The Night-Born

第9章

Theschool,inasmuchas,injudgingtheinfluencesofclimate

ontheproductionofwealth,ithasnotdistinguishedbetween

agricultureandmanufacturingindustry,hasfallenintothegravest

errorsinrespecttotheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofprotective

regulations,whichwecannothereomitthoroughlytoexpose,

althoughwehavealreadymadementionofthemingeneralterms

elsewhere。

Inordertoprovethatitisfoolishtoseektoproduce

everythinginoneandthesamecountry,theschoolasksthe

question:whetheritwouldbereasonableifwesoughttoproduce

winebygrowinggrapesinScottishandEnglishgreenhouses?Itis

ofcoursepossibletoproducewineinthismanner,onlyltwouldbe

ofmuchworsequalityandmoreexpensivethanthatwhichEngland

andScotlandcouldprocureinexchangefortheirmanufactured

goods。Toanyonewhoeitherisunwillingorunabletopenetrate

moredeeplyintothenatureofthings,thisargumentisastriking

one,andtheschoolisindebtedtoitforalargeportionofits

popularity;atanyrateamongtheFrenchvinegrowersandsilk

manufacturers,andamongtheNorthAmericancottonplantersand

cottonmerchants。Regardedinthelightofday,however,itis

fundamentallyfalse,sincerestrictionsoncommercialintercourse

operatequitedifferentlyontheproductivepowerofagriculture

thantheydoontheproductivepowerofmanufacturingindustry。

Letusfirstseehowtheyoperateonagriculture。

IfFrancerejectsfromherfrontiersGermanfatcattle,or

corn,whatwillsheeffectthereby?Inthefirstplace,Germany

willtherebybeunabletobuyFrenchwines。Francewilltherefore

havetousethoseportionsofhersoilwhicharefittedforthe

cultivationofthevinelessprofitablyinproportionasthis

destructionofcommercialinterchangelessensherexportationof

wines。Somanyfewerpersonswillbeexclusivelyoccupiedwiththe

cultivationofthevine,andthereforesomuchlessnative

agriculturalproductswillberequired,whichthesepersonswould

haveconsumed,whowouldhaveotherwisedevotedthemselves

exclusivelytovineculture。Thiswillbethecaseinthe

productionofoilaswellasinthatofwine。Francewilltherefore

alwaysloseinheragriculturalpoweronotherpointsmuchmore

thanshegainsononesinglepoint,becausebyherexclusionofthe

Germancattlesheprotectsatradeintherearingandfatteningof

cattlewhichhadnotbeenspontaneouslydeveloped,andforwhich,

therefore,probablytheagricultureofthosedistrictswherethis

branchofindustryhashadtobeartificiallydevelopedisnot

adapted。ThuswillitbeifweconsiderFrancemerelyasan

agriculturalStateopposedtoGermanyasamerelyagricultural

State,andifwealsoassumethatGermanywillnotretaliateon

thatpolicybyasimilarone。Thispolicy,however,appearsstill

moreinjuriousifweassumethatGermany,asshewillbecompelled

tooutofregardtoherowninterests,adoptssimilarlyrestrictive

measures,andifweconsiderthatFranceisnotmerelyan

agricultural,butalsoamanufacturingState。Germanywill,namely,

notmerelyimposehigherdutiesonFrenchwines,butonallthose

FrenchproductswhichGermanyeitherproducesherself,orcanmore

orlessdowithout,orprocureelsewhere;shewillfurtherrestrict

theimportationofthosemanufacturedgoodswhichshecannotat

presentproducewithspecialbenefit,butwhichshecanprocure

fromotherplacesthanfromFrance。ThedisadvantagewhichFrance

hasbroughtuponherselfbythoserestrictions,thusappearstwice

orthreetimesgreaterthantheadvantage。Itisevidentthatin

Franceonlysomanypersonscanbeemployedinthecultivationof

thevine,inthecultivationofolives,andinmanufacturing

industry,asthemeansofsubsistence,andrawmaterialswhich

Franceeitherproducesherselforprocuresfromabroad,areableto

supportandemploy。Butwehaveseenthattherestrictionof

importationhasnotincreasedtheagriculturalproduction,buthas

