyearstheirpoliticalunionundertheEmpire,and

powerfullypromotedit——TR。

Chapter12

TheTheoryofthePowersofProductionandtheTheoryofValues

AdamSmith\'scelebratedworkisentitled,\'TheNatureand

CausesoftheWealthofNations。\'Thefounderoftheprevailing

economicalschoolhasthereinindicatedthedoublepointofview

fromwhichtheeconomyofnations,likethatofprivateseparate

individuals,shouldberegarded。

Thecausesofwealtharesomethingtotallydifferentfrom

wealthitself。Apersonmaypossesswealth,i。e。exchangeable

value;if,however,hedoesnotpossessthepowerofproducing

objectsofmorevaluethanheconsumes,hewillbecomepoorer。A

personmaybepoor;ifhe,however,possessesthepowerof

producingalargeramountofvaluablearticlesthanheconsumes,he

becomesrich。

Thepowerofproducingwealthisthereforeinfinitelymore

importantthanwealthitself;itinsuresnotonlythepossession

andtheincreaseofwhathasbeengained,butalsothereplacement

ofwhathasbeenlost。Thisisstillmorethecasewithentire

nations(whocannotliveoutofmererentals)thanwithprivate

individuals。Germanyhasbeendevastatedineverycenturyby

pestilence,byfamine,orbycivilorforeignwars;shehas,

nevertheless,alwaysretainedagreatportionofherpowersof

production,andhasthusquicklyre-attainedsomedegreeof

prosperity;whilerichandmightybutdespot-andpriest-ridden

Spain,notwithstandinghercomparativeenjoymentofinternal

peace,(1*)hassunkdeeperintopovertyandmisery。Thesamesun

stillshinesontheSpaniards,theystillpossessthesameareaof

territory,theirminesarestillasrich,theyarestillthesame

peopleasbeforethediscoveryofAmerica,andbeforethe

introductionoftheInquisition;butthatnationhasgraduallylost

herpowersofproduction,andhasthereforebecomepoorand

miserable。TheWarofIndependenceoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica

costthatnationhundredsofmillions,butherpowersofproduction

wereimmeasurablystrengthenedbygainingindependence,anditwas

forthisreasonthatinthecourseofafewyearsafterthepeace

sheobtainedimmeasurablygreaterrichesthanshe。hadever

possessedbefore。IfwecomparethestateofFranceintheyear

1809withthatoftheyear1839,whatadifferenceinfavourofthe

latter!Nevertheless,Francehasintheinterimlosther

sovereigntyoveralargeportionoftheEuropeancontinent;shehas

sufferedtwodevastatinginvasions,andhadtopaymilliardsof

moneyinwarcontributionsandindemnities。

ItwasimpossiblethatsoclearanintellectasAdamSmith

possessedcouldaltogetherignorethedifferencebetweenwealthand

itscausesandtheoverwhelminginfluenceofthesecausesonthe

conditionofnations。Intheintroductiontohiswork,hesaysin

clearwordsineffect:\'Labourformsthefundfromwhichevery

nationderivesitswealth,andtheincreaseofwealthdependsfirst

ontheproductivepoweroflabour,namely,onthedegreeofskill,

dexterity,andjudgmentwithwhichthelabourofthenationis

generallyapplied,andsecondly,ontheproportionbetweenthe

numberofthoseemployedproductivelyandthenumberofthosewho

arenotsoemployed。\'FromthisweseehowclearlySmithingeneral

perceivedthattheconditionofnationsisprincipallydependenton

thesumoftheirproductivepowers。

Itdoesnot,however,appeartobetheplanofnaturethat

completesciencesshouldspringalreadyperfectedfromthebrainof

individualthinkers。ItisevidentthatSmithwastooexclusively

possessedbythecosmopoliticalideaofthephysiocrats,\'universal

freedomoftrade,\'andbyhisowngreatdiscovery,\'thedivisionof

labour,\'tofollowuptheideaoftheimportancetoanationofits

powersofproduction。Howevermuchsciencemaybeindebtedtohim

inrespectoftheremainingpartsofhiswork,theidea\'division

oflabour\'seemedtohimhismostbrilliantthought。Itwas

calculatedtosecureforhisbookaname,andforhimself

posthumousfame。

Hehadtoomuchworldlywisdomnottoperceivethatwhoever

wishestosellapreciousjeweldoesnotbringthetreasureto

marketmostprofitablybyburyingitinasackofwheat,however

usefulthegrainsofwheatmaybe,butbetterbyexposingitatthe

forefront。Hehadtoomuchexperiencenottoknowthatad閎utant

(andhewasthisasregardspoliticaleconomyatthetimeofthe

publicationofhiswork)whointhefirstactcreatesafuroreis

easilyexcusedifinthefollowingonesheonlyoccasionallyraises

himselfabovemediocrity;hehadeverymotiveformakingthe

introductiontohisbook,thedoctrineofdivisionoflabour。Smith

hasnotbeenmistakeninhiscalculations;hisfirstchapterhas

madethefortuneofhisbook,andfoundedhisauthorityasan

economist。

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