The Night-Born

第6章

However,weonourpartbelieveourselvesabletoprovethat

justthiszealtoputtheimportantdiscovery\'divisionoflabour\'

inanadvantageouslight,hashinderedAdamSmithfromfollowingup

theidea\'productivepower\'(whichhasbeenexpressedbyhiminthe

introduction,andalsofrequentlyafterwards,althoughmerely

incidentally)andfromexhibitinghisdoctrinesinamuchmore

perfectform。Bythegreatvaluewhichheattachedtohisidea

\'divisionoflabour\'hehasevidentlybeenmisledintorepresenting

labouritselfasthe\'fund\'ofallthewealthofnations,although

hehimselfclearlyperceivesandalsostatesthatthe

productivenessoflabourprincipallydependsonthedegreeofskill

andjudgmentwithwhichthelabourisperformed。Weask,canitbe

deemedscientificreasoningifweassignasthecauseofa

phenomenonthatwhichinitselfistheresultofanumberofdeeper

lyingcauses?Itcannotbedoubtedthatallwealthisobtainedby

meansofmentalandbodilyexertions(labour),butyetfromthat

circumstancenoreasonisindicatedfromwhichusefulconclusions

maybedrawn;forhistoryteachesthatwholenationshave,inspite

oftheexertionsandofthethriftoftheircitizens,falleninto

povertyandmisery。Whoeverdesirestoknowandinvestigatehowone

nationfromastateofpovertyandbarbarismhasattainedtooneof

wealthandprosperity,andhowanotherhasfallenfromacondition

ofwealthandwell-beingintooneofpovertyandmisery,has

always,afterreceivingtheinformationthatlabouristhecauseof

wealthandidlenessthecauseofpoverty(aremarkwhichKing

SolomonmadelongbeforeAdamSmith),toputthefurtherquestion,

whatarethecausesoflabour,andwhatthecausesofidleness?

Itwouldbemorecorrecttodescribethelimbsofmen(the

head,hands,andfeet)asthecausesofwealth(weshouldthusat

leastapproachfarnearertothetruth),andthequestionthen

presentsitself,whatisitthatinducestheseheads,arms,and

handstoproduce,andcallsintoactivitytheseexertions?What

elsecanitbethanthespiritwhichanimatestheindividuals,the

socialorderwhichrenderstheirenergyfruitful,andthepowersof

naturewhichtheyareinapositiontomakeuseof?Themoreaman

perceivesthathemustprovideforthefuture,themorehis

intelligenceandfeelingsincitehimtosecurethefutureofhis

nearestconnections,andtopromotetheirwell-being;themorehe

hasbeenfromhisyouthaccustomedtoforethoughtandactivity,the

morehisnoblerfeelingshavebeendeveloped,andbodyandmind

cultivated,thefinerexamplesthathehaswitnessedfromhis

youth,themoreopportunitieshehashadforutilisinghismental

andbodilypowersfortheimprovementofhiscondition,alsothe

lesshehasbeenrestrainedinhislegitimateactivity,themore

successfulhispastendeavourshavebeen,andthemoretheirfruits

havebeensecuredtohim,themorehehasbeenabletoobtain

publicrecognitionandesteembyorderlyconductandactivity,and

thelesshismindsuffersfromprejudices,superstition,false

notions,andignorance,somuchthemorewillheexerthismindand

limbsfortheobjectofproduction,somuchthemorewillhebe

abletoaccomplish,andsomuchthebetterwillhemakeuseofthe

fruitsofhislabour。However,mostdependsinalltheserespects

ontheconditionsofthesocietyinwhichtheindividualhasbeen

broughtup,andturnsuponthis,whetherscienceandartsflourish,

andpublicinstitutionsandlawstendtopromotereligious

character,moralityandintelligence,securityforpersonandfor

property,freedomandjustice;whetherinthenationallthe

factorsofmaterialprosperity,agriculture,manufactures,and

trade,havebeenequallyandharmoniouslycultivated;whetherthe

powerofthenationisstrongenoughtosecuretoitsindividual

citizensprogressinwealthandeducationfromgenerationto

generation,andtoenablethemnotmerelytoutilisethenatural

powersoftheirowncountrytotheirfullestextent,butalso,by

foreigntradeandthepossessionofcolonies,torenderthenatural

powersofforeigncountriesserviceabletotheirown。

AdamSmithhasonthewholerecognisedthenatureofthese

powerssolittle,thathedoesnotevenassignaproductive

charactertothementallaboursofthosewhomaintainlawsand

order,andcultivateandpromoteinstruction,religion,science,

andart。Hisinvestigationsarelimitedtothathumanactivity

whichcreatesmaterialvalues。Withregardtothis,hecertainly

recognisesthatitsproductivenessdependsonthe\'skilland

judgment\'withwhichitisexercised;butinhisinvestigationsas

tothecausesofthisskillandjudgment,hedoesnotgofarther

thanthedivisionoflabour,andthatheillustratessolelyby

exchange,augmentationofmaterialcapital,andextensionof

markets。Hisdoctrineatoncesinksdeeperanddeeperinto

materialism,particularism,andindividualism。Ifhehadfollowed

uptheidea\'productivepower\'withoutallowinghismindtobe

dominatedbytheideaof\'value,\'\'exchangeablevalue,\'hewould

havebeenledtoperceivethatanindependenttheoryofthe

\'productivepower,\'mustbeconsideredbythesideofa\'theoryof

values\'inordertoexplaintheeconomicalphenomena。Buthethus

fellintothemistakeofexplainingmentalforcesfrommaterial

circumstancesandconditions,andtherebylaidthefoundationfor

alltheabsurditiesandcontradictionsfromwhichhisschool(aswe

proposetoprove)suffersuptothepresentday,andtowhichalone

itmustbeattributedthatthedoctrinesofpoliticaleconomyare

thosewhicharetheleastaccessibletothemostintelligentminds。

ThatSmith\'sschoolteachesnothingelsethanthetheoryofvalues,

isnotonlyseenfromthefactthatitbasesitsdoctrine

everywhereontheconceptionof\'valueofexchange,\'butalsofrom

thedefinitionwhichitgivesofitsdoctrine。Itis(saysJ。B。

Say)thatsciencewhichteacheshowriches,orexchangeablevalues,

areproduced,distributed,andconsumed。Thisisundoubtedlynot

thesciencewhichteacheshowtheproductivepowersareawakened

anddeveloped,andhowtheybecomedepressedanddestroyed。

M\'Cullochcallsitexplicitly\'thescienceofvalues,\'andrecent

Englishwriters\'thescienceofexchange。\'