merelytransferreditfromonedistricttoanother。Iffreecourse

hadbeenpermittedtotheinterchangeofproducts,theimportation

ofproductsandrawmaterials,andconsequentlythesaleofwine,

oil,andmanufacturedgoods,wouldhavecontinuallyincreased,and

consequentlythenumberofpersonsemployedinthecultivationof

thevineandolives,andinmanufactures;whilewiththeincreasing

traffic,ontheonehand,themeansofsubsistenceandraw

materials,and,ontheotherhand,thedemandforhermanufactured

products,wouldhaveaugmented。Theaugmentationofthispopulation

wouldhaveproducedalargerdemandforthoseprovisionsandraw

materialswhichcannoteasilybeimportedfromabroad,andfor

whichthenativeagriculturepossessesanaturalmonopoly;the

nativeagriculturethereforewouldthushaveobtainedafargreater

profit。Thedemandforthoseagriculturalproductsforwhichthe

characteroftheFrenchsoilisspeciallyadapted,wouldbemuch

moreconsiderableunderthisfreeinterchangethanthatproduced

artificiallybyrestriction。Oneagriculturistwouldnothavelost

whatanothergained;thewholeagricultureofthecountrywould

havegained,butstillmorethemanufacturingindustry。Through

restriction,theagriculturalpowerofthecountrythereforeisnot

increased,butlimited;andbesidesthis,thatmanufacturingpower

isannihilatedwhichwouldhavegrownupfromtheaugmentationof

theinternalagriculture,aswellasfromtheforeignimportation

ofprovisionsandrawmaterials。Allthathasbeenattainedthrough

therestrictionisanincreaseofpricesinfavourofthe

agriculturistsofonedistrictattheexpenseoftheagriculturists

ofanotherdistrict,butaboveall,attheexpenseofthetotal

productiveforceofthecountry。

Thedisadvantagesofsuchrestrictionsontheinterchangeof

productsarestillmoreclearlybroughttolightinthecaseof

EnglandthaninthatofFrance。Throughthecornlaws,ondoubt,a

quantityofunfertilelandisbroughtundercultivation;butitis

aquestionwhethertheselandswouldnothavebeenbroughtunder

cultivationwithoutthem。Themorewool,timber,cattle,andcorn

thatEnglandwouldhaveimported,themoremanufacturedgoodswould

shehavesold,thegreaternumberofworkmenwouldhavebeen

enabledtoliveinEngland,thehigherwouldtheprosperityofthe

workingclasseshaverisen。Englandwouldprobablyhavedoubledthe

numberofherworkmen。Everysingleworkmanwouldhavelived

better,wouldhavebeenbetterabletocultivateagardenforhis

pleasureandfortheproductionofusefulvegetables,andwould

havesupportedhimselfandhisfamilymuchbetter。Itisevident

thatsuchalargeaugmentationoftheworkingpopulation,aswell

asofitsprosperityandoftheamountofwhatitconsumed,would

haveproducedanenormousdemandforthoseproductsforwhichthe

islandpossessesanaturalmonopoly,anditismorethanprobable

thattherebydoubleandthreetimesasmuchlandcouldhavebeen

broughtintocultivationthanbyunnaturalrestrictions。Theproof

ofthismaybeseeninthevicinityofeverylargetown。However

largethemassofproductsmaybewhichisbroughtintothistown

fromdistantdistrictsformilesaroundit,onecannotdiscovera

singletractoflanduncultivated,howevermuchthatlandmayhave

beenneglectedbynature。Ifyouforbidtheimportationintosuch

atownofcornfromdistantdistricts,youtherebymerelyeffecta

diminutionofitspopulation,ofitsmanufacturingindustry,and

itsprosperity,andcompelthefarmerwholivesnearthetownto

devotehimselftolessprofitableculture。

Itwillbeperceivedthatthusfarwearequiteinaccordwith

theprevailingtheory。Withregardtotheinterchangeofraw

products,theschoolisperfectlycorrectinsupposingthatthe

mostextensivelibertyofcommerceis,underallcircumstances,

mostadvantageoustotheindividualaswellastotheentireState。

Onecan,indeed,augmentthisproductionbyrestrictions;butthe