Examplesfromprivateeconomywillbestillustratethe

differencebetweenthetheoryofproductivepowersandthetheory

ofvalues。

Letussupposethecaseoftwofathersoffamilies,bothbeing

landedproprietors,eachofwhomsavesyearly1,000thalersandhas

fivesons。Theoneputsouthissavingsatinterest,andkeepshis

sonsatcommonhardwork,whiletheotheremployshissavingsin

educatingtwoofhissonsasskilfulandintelligentlandowners,

andinenablingtheotherthreetolearnatradeaftertheir

respectivetastes;theformeractsaccordingtothetheoryof

values,thelatteraccordingtothetheoryofproductivepowers。

Thefirstathisdeathmayprovemuchricherthanthesecondin

mereexchangeablevalue,butitisquiteotherwiseasrespects

productivepowers。Theestateofthelatterisdividedintotwo

parts,andeverypartwillbytheaidofimprovedmanagementyield

asmuchtotalproduceasthewholedidbefore;whiletheremaining

threesonshavebytheirtalentsobtainedabundantmeansof

maintenance。Thelandedpropertyoftheformerwillbedividedinto

fiveparts,andeverypartwillbeworkedinasbadamannerasthe

wholewasheretofore。Inthelatterfamilyamassofdifferent

mentalforcesandtalentsisawakenedandcultivated,whichwill

increasefromgenerationtogeneration,everysucceedinggeneration

possessingmorepowerofobtainingmaterialwealththanthe

precedingone,whileintheformerfamilystupidityandpoverty

mustincreasewiththediminutionofthesharesinthelanded

property。Sotheslaveholderincreasesbyslave-breedingthesumof

hisvaluesofexchange,butheruinstheproductiveforcesof

futuregenerations。Allexpenditureintheinstructionofyouth,

thepromotionofjustice,defenceofnations,&c。isaconsumption

ofpresentvaluesforthebehoofoftheproductivepowers。The

greatestportionoftheconsumptionofanationisusedforthe

educationofthefuturegeneration,forpromotionandnourishment

ofthefuturenationalproductivepowers。

TheChristianreligion,monogamy,abolitionofslaveryandof

vassalage,hereditabilityofthethrone,inventionofprinting,of

thepress,ofthepostalsystem,ofmoneyweightsandmeasures,of

thecalendar,ofwatches,ofpolice,\'theintroductionofthe

principleoffreeholdproperty,ofmeansoftransport,arerich

sourcesofproductivepower。Tobeconvincedofthis,weneedonly

comparetheconditionoftheEuropeanstateswiththatofthe

Asiaticones。Inorderdulytoestimatetheinfluencewhichliberty

ofthoughtandconsciencehasontheproductiveforcesofnations,

weneedonlyreadthehistoryofEnglandandthenthatofSpain。

Thepublicityoftheadministrationofjustice,trialbyjury,

parliamentarylegislation,publiccontrolofStateadministration,

self-administrationofthecommonaltiesandmunicipalities,liberty

ofthepress,libertyofassociationforusefulpurposes,impartto

thecitizensofconstitutionalstates,asalsototheirpublic

functionaries,adegreeofenergyandpowerwhichcanhardlybe

producedbyothermeans。Wecanscarcelyconceiveofanylaworany

publiclegaldecisionwhichwouldnotexerciseagreaterorsmaller

influenceontheincreaseordecreaseoftheproductivepowerof

thenation。(2*)Ifweconsidermerelybodilylabourasthecauseof

wealth,howcanwethenexplainwhymodernnationsareincomparably

richer,morepopulous,morepowerful,andprosperousthanthe

nationsofancienttimes?Theancientnationsemployed(in

proportiontothewholepopulation)infinitelymorehands,thework

wasmuchharder,eachindividualpossessedmuchmoreland,andyet

themassesweremuchworsefedandclothedthanisthecasein

modernnations。Inordertoexplainthesephenomena,wemustrefer

totheprogresswhichhasbeenmadeinthecourseofthelast

thousandyearsinsciencesandarts,domesticandpublic

regulations,cultivationofthemindandcapabilitiesof

production。Thepresentstateofthenationsistheresultofthe

accumulationofalldiscoveries,inventions,improvements,

perfections,andexertionsofallgenerationswhichhavelived

beforeus;theyformthementalcapitalofthepresenthumanrace,

andeveryseparatenationisproductiveonlyintheproportionin

whichithasknownhowtoappropriatetheseattainmentsofformer

generationsandtoincreasethembyitsownacquirements,inwhich

thenaturalcapabilitiesofitsterritory,itsextentand

geographicalposition,itspopulationandpoliticalpower,have

beenabletodevelopascompletelyandsymmetricallyaspossible

allsourcesofwealthwithinitsboundaries,andtoextendits

moral,intellectual,commercial,andpoliticalinfluenceoverless

advancednationsandespeciallyovertheaffairsoftheworld。

Thepopularschoolofeconomistswouldhaveusbelievethat

politicsandpoliticalpowercannotbetakenintoconsiderationin

politicaleconomy。Sofarasitmakesonlyvaluesandexchangethe

subjectsofitsinvestigations,thismaybecorrect;wecandefine

theideasofvalueandcapital,profit,wages,andrent;wecan

resolvethemintotheirelements,andspeculateonwhatmay

influencetheirrisingorfalling,&c。withouttherebytakinginto

accountthepoliticalcircumstancesofthenation。Clearly,

however,thesemattersappertainasmuchtoprivateeconomyasto

theeconomyofwholenations。Wehavemerelytoconsiderthe

historyofVenice,oftheHanseaticLeague,ofPortugal,Holland,

andEngland,inordertoperceivewhatreciprocalinfluence

materialwealthandpoliticalpowerexerciseoneachother。

Theschoolalsoalwaysfallsintothestrangestinconsistencies

wheneverthisreciprocalinfluenceforcesitselfontheir

consideration。Letushereonlycalltomindtheremarkabledictum

ofAdamSmithontheEnglishNavigationLaws。(3*)

Thepopularschool,inasmuchasitdoesnotdulyconsiderthe

natureofthepowersofproduction,anddoesnottakeintoaccount

theconditionsofnationsintheiraggregate,disregardsespecially

theimportanceofdevelopinginanequalratioagriculture,

manufacturesandcommerce,politicalpowerandinternalwealth,and

disregardsespeciallythevalueofamanufacturingpowerbelonging

speciallytothenationandfullydevelopedinallitsbranches。It

commitstheerrorofplacingmanufacturingpowerinthesame

categorywithagriculturalpower,andofspeakingoflabour,

naturalpower,capital,&c。ingeneraltermswithoutconsidering

thedifferenceswhichexistbetweenthem。Itdoesnotperceivethat

betweenaStatedevotedmerelytoagricultureandaState

possessingbothagricultureandmanufactures,amuchgreater

differenceexiststhanbetweenapastoralStateandanagricultural

one。Inaconditionofmerelyagriculturalindustry,capriceand

slavery,superstitionandignorance,wantofmeansofculture,of

trade,andoftransport,povertyandpoliticalweaknessexist。In

themerelyagriculturalStateonlytheleastportionofthemental

andbodilypowersexistinginthenationisawakenedanddeveloped,

andonlytheleastpartofthepowersandresourcesplacedby

natureatitsdisposalcanbemadeuseof,whilelittleorno

capitalcanbeaccumulated。

LetuscomparePolandwithEngland:bothnationsatonetime

wereinthesamestageofculture;andnowwhatadifference。

Manufactoriesandmanufacturesarethemothersandchildrenof

municipalliberty,ofintelligence,oftheartsandsciences,of

internalandexternalcommerce,ofnavigationandimprovementsin

transport,ofcivilisationandpoliticalpower。Theyarethechief

meansofliberatingagriculturefromitschains,andofelevating

ittoacommercialcharacterandtoadegreeofartandscience,by

whichtherents,farmingprofits,andwagesareincreased,and

greatervalueisgiventolandedproperty。Thepopularschoolhas

attributedthiscivilisingpowertoforeigntrade,butinthatit

hasconfoundedthemereexchangerwiththeoriginator。Foreign

manufacturesfurnishthegoodsfortheforeigntrade,whichthe

latterconveystous,andwhichoccasionconsumptionofproducts

andrawmaterialswhichwegiveinexchangeforthegoodsinlieu

ofmoneypayments。

If,however,tradeinthemanufacturesoffardistantlands

exercisesadmittedlysobeneficialaninfluenceonouragricultural

industry,howmuchmorebeneficialmusttheinfluencebeofthose

manufactureswhichareboundupwithuslocally,commercially,and

politically,whichnotonlytakefromusasmallportion,butthe

largestportionoftheirrequirementsoffoodandofrawmaterials,

whicharenotmadedearertousbygreatcostsoftransport,our

tradeinwhichcannotbeinterruptedbythechanceofforeign

manufacturingnationslearningtosupplytheirownwants

themselves,orbywarsandprohibitoryimportduties?