advantageobtainedtherebyismerelyapparent。Weonlythereby

divert,astheschoolsays,capitalandlabourintoanotherand

lessusefulchannel。Butthemanufacturingproductivepower,onthe

contrary,isgovernedbyotherlaws,whichhave,unfortunately,

entirelyescapedtheobservationoftheschool。

Ifrestrictionontheimportationofrawproductshinder(aswe

haveseen)theutilisationofthenaturalresourcesandpowersof

aState,restrictionsontheimportationofmanufacturedgoods,on

thecontrary,callintolifeandactivity(inthecaseofa

populouscountryalreadyfaradvancedinagricultureand

civilisation)amassofnaturalpowers;indeed,withoutdoubt,the

greaterhalfofallnaturalpowers,whichinthemerely

agriculturalStatelieidleanddeadforever。If,ontheonehand,

restrictionsontheimportationofrawproductsareahindranceto

thedevelopmentnotonlyofthemanufacturing,butalsoofthe

agriculturalproductive,powersofaState,ontheotherhand,an

internalmanufacturingproductivepowerproducedbyrestrictionson

theimportationofforeignmanufactures,stimulatesthewhole

agriculturalproductivepowersofaStatetoadegreewhichthe

mostflourishingforeigntradeisneverabletodo。Ifthe

importationofrawproductsmakestheforeigncountrydependenton

usandtakesfromitthemeansofmanufacturingforitself,soin

likemanner,bytheimportationofforeignmanufactures,arewe

rendereddependentontheforeigncountry,andthemeansaretaken

fromusofmanufacturingforourselves。Iftheimportationof

productsandrawmaterialswithdrawsfromtheforeigncountrythe

materialfortheemploymentandsupportofitspopulationand

divertsittoournation,sodoestheimportationofmanufactured

fabricstakefromustheopportunityofincreasingourown

populationandofprovidingitwithemployment。Iftheimportation

ofnaturalproductsandrawmaterialsincreasestheinfluenceof

ournationontheaffairsoftheworldandgivesusthemeansof

carryingoncommercewithallothernationsandcountries,soby

theimportationofmanufacturedfabricsarewechainedtothemost

advancedmanufacturingnation,whichcanruleoverusalmostasit

pleases,asEnglandrulesoverPortugal。Inshort,historyand

statisticsalikeprovethecorrectnessofthedictumexpressedby

theministersofGeorgeI:thatnationsarericherandmore

powerfulthemoretheyexportmanufacturedgoods,andimportthe

meansofsubsistenceandrawmaterials。Infact,itmaybeproved

thatentirenationshavebeenruinedmerelybecausetheyhave

exportedonlymeansofsubsistenceandrawmaterials,andhave

importedonlymanufacturedgoods。Montesquieu,(1*)whounderstood

betterthananyoneeitherbeforeorafterhimhowtolearnfrom

Historythelessonswhichsheimpartstothelegislatorand

politician,haswellperceivedthis,althoughitwasimpossiblefor

himinhistimes,whenpoliticaleconomywasasyetbutlittle

studied,clearlytounfoldthecausesofit。Incontradictionto

thegroundlesssystemofthephysiocraticschool,hemaintained

thatPolandwouldbemoreprosperousifshegaveupaltogether

foreigncommerce,i。e。ifsheestablishedamanufacturingpowerof

herown,andworkedupandconsumedherownrawmaterialsandmeans

ofsubsistence。Onlybythedevelopmentofaninternal

manufacturingpower,byfree,populous,andindustriouscities,

couldPolandobtainastronginternalorganisation,national

industry,liberty,andwealth;onlythuscouldshemaintainher

independenceandpoliticalsuperiorityoverlesscultivated

neighbours。Insteadofforeignmanufacturedgoodssheshouldhave

introduced(asEnglanddidatonetime,whenshewasonthesame

footingasregardsculturewithPoland)foreignmanufacturersand

foreignmanufacturingcapital。Heraristocracy,however,preferred

toexportthepaltryfruitsofserflabourtoforeignmarkets,and

toobtaininreturnthecheapandfinegoodsmadebyforeign

countries。Theirsuccessorsnowmayanswerthequestion:whetherit