Wenowseeintowhatextraordinarymistakesandcontradictions

thepopularschoolhasfalleninmakingmaterialwealthorvalueof

exchangethesoleobjectofitsinvestigations,andbyregarding

merebodilylabourasthesoleproductivepower。

Themanwhobreedspigsis,accordingtothisschool,a

productivememberofthecommunity,buthewhoeducatesmenisa

merenon-productive。Themakerofbagpipesorjews-harpsforsale

isaproductive,whilethegreatcomposersandvirtuososare

non-productivesimplybecausethatwhichtheyplaycannotbe

broughtintothemarket。Thephysicianwhosavesthelivesofhis

patientsdoesnotbelongtotheproductiveclass,butonthe

contrarythechemist\'sboydoesso,althoughthevaluesofexchange

(viz。thepills)whichheproducesmayexistonlyforafewminutes

beforetheypassintoavaluelesscondition。ANewton,aWatt,or

aKeplerisnotsoproductiveasadonkey,ahorse,oradraught-ox

(aclassoflabourerswhohavebeenrecentlyintroducedby

M\'Cullochintotheseriesoftheproductivemembersofhuman

society)。

WemustnotbelievethatJ。B。Sayhasremediedthisdefectin

thedoctrineofAdamSmithbyhisfictionof\'immaterialgoods\'or

products;hehasthusmerelysomewhatvarnishedoverthefollyof

itsresults,butnotraiseditoutofitsintrinsicabsurdity。The

mental(immaterial)producersaremerelyproductive,accordingto

hisviews,becausetheyareremuneratedwithvaluesofexchange,

andbecausetheirattainmentshavebeenobtainedbysacrificing

valuesofexchange,andnotbecausetheyproduceproductive

powers。(4*)Theymerelyseemtohimanaccumulatedcapital。

M\'Cullochgoesstillfurther;hesaysthatmanisasmuchaproduct

oflabourasthemachinewhichheproduces,anditappearstohim

thatinalleconomicalinvestigationshemustberegardedfromthis

pointofview。HethinksthatSmithcomprehendedthecorrectnessof

thisprinciple,onlyhedidnotdeducethecorrectconclusionfrom

it。Amongotherthingshedrawstheconclusionthateatingand

drinkingareproductiveoccupations。ThomasCoopervaluesaclever

Americanlawyerat3,000dollars,whichisaboutthreetimesas

muchasthevalueofastrongslave。

Theerrorsandcontradictionsoftheprevailingschooltowhich

wehavedrawnattention,canbeeasilycorrectedfromthe

standpointofthetheoryoftheproductivepowers。Certainlythose

whofattenpigsorpreparepillsareproductive,butthe

instructorsofyouthsandofadults,virtuosos,musicians,

physicians,judges,andadministrators,areproductiveinamuch

higherdegree。Theformerproducevaluesofexchange,andthe

latterproductivepowers,somebyenablingthefuturegenerationto

becomeproducers,othersbyfurtheringthemoralityandreligious

characterofthepresentgeneration,athirdbyennoblingand

raisingthepowersofthehumanwind,afourthbypreservingthe

productivepowersofhispatients,afifthbyrenderinghuman

rightsandjusticesecure,asixthbyconstitutingandprotecting

publicsecurity,aseventhbyhisartandbytheenjoymentwhichit

occasionsfittingmenthebettertoproducevaluesofexchange。In

thedoctrineofmerevalues,theseproducersoftheproductive

powerscanofcourseonlybetakenintoconsiderationsofaras

theirservicesarerewardedbyvaluesofexchange;andthismanner

ofregardingtheirservicesmayinsomeinstanceshaveits

practicaluse,ase。g。inthedoctrineofpublictaxes,inasmuchas

thesehavetobesatisfiedbyvaluesofexchange。Butwheneverour

considerationisgiventothenation(asawholeandinits

internationalrelations)itisutterlyinsufficient,andleadsto

aseriesofnarrow-mindedandfalseviews。

Theprosperityofanationisnot,asSaybelieves,greaterin

theproportioninwhichithasamassedmorewealth(i。e。valuesof

exchange),butintheproportioninwhichithasmoredevelopedits

powersofproduction。Althoughlawsandpublicinstitutionsdonot

produceimmediatevalues,theyneverthelessproduceproductive

powers,andSayismistakenifhemaintainsthatnationshavebeen

enabledtobecomewealthyunderallformsofgovernment,andthat

byweansoflawsnowealthcanbecreated。Theforeigntradeofa

nationmustnotbeestimatedinthewayinwhichindividual

merchantsjudgeit,solelyandonlyaccordingtothetheoryof

values(i。e。byregardingmerelythegainatanyparticularmoment

ofsomematerialadvantage);thenationisboundtokeepsteadily

inviewalltheseconditionsonwhichitspresentandfuture

existence,prosperity,andpowerdepend。

Thenationmustsacrificeandgiveupameasureofmaterial

propertyinordertogainculture,skill,andpowersofunited

production;itmustsacrificesomepresentadvantagesinorderto

insuretoitselffutureones。If,therefore,amanufacturingpower

developedinallitsbranchesformsafundamentalconditionofall

higheradvancesincivilisation,materialprosperity,andpolitical

powerineverynation(afactwhich,wethink,wehaveprovedfrom

history);ifitbetrue(aswebelievewecanprove)thatinthe

presentconditionsoftheworldanewunprotectedmanufacturing

powercannotpossiblyberaisedupunderfreecompetitionwitha

powerwhichhaslongsincegrowninstrengthandisprotectedon

itsownterritory;howcananyonepossiblyundertaketoproveby

argumentsonlybasedonthemeretheoryofvalues,thatanation

oughttobuyitsgoodslikeindividualmerchants,atplaceswhere

theyaretobehadthecheapest——thatweactfoolishlyifwe

manufactureanythingatallwhichcanbegotcheaperfromabroad——

thatweoughttoplacetheindustryofthenationatthemercyof

theself-interestofindividuals——thatprotectiveduties

constitutemonopolies,whicharegrantedtotheindividualhome

manufacturersattheexpenseofthenation?Itistruethat

protectivedutiesatfirstincreasethepriceofmanufactured

goods;butitisjustastrue,andmoreoveracknowledgedbythe

prevailingeconomicalschool,thatinthecourseoftime,bythe

nationbeingenabledtobuildupacompletelydeveloped

manufacturingpowerofitsown,thosegoodsareproducedmore

cheaplyathomethanthepriceatwhichtheycanbeimportedfrom

foreignparts。If,therefore,asacrificeofvalueiscausedby

protectiveduties,itismadegoodbythegainofapowerof

production,whichnotonlysecurestothenationaninfinitely

greateramountofmaterialgoods,butalsoindustrialindependence

incaseofwar。Throughindustrialindependenceandtheinternal

prosperityderivedfromitthenationobtainsthemeansfor

successfullycarryingonforeigntradeandforextendingits

mercantilemarine;itincreasesitscivilisation,perfectsits

institutionsinternally,andstrengthensitsexternalpower。A

nationcapableofdevelopingamanufacturingpower,ifitmakesuse

ofthesystemofprotection,thusactsquiteinthesamespiritas

thatlandedproprietordidwhobythesacrificeofsomematerial

wealthallowedsomeofhischildrentolearnaproductivetrade。

Intowhatmistakestheprevailingeconomicalschoolhasfallen

byjudgingconditionsaccordingtothemeretheoryofvalueswhich

oughtproperlytobejudgedaccordingtothetheoryofpowersof

production,maybeseenveryclearlybythejudgmentwhichJ。B。

Saypassesuponthebountieswhichforeigncountriessometimes

offerinordertofacilitateexportation;hemaintainsthat\'these

arepresentsmadetoournation。\'NowifwesupposethatFrance

considersaprotectivedutyoftwenty-fivepercentsufficientfor

hernotvetperfectlydevelopedmanufactures,whileEnglandwereto

grantabountyonexportationofthirtypercent,whatwouldbethe

consequenceofthe\'present\'whichinthismannertheEnglishwould

maketotheFrench?TheFrenchconsumerswouldobtainforafew

yearsthemanufacturedarticleswhichtheyneededmuchcheaperthan

hitherto,buttheFrenchmanufactorieswouldberuined,and

millionsofmenbereducedtobeggaryorobligedtoemigrate,orto

devotethemselvestoagricultureforemployment。Underthemost

favourablecircumstances,thepresentconsumersandcustomersof

theFrenchagriculturistswouldbeconvertedintocompetitorswith

thelatter,agriculturalproductionwouldbeincreased,andthe

consumptionlowered。Thenecessaryconsequencewouldbediminution

invalueoftheproducts,declineinthevalueofproperty,

nationalpovertyandnationalweaknessinFrance。TheEnglish

\'present\'inmerevaluewouldbedearlypaidforinlossofpower;

itwouldseemlikethepresentwhichtheSultaniswonttomaketo

hispashasbysendingthemvaluablesilkencords。

SincethetimewhentheTrojanswere\'presented\'bytheGreeks

withawoodenhorse,theacceptanceof\'presents\'fromother

nationshasbecomeforthenationwhichreceivesthemavery

questionabletransaction。TheEnglishhavegiventheContinent

presentsofimmensevalueintheformofsubsidies,butthe

Continentalnationshavepaidforthemdearlybythelossofpower。

Thesesubsidiesactedlikeabountyonexportationinfavourofthe

English,andweredetrimentaltotheGermanmanufactories。If

Englandboundherselfto-daytosupplytheGermansgratuitouslyfor

yearswithalltheyrequiredinmanufacturedarticles,wecouldnot

recommendthemtoacceptsuchanoffer。IftheEnglishareenabled

throughnewinventionstoproducelinenfortypercent。cheaper

thantheGermanscanbyusingtheoldprocess,andifintheuseof

theirnewprocesstheymerelyobtainastartofafewyearsover

theGermans,insuchacase,wereitnotforprotectiveduties,one

ofthemostimportantandoldestbranchesofGermany\'sindustry

willberuined。ItwillbeasifalimbofthebodyoftheGerman

nationhadbeenlost。Andwhowouldbeconsoledforthelossofan

armbyknowingthathehadneverthelessboughthisshirtsfortyper

centcheaper?

IftheEnglishveryoftenfindoccasiontoofferpresentsto

foreignnations,verydifferentaretheformsinwhichthisis

done;itisnotunfrequentlydoneagainsttheirwill;alwaysdoes

itbehoveforeignnationswelltoconsiderwhetherornotthe

presentshouldbeaccepted。Throughtheirpositionasthe

manufacturingandcommercialmonopolistsoftheworld,their

manufactoriesfromtimetotimefallintothestatewhichtheycall

\'glut,\'andwhicharisesfromwhattheycall\'overtrading。\'Atsuch

periodseverybodythrowshisstockofgoodsintothesteamers。

Aftertheelapseofeightdaysthegoodsareofferedforsalein

Hamburg,Berlin,orFrankfort,andafterthreeweeksinNewYork,

atfiftypercentundertheirrealvalue。TheEnglishmanufacturers

sufferforthemoment,buttheyaresaved,andtheycompensate

themselveslateronbybetterprices。TheGermanandAmerican

manufacturersreceivetheblowswhichweredeservedbytheEnglish——

theyareruined。TheEnglishnationmerelyseesthefireand

hearsthereportoftheexplosion;thefragmentsfalldowninother

countries,andiftheirinhabitantscomplainofbloodyheads,the

intermediatemerchantsanddealerssay,\'Thecrisishasdoneit

all!\'Ifweconsiderhowoftenbysuchcrisesthewhole

manufacturingpower,thesystemofcredit,naytheagriculture,and

generallythewholeeconomicalsystemofthenationswhoareplaced

infreecompetitionwithEngland,areshakentotheirfoundations,

andthatthesenationshaveafterwardsnotwithstandingrichlyto

recompensetheEnglishmanufacturersbyhigherprices,oughtwenot

thentobecomeveryscepticalastothepropriety,ofthe

commercialconditionsofnationsbeingregulatedaccordingtothe

meretheoryofvaluesandaccordingtocosmopoliticalprinciples?