isadvisableforanationtobuythefabricsofaforeigncountry

solongasitsownnativemanufacturesarenotyetsufficiently

strengthenedtobeabletocompeteinpricesandqualitywiththe

foreigner。Thearistocracyofothercountriesmaybearherfatein

mindwhenevertheyareinstigatedbyfeudalinclinations;theymay

thencastaglanceattheEnglisharistocracyinordertoinform

themselvesastowhatisthevaluetothegreatlandedproprietors

ofastrengthenedmanufacturingpower,offreemunicipal

institutions,andofwealthytowns。

Withouthereenteringonaninquirywhetheritwouldhavebeen

possiblefortheelectivekingsofPoland,underthecircumstances

underwhichtheywereplaced,tointroducesuchacommercialsystem

asthehereditarykingsofEnglandhavegraduallydevelopedand

established,letusimaginethatithadbeendonebythem:canwe

notperceivewhatrichfruitssuchasystemwouldhaveyieldedto

thePolishnation?Bytheaidoflargeandindustrioustowns,the

crownwouldhavebeenrenderedhereditary,thenobilitywouldhave

beenobligedtomakeitconvenienttotakepartinlegislationin

aHouseofPeers,andtoemancipatetheirserfs;agriculturewould

havedevelopeditself,asithasdevelopeditselfinEngland;the

Polishnobilitywouldnowberichandrespected;thePolishnation

would,evenifnotsorespectedandinfluentialintheaffairsof

theworldastheEnglishnationis,wouldhavelongagobecomeso

civilisedandpowerfulastoextenditsinfluenceovertheless

cultivatedEast。Withoutamanufacturingpowershehasbecome

ruinedandpartitioned,andwereshenotsoalreadyshemusthave

becomeso。Ofitsownaccordandspontaneouslynomanufacturing

powerwasdevelopedinher;itcouldnotbeso,becauseitsefforts

wouldhavebeenalwaysfrustratedbyfurtheradvancednations。

Withoutasystemofprotection,andunderasystemoffreetrade

withfurtheradvancednations,evenifPolandhadretainedher

independenceuptothepresenttime,shecouldneverhavecarried

onanythingmorethanacrippledagriculture;shecouldneverhave

becomerich,powerful,andoutwardlyinfluential。

Bythecircumstancethatsomanynaturalresourcesandnatural

powersareconvertedbythemanufacturingpowerintoproductive

capitalisthefactchieflytobeaccountedfor,thatprotective

regulationsactsopowerfullyontheaugmentationofnational

wealth。Thisprosperityisnotafalseappearance,liketheeffects

ofrestrictionsonthetradeinmerenaturalproducts,itisa

reality。Theyarenaturalpowerswhichareotherwisequitedead——

naturalresourceswhichareotherwisequitevalueless,whichan

agriculturalnationcallstolifeandrendersvaluableby

establishingamanufacturingpowerofitsown。

Itisanoldobservation,thatthehumanrace,likethevarious

breedsofanimals,isimprovedmentallyandbodilybycrossings;

thatman,ifafewfamiliesalwaysintermarryamongstoneanother,

justastheplantiftheseedisalwayssowninthesamesoil,

graduallydegenerates。Weseemobligedtoattributetothislawof

naturethecircumstancethatamongmanywildorhalf-wildtribesin

AfricaandAsia,whosenumbersarelimited,themenchoosetheir

wivesfromforeigntribes。Thefactwhichexperienceshows,that

theoligarchiesofsmallmunicipalrepublics,whocontinually

intermarryamongthemselves,graduallydieoutorvisibly

degenerate,appearssimilarlyattributabletosuchanaturallaw。

Itisundeniablethatthemixingoftwoquitedifferentraces

results,almostwithoutexception,inapowerfulandfinefuture

progeny;andthisobservationextendstothemixingofthewhite

racewiththeblackinthethirdandthefourthgeneration。This

observationseemstoconfirmmorethananyotherthingthefact,

thatthosenationswhichhaveemanatedfromacrossingofrace

frequentlyrepeatedandcomprisingthewholenation,havesurpassed

allothernationsinpowerandenergyofthemindandcharacter,in

intelligence,bodilystrength,andpersonalbeauty。(2*)