Theprevailingeconomicalschoolhasneverdeemeditexpedientto

elucidatethecausesandeffectsofsuchcommercialcrises。

Thegreatstatesmenofallmodernnations,almostwithout

exception,havecomprehendedthegreatinfluenceofmanufactures

andmanufactoriesonthewealth,civilisation,andpowerof

nations,andthenecessityofprotectingthem。EdwardIII

comprehendedthislikeElizabeth;FredericktheGreatlikeJoseph

II;WashingtonlikeNapoleon。Withoutenteringintothedepthsof

theindustrytheory,theirforeseeingmindscomprehendedthenature

ofinitsentirety,andappreciateditcorrectly。Itwasreserved

fortheschoolofphysiocratstoregardthisnaturefromanother

pointofviewinconsequenceofasophisticallineofreasoning。

Theircastleintheairhasdisappeared;themoremoderneconomical

schoolitselfhasdestroyedit;buteventhelatterhasalsonot

disentangleditselffromtheoriginalerrors,buthasmerely

advancedsomewhatfartherfromthem。Sinceitdidnotrecognisethe

differencebetweenproductivepowerandmerevaluesofexchange,

anddidnotinvestigatetheformerindependentlyofthelatter,but

subordinatedittothetheoryofvaluesofexchange,itwas

impossibleforthatschooltoarriveattheperceptionhowgreatly

thenatureoftheagriculturalproductivepowerdiffersfromthe

natureofthemanufacturingproductivepower。Itdoesnotdiscern

thatthroughthedevelopmentofamanufacturingindustryinan

agriculturalnationamassofmentalandbodilypowers,ofnatural

powersandnaturalresources,andofinstrumentalpowerstoo(which

lattertheprevailingschoolterms\'capital\'),isbroughttobear,

andbroughtintouse,whichhadnotpreviouslybeenactive,and

wouldneverhavecomeintoactivitybutfortheformationand

developmentofaninternalmanufacturingpower;itimaginesthatby

theestablishmentofmanufacturingindustrytheseforcesmustbe

takenawayfromagriculture,andtransferredtomanufacture,

whereasthelattertoagreatextentisaperfectlynewand

additionalpower,which,veryfarindeedfromincreasingatthe

expenseoftheagriculturalinterest,isoftenthemeansofhelping

thatinteresttoattainahigherdegreeofprosperityand

development。

NOTES:

1。ThisistruerespectingSpainuptotheperiodofherinvasion

byNapoleon,butnotsubsequently。Ourauthor\'sconclusionsare,

however,scarcelyinvalidatedbythatexception——TR。

2。SaystatesinhisEconomiePolitiquePratique,vol。iii。p。242,

\'Lesloisnepeuventpascr閑rdesrichesses。\'Certainlythey

cannotdothis,buttheycreateproductivepower,whichismore

importantthanriches,i。e。thanpossessionofvaluesofexchange。

3。WealthofNations,BookIV。chap。ii。

4。FromthegreatnumberofpassageswhereinJ。B。Sayexplains

thisview,wemerelyquotethenewest——fromthesixthvolumeof

EconomiePolitiquePratique,p。307:\'Letalentd\'unavocat,d\'un

m閐ecin,quia閠?acquisauprixdequelquesacrificeetqui

produitunrevenu,estunevaleurcapitale,nontransmissible?la

v閞it?maisquir閟iden閍nmoinsdansuncorpsvisible,celuide

lapersonnequileposs鑔e。\'

Chapter13

TheNationalDivisionofCommercialOperationsandthe

ConfederationoftheNationalProductiveForces

Theschoolisindebtedtoitsrenownedfounderforthe

discoveryofthatnaturallawwhichitcalls\'divisionoflabour,\'

butneitherAdamSmithnoranyofhissuccessorshavethoroughly

investigateditsessentialnatureandcharacter,orfolloweditout

toitsmostimportantconsequences。

Theexpression\'divisionoflabour\'isanindefiniteone,and

mustnecessarilyproduceafalseorindefiniteidea。

Itis\'divisionoflabour\'ifonesavageononeandthesame

daygoeshuntingorfishing,cutsdownwood,repairshiswigwam,

andpreparesarrows,nets,andclothes;butitisalso\'divisionof

labour\'if(asAdamSmithmentionsasanexample)tendifferent

personsshareinthedifferentoccupationsconnectedwiththe

manufactureofapin:theformerisanobjective,andthelattera

subjectivedivisionoflabour;theformerhinders,thelatter

furthersproduction。Theessentialdifferencebetweenbothis,that

intheformerinstanceonepersondivideshisworksoastoproduce

variousobjects,whileinthelatterseveralpersonsshareinthe

productionofasingleobject。

Bothoperations,ontheotherhand,maybecalledwithequal

correctnessaunionoflabour;thesavageunitesvarioustasksin

hisperson,whileinthecaseofthepinmanufacturevarious

personsareunitedinoneworkofproductionincommon。

Theessentialcharacterofthenaturallawfromwhichthe

popularschoolexplainssuchimportantphenomenainsocialeconomy,

isevidentlynotmerelyadivisionoflabour,butadivisionof

differentcommercialoperationsbetweenseveralindividuals,andat

thesametimeaconfederationorunionofvariousenergies,

intelligences,andpowersonbehalfofacommonproduction。The

causeoftheproductivenessoftheseoperationsisnotmerelythat

division,butessentiallythisunion。AdamSmithwellperceives

thishimselfwhenhestates,\'Thenecessariesoflifeofthelowest

membersofsocietyareaproductofjointlabourandofthe

co-operationofanumberofindividuals。\'(1*)Whatapitythathe

didnotfollowoutthisidea(whichhesoclearlyexpresses)of

unitedlabour。

Ifwecontinuetoconsidertheexampleofthepinmanufacture

adducedbyAdamSmithinillustrationoftheadvantagesofdivision

oflabour,andseekforthecausesofthephenomenonthatten

personsunitedinthatmanufacturecanproduceaninfinitelylarger

numberofpinsthanifeveryonecarriedontheentirepin

manufactureseparately,wefindthatthedivisionofcommercial

operationswithoutcombinationoftheproductivepowerstowardsone

commonobjectcouldbutlittlefurtherthisproduction。

Inordertocreatesucharesult,thedifferentindividuals

mustco-operatebodilyaswellasmentally,andworktogether。The

onewhomakestheheadsofthepinsmustbecertainoftheco

operationoftheonewhomakesthepointsifhedoesnotwantto

runtheriskofproducingpinheadsinvain。Thelabouroperations

ofallmustbeintheproperproportiontooneanother,theworkmen

mustliveasneartooneanotheraspossible,andtheir

co-operationmustbeinsured。Letussupposee。g。thateveryoneof

thesetenworkmenlivesinadifferentcountry;howoftenmight

theirco-operationbeinterruptedbywars,interruptionsof

transport,commercialcrises,&c。;howgreatlywouldthecostof

theproductbeincreased,andconsequentlytheadvantageofthe

divisionofoperationdiminished;andwouldnottheseparationor

secessionofasinglepersonfromtheunion,throwalltheothers

outofwork?

Thepopularschool,becauseithasregardedthedivisionof

operationaloneastheessenceofthisnaturallaw,hascommitted

theerrorofapplyingitmerelytotheseparatemanufactoryor

farm;ithasnotperceivedthatthesamelawextendsitsaction

especiallyoverthewholemanufacturingandagriculturalpower,

overthewholeeconomyofthenation。

Asthepinmanufactoryonlyprospersbytheconfederationof

theproductiveforceoftheindividuals,sodoeseverykindof

manufactureprosperonlybytheconfederationofitsproductive

forceswiththoseofallotherkindsofmanufacture。Forthe

successofamachinemanufactory,forinstance,itisnecessary

thattheminesandmetalworksshouldfurnishitwiththenecessary

materials,andthatallthehundreddifferentsortsof

manufactorieswhichrequiremachines,shouldbuytheirproducts

fromit。Withoutmachinemanufactories,anationwouldintimeof

warbeexposedtothedangeroflosingthegreaterportionofits

manufacturingpower。

InlikemannertheentiremanufacturingindustryofaStatein

connectionwithitsagriculturalinterest,andthelatterin

connectionwiththeformer,willprosperthemorethenearerthey

areplacedtooneanother,andthelesstheyareinterruptedin

theirmutualexchangeswithoneanother。Theadvantagesoftheir

confederationunderoneandthesamepoliticalPowerintimesof

war,ofnationaldifferences,ofcommercialcrises,failureof

crops,&c。,arenotlessperceptiblethanaretheadvantagesofthe

unionofthepersonsbelongingtoapinmanufactoryunderoneand

thesameroof。

Smithaffirmsthatthedivisionoflabourislessapplicableto

agriculturethantomanufactures。(2*)Smithhadinviewonlythe

separatemanufactoryandtheseparatefarm。Hehas,however,

neglectedtoextendhisprincipleoverwholedistrictsand

provinces。Nowherehasthedivisionofcommercialoperationsand

theconfederationoftheproductivepowersgreaterinfluencethan

whereeverydistrictandeveryprovinceisinapositiontodevote

itselfexclusively,oratleastchiefly,tothosebranchesof

agriculturalproductionforwhichtheyaremostlyfittedbynature。

Inonedistrictcornandhopschieflythrive,inanothervinesand

fruit,inathirdtimberproductionandcattlerearing,&c。If

everydistrictisdevotedtoallthesebranchesofproduction,it

isclearthatitslabouranditslandcannotbenearlyso

productiveasifeveryseparatedistrictweredevotedmainlyto

thosebranchesofproductionforwhichitisspeciallyadaptedby

nature,andasifitexchangedthesurplusofitsownspecial

productsforthesurplusproduceofthoseprovinceswhichinthe

productionofothernecessariesoflifeandrawmaterialspossess

anaturaladvantageequallypeculiartothemselves。Thisdivision

ofcommercialoperations,thisconfederationoftheproductive

forcesoccupiedinagriculture,canonlytakeplaceinacountry

whichhasattainedthegreatestdevelopmentofallbranchesof

manufacturingindustry;forinsuchacountryonlycanagreat

demandforthegreatestvarietyofproductsexist,orthedemand

forthesurplusofagriculturalproductionsbesocertainand

considerablethattheproducercanfeelcertainofdisposingofany

quantityofhissurplusproduceduringthisoratleastduringnext

yearatsuitableprices;insuchacountryonlycanconsiderable

capitalbedevotedtospeculationintheproduceofthecountryand

holdingstocksofit,orgreatimprovementsintransport,suchas

canalsandrailwaysystems,linesofsteamers,improvedroads,be

carriedoutprofitably;andonlybymeansofthoroughlygoodmeans

oftransportcaneverydistrictorprovinceconveythesurplusof

itspeculiarproductstoallotherprovinces,eventothemost

distantones,andprocureinreturnsuppliesofthepeculiar

productsofthelatter。Whereeverybodysupplieshimselfwithwhat

herequires,thereisbutlittleopportunityforexchange,and

thereforenoneedforcostlyfacilitiesoftransport。

Wemaynoticehowtheaugmentationofthepowersofproduction

inconsequenceoftheseparationofoccupationsandthe

co-operationofthepowersofindividualsbeginsintheseparate

manufactoryandextendstotheunitednation。Themanufactory

prosperssomuchthemoreinproportionasthecommercial

operationsaredivided,themorecloselytheworkmenareunited,

andthemoretheco-operationofeachpersonisinsuredforthe

whole。Theproductivepowersofeveryseparatemanufactoryarealso

increasedinproportionasthewholemanufacturingpowerofthe

countryisdevelopedinallitsbranches,andthemoreintimately

itisunitedwithallotherbranchesofindustry。Theagricultural

powerofproductionissomuchgreaterthemoreintimatelya

manufacturingpowerdevelopedinallitsbranchesisunited

locally,commercially,andpoliticallywithagriculture。In

proportionasthemanufacturingpoweristhusdevelopedwillthe

divisionofthecommercialoperationsandtheco-operationofthe

productivepowersinagriculturealsodevelopthemselvesandbe

raisedtothehigheststageofperfection。Thatnationwill

thereforepossessmostproductivepower,andwillconsequentlybe

therichest,whichhascultivatedmanufacturingindustryinall

brancheswithinitsterritorytothehighestperfection,andwhose

territoryandagriculturalproductionislargeenoughtosupplyits

manufacturingpopulationwiththelargestpartofthenecessaries

oflifeandrawmaterialswhichtheyrequire。

Letusnowconsidertheoppositesideofthisargument。A

nationwhichpossessesmerelyagriculture,andmerelythemost

indispensableindustries,isinwantofthefirstandmost

necessarydivisionofcommercialoperationsamongitsinhabitants,

andofthemostimportanthalfofitsproductivepowers,indeedit

isinwantofausefuldivisionofcommercialoperationsevenin

theseparatebranchesofagricultureitself。Anationthus

imperfectwillnotonlybemerelyhalfasproductiveasaperfect

nation,butwithanequalorevenwithamuchlargerterritory,

withanequaloramuchlargerpopulation,itwillperhapsscarcely

obtainafifth,probablyscarcelyatenth,partofthatmaterial

wealthwhichaperfectnationisabletoprocure;andthisforthe

samereasonowingtowhichinaverycomplicatedmanufactoryten

personsproducenotmerelytentimesmore,butperhapsthirtytimes

more,thanoneperson,oramanwithonearmcannotmerelywork

halfaslittle,butinfinitelyless,thanamanwithtwoarms。This

lossinproductivepowerwillbesomuchgreater,themorethatthe

manufacturingoperationscanbefurtheredbymachinery,andthe

lessthatmachinerycanbeappliedinagriculture。Apartofthe

productivepowerwhichtheagriculturalnationthusloses,will

falltothelotofthatnationwhichexchangesitsmanufactured

goodsforagriculturalproducts。Thiswill,however,beapositive

lossonlyincasetheagriculturalnationhasalreadyreachedthat

stageofcivilisationandpoliticaldevelopmentwhichisnecessary

fortheestablishmentofamanufacturingpower。Ifithasnotyet

attainedthatstage,andstillremainsinabarbarousor

half-civilisedstate,ifitsagriculturalpowerofproductionhas

notyetdevelopeditselfevenfromthemostprimitivecondition,if

bytheimportationofforeignfabricsandtheexportationofraw

productsitsprosperityneverthelessincreasesconsiderablyfrom

yeartoyear,anditsmentalandsocialpowerscontinuetobe

awakenedandincreased,ifsuchcommerceasitcanthuscarryonis

notinterruptedbyforeignprohibitionofimportationofraw

products,orbywars,oriftheterritoryoftheagricultural

nationissituatedinatropicalclimate,thegainonbothsides

willthenbeequalandinconformitywiththelawsofnature,

becauseundertheinfluenceofsuchanexchangeofthenative

productsforforeignfabrics,anationsosituatedwillattainto

civilisationanddevelopmentofitsproductivepowersmorequickly

andsafelythanwhenithastodevelopthementirelyoutofits

resources。If,however,theagriculturalnationhasalreadyreached

theculminatingpointofitsagriculturaldevelopment,asfaras

thatcanbeattainedbytheinfluenceofforeigncommerce,orif

themanufacturingnationrefusestotaketheproductsofthe

agriculturalnationinexchangeforitsmanufacturedgoods,andif

nevertheless,owingtothesuccessfulcompetitionofthe

manufacturingnationinthemarketsoftheagriculturalnation,no

manufacturescanspringupinthelatter,insuchacasethe

agriculturalproductivepoweroftheagriculturalnationisexposed

tothedangerofbeingcrippled。

Byacrippledstateofagriculturewemeanthatstateofthings

inwhich,fromwantofapowerfulandsteadilydeveloping

manufacturingindustry,theentireincreaseofpopulationtendsto

throwitselfonagricultureforemployment,consumesallthe

surplusagriculturalproductionofthecountry,andassoonasit

hasconsiderablyincreasedeitherhastoemigrateorsharewiththe

agriculturistsalreadyinexistencethelandimmediatelyathand,

tillthelandedpropertyofeveryfamilyhasbecomesosmallthat

itproducesonlythemostelementaryandnecessaryportionofthat

family\'srequirementsoffoodandrawmaterials,butno

considerablesurpluswhichitmightexchangewiththemanufacturers

forthemanufacturedproductswhichitrequires。Underanormal

developmentoftheproductivepowersoftheState,thegreaterpart

oftheincreaseofpopulationofanagriculturalnation(assoonas

ithasattainedacertaindegreeofculture)shouldtransferitself

tomanufacturingindustry,andtheexcessoftheagricultural

productsshouldpartlyserveforsupplyingthemanufacturing

populationwithprovisionsandrawmaterials,andpartlyfor

procuringfortheagriculturiststhemanufacturedgoods,machines,

andutensilswhichtheyrequirefortheirconsumption,andforthe

increaseoftheirownproduction。

Ifthisstateofthingssetsinatthepropertime,

agriculturalandindustrialproductivepowerwillincrease

reciprocally,andindeedadinfinitum。Thedemandforagricultural

productsonthepartoftheindustrialpopulationwillbesogreat,

thatnogreaternumberoflabourerswillbedivertedto

agriculture,noranygreaterdivisionoftheexistinglandbemade,

thanisnecessarytoobtainthegreatestpossiblesurplusproduce

fromit。Inproportiontothissurplusproducethepopulation

occupiedinagriculturewillbeenabledtoconsumetheproductsof

theworkmenemployedinmanufacturing。Acontinuousincreaseofthe

agriculturalsurplusproducewilloccasionacontinuousincreaseof

thedemandformanufacturingworkmen。Theexcessofthe

agriculturalpopulationwillthereforecontinuallyfindworkinthe

manufactories,andthemanufacturingpopulationwillatlengthnot

onlyequaltheagriculturalpopulationinnumbers,butwillfar

exceedit。ThislatteristheconditionofEngland;thatwhichwe

formerlydescribedisthatofpartofFranceandGermany。England

wasprincipallybroughttothisnaturaldivisionofindustrial

pursuitsbetweenthetwogreatbranchesofindustry,bymeansof

herflocksofsheepandwoollenmanufactures,whichexistedthere

onalargescalemuchsoonerthaninothercountries。Inother

countriesagriculturewascrippledmainlybytheinfluenceof

feudalismandarbitrarypower。Thepossessionoflandgave

influenceandpower,merelybecausebyitacertainnumberof

retainerscouldbemaintainedwhichthefeudalproprietorcould

makeuseofinhisfeuds。Themorevassalshepossessed,somany

morewarriorshecouldmuster。Itwasbesidesimpossible,owingto

therudenessofthosetimes,forthelandedproprietortoconsume

hisincomeinanyothermannerthanbykeepingalargenumberof

servants,andhecouldnotpaythesebetterandattachthemtohis

ownpersonmoresurelythanbygivingthemabitoflandto

cultivateundertheconditionofrenderinghimpersonalserviceand

ofpayingasmallertaxinproduce。Thusthefoundationfor

excessivedivisionofthesoilwaslaidinanartificialmanner;

andifinthepresentdaytheGovernmentseeksbyartificialmeans

toalterthatsystem,insodoingitismerelyrestoringthe

originalstateofthings。

Inordertorestrainthecontinueddepreciationofthe

agriculturalpowerofanation,andgraduallytoapplyaremedyto

thatevilinsofarasitistheresultofpreviousinstitutions,

nobettermeansexists(apartfromthepromotionofemigration)

thantoestablishaninternalmanufacturingpower,bywhichthe

increaseofpopulationmaybegraduallydrawnovertothelatter,

andagreaterdemandcreatedforagriculturalproduce,bywhich

consequentlythecultivationoflargerestatesmayberenderedmore

profitable,andthecultivatorinducedandencouragedtogainfrom

hislandthegreatestpossibleamountofsurplusproduce。

Theproductivepowerofthecultivatorandofthelabourerin

agriculturewillalwaysbegreaterorsmalleraccordingtothe

degreeinwhichtheexchangeofagriculturalproducefor

manufacturesandotherproductsofvariouskindscanproceedmore

orlessreadily。Thatinthisrespecttheforeigntradeofany

nationwhichisbutlittleadvancedcanproveinthehighestdegree

beneficial,wehaveshowninanotherchapterbytheexampleof

England。Butanationwhichhasalreadymadeconsiderableadvances

incivilisation,inpossessionofcapital,andinpopulation,will

findthedevelopmentofamanufacturingpowerofitsowninfinitely

morebeneficialtoitsagriculturethanthemostflourishing

foreigntradecanbewithoutsuchmanufactures,becauseitthereby

securesitselfagainstallfluctuationstowhichitmaybeexposed

bywar,byforeignrestrictionsontrade,andbycommercialcrises,

becauseittherebysavesthegreatestpartofthecostsof

transportandcommercialchargesincurredinexportingitsown

productsandinimportingmanufacturedarticles,becauseitderives

thegreatestadvantagesfromtheimprovementsintransportwhich

arecalledintoexistencebyitsownmanufacturingindustry,while

fromthesamecauseamassofpersonalandnaturalpowershitherto

unemployedwillbedeveloped,andespeciallybecausethereciprocal

exchangebetweenmanufacturingpowerandagriculturalpowerisso

muchgreater,theclosertheagriculturistandmanufacturerare

placedtooneanother,andthelesstheyareliabletobe

interruptedintheexchangeoftheirvariousproductsbyaccidents

ofallkinds。

InmyletterstoMr。CharlesJ。Ingersoll,Presidentofthe

SocietyforPromotingArtsandIndustriesinPhiladelphia,ofthe

year1828(entitled,\'OutlinesofaNewSystemofPolitical

Economy\'),Itriedtoexplaintheadvantagesofaunionofthe

manufacturingpowerwithagricultureinoneandthesamecountry,

andunderoneandthesamepoliticalpower,inthefollowing

manner。Supposingyoudidnotunderstandtheartofgrindingcorn,

whichhascertainlybeenagreatartinitstime;supposingfurther

thattheartofbakingbreadhadremainedunknowntoyou,as

(accordingtoAnderson)therealartofsaltingherringswasstill

unknowntotheEnglishintheseventeenthcentury;supposing,

therefore,thatyouhadtosendyourcorntoEnglandtobeground

intoflourandbakedintobread,howlargeaquantityofyourcorn

wouldnottheEnglishretainaspayforthegrindingandbaking;

howmuchofitwouldthecarters,seamen,andmerchantsconsume,

whowouldhavetobeemployedinexportingthecornandimporting

thebread;andhowmuchwouldcomebackintothehandsofthosewho

cultivatedthecorn?Thereisnodoubtthatbysuchaprocessthe

foreigntradewouldreceiveaconsiderableimpetus,butitisvery

doubtfulwhetherthisintercoursewouldbespeciallyadvantageous

tothewelfareandindependenceofthenation。Consideronlyin

caseofawarbreakingoutbetweenyourcountry(theUnitedStates)

andGreatBritain,whatwouldbethesituationofthosewho

producedcornfortheEnglishmillsandbakehouses,andonthe

otherhandthesituationofthosewhohadbecomeaccustomedtothe

tasteoftheEnglishbread。Justas,however,theeconomical

prosperityofthecorn-cultivatinginterestrequiresthatthecorn

millersshouldliveinitsvicinity,soalsodoestheprosperityof

thefarmerespeciallyrequirethatthemanufacturershouldlive

closetohim,soalsodoestheprosperityofaflatandopen

countryrequirethataprosperousandindustrialtownshouldexist

initscentre,andsodoestheprosperityofthewholeagriculture

ofacountryrequirethatitsownmanufacturingpowershouldbe

developedinthehighestpossibledegree。

Letuscomparetheconditionofagricultureinthevicinityof

apopuloustownwithitsconditionwhencarriedonindistant

provinces。Inthelattercasethefarmercanonlycultivatefor

salethoseproductswhichcanbearalongtransport,andwhich

cannotbesuppliedatcheaperpricesandinbetterqualityfrom

districtslyingnearertothosewhopurchasethem。Alargerportion

ofhisprofitswillbeabsorbedbythecostsoftransport。Hewill

finditdifficulttoprocurecapitalwhichhemayemployusefully

onhisfarm。Fromwantofbetterexamplesandmeansofeducationhe

willnotreadilybeledtoavailhimselfofnewprocesses,of

betterimplements,andofnewmethodsofcultivation。Thelabourer

himself,fromwantofgoodexample,ofstimulustoexertion,andto

emulationintheexerciseofhisproductivepowers,willonly

developthosepowersinefficiently,andwillindulgehimselfin

loiteringaboutandinidleness。

Ontheotherhand,intheproximityofthetown,thefarmeris

inapositiontouseeverypatchoflandforthosecropswhichbest

suitthecharacterofthesoil。Hewillproducethegreatest

varietyofthingstothebestadvantage。Gardenproduce,poultry,

eggs,milk,butter,fruit,andespeciallyarticleswhichthefarmer

residingatadistanceconsidersinsignificantandsecondary

things,willbringtothefarmernearthetownconsiderableprofit。

Whilethedistantfarmerhastodependmainlyonthemerebreeding

ofcattle,theotherwillmakemuchbetterprofitsfromfattening

them,andwilltherebybeledtoperfecthiscultivationofroot

cropsandfodder。Hecanutilisewithmuchprofitanumberof

thingswhichareoflittleornousetothedistantfarmer;e。g。

stone,sand,waterpower,&c。Themostnumerousandbestmachines

andimplementsaswellasallmeansforhisinstruction,areclose

athand。Itwillbeeasyforhimtoaccumulatethecapital

necessaryfortheimprovementofhisfarm。Landedproprietorsand

workmen,bythemeansofrecreationwhichthetownaffords,the

emulationwhichitexcitesamongthem,andthefacilityofmaking

profits,willbeincitedtoexertalltheirmentalandbodily

powersfortheimprovementoftheircondition。Andpreciselythe

samedifferenceexistsbetweenanationwhichunitesagriculture

andmanufacturesonitsownterritory,andanationwhichcanonly

exchangeitsownagriculturalproductsforforeignmanufactured

goods。

Thewholesocialstateofanationwillbechieflydetermined

bytheprincipleofthevarietyanddivisionofoccupationsandthe

cooperationofitsproductivepowers。Whatthepinisinthepin

manufactory,thatthenationalwell-beingistothelargesociety

whichweterm\'thenation。\'Themostimportantdivisionof

occupationsinthenationisthatbetweenthementalandmaterial

ones。Botharemutuallydependentononeanother。Themorethe

mentalproducerssucceedinpromotingmorality,religion,

enlightenment,increaseofknowledge,extensionoflibertyandof

perfectionofpoliticalinstitutions——securityofpersonsand

propertywithintheState,andtheindependenceandpowerofthe

nationexternally——somuchgreaterwillbetheproductionof

materialWealth。Ontheotherhand,themoregoodsthatthe

materialproducersproduce,themorewillmentalproductionbe

capableofbeingpromoted。

Themostimportantdivisionofoccupations,andthemost

importantco-operationofproductivepowersinmaterialproduction,

isthatofagricultureandmanufacture。Bothdependmutuallyupon

oneanother,aswehaveshown。

Asinthepinmanufactory,soalsointhenationdoesthe

productivenessofeveryindividual——ofeveryseparatebranchof

production——andfinallyofthewholenationdependonthe

exertionsofallindividualsstandinginproperrelationtoone

another。Wecallthisrelationthebalanceortheharmonyofthe

productivepowers。Itispossibleforanationtopossesstoomany

philosophers,philologers,andliterati,andtoofewskilled

artisans,merchants,andseamen。Thisistheconsequenceofhighly

advancedandlearnedculturewhichisnotsupportedbyahighly

advancedmanufacturingpowerandbyanextensiveinternaland

externaltrade;itisasifinapinmanufactoryfarmorepinheads

weremanufacturedthanpinpoints。Thesurpluspinheadsinsucha

nationare:amassofuselessbooks,subtletheoreticalsystems,

andlearnedcontroversies,throughwhichthemindofthenationis

moreobscuredthancultivated,andiswithdrawnfromuseful

occupations;consequentlyitsproductivepowersareretardedin

theirprogressalmostasmuchasifitpossessedtoomanypriests

andtoofewinstructorsofyouth,toomanysoldiersandtoofew

politicians,toomanyadministratorsandtoofewjudgesand

defendersofjusticeandright。

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