Wethinkwemayconcludefromthisthatmenneednot

necessarilybesuchdull,clumsy,andunintellectualbeingsaswe

perceivethemtobewhenoccupiedincrippledagricultureinsmall

villages,whereafewfamilieshaveforthousandsofyears

intermarriedonlywithoneanother;whereforcenturiesithas

occurredtonoonetomakeuseofanimplementofanewform,orto

adoptanewmethodofculture,toalterthestyleofasingle

articleofclothing,ortoadoptanewidea;wherethegreatestart

consisted,notinexertingone\'sbodilyandmentalpowersinorder

toobtainasmuchenjoymentaspossible,buttodispensewithas

muchofitaspossible。

Thisconditionofthingsisentirelychanged(andforthebest

purposesoftheimprovementofraceofawholenation)by

establishingamanufacturingpower。Whilealargeportionofthe

increaseoftheagriculturalpopulationgoesoverintothe

manufacturingcommunity,whiletheagriculturalpopulationof

variousdistrictsbecomesmixedbymarriagesbetweenoneanother

andwiththemanufacturingpopulation,themental,moral,and

physicalstagnationofthepopulationisbrokenup。Theintercourse

whichmanufacturesandthecommercebetweenvariousnationsand

districtswhichisbaseduponthembringabout,bringsnewblood

intothewholenationaswellasintoseparatecommunitiesand

families。

Thedevelopmentofthemanufacturingpowerhasnoless

importantaninfluenceontheimprovementofthebreedsofcattle。

Everywhere,wherewoollenmanufactureshavebeenestablished,the

raceofsheephasquicklybeenimproved。Owingtoagreaterdemand

forgoodmeat,whichanumerousmanufacturingpopulationcreates,

theagriculturistwillendeavourtointroducebetterbreedsof

cattle。Thegreaterdemandfor\'horsesofluxury\'isfollowedby

theimprovementofthebreedsofhorses。Weshallthennolonger

seethosewretchedprimitivebreedsofcattle,horses,andsheep,

whichhavingresultedfromthecrippledstateofagricultureand

everywherefromneglectofcrossingofbreeds,exhibitaside

spectacleworthyoftheirclumsyowners。

Howmuchdotheproductivepowersofthenationsalreadyoweto

theimportationofforeignbreedsofanimalsandtotheimprovement

ofthenativebreeds;andhowmuchhasyettobedoneinthis

respect!AllthesilkwormsofEuropearederivedfromafeweggs,

which(underConstantine)werebroughttoConstantinopleinhollow

sticks,byGreekmonksfromChina,wheretheirexportationwas

strictlyprohibited。Franceisindebtedtotheimportationofthe

Thibetgoatforabeautifulproductofherindustry。Itisvery

muchtoberegretted,thathithertothebreedingandimprovingof

animalshasbeenchieflycarriedoninordertosatisfythe

requirementsofluxury,andnotinordertopromotethewelfareof

thelargemasses。Thedescriptionsoftravellersshowthatinsome

countriesofAsiaaraceofcattlehasbeenseenwhichcombines

considerabledraughtpowerwithgreatswiftnessofpace,sothat

theycanbeusedwithalmostthesameadvantageashorsesfor

ridinganddriving。Whatimmenseadvantageswouldsuchabreedof

cattleconferonthesmalleragriculturistsofEurope!Whatan

increaseinmeansofsubsistence,productivepower,and

convenience,wouldtheworkingclassestherebyobtain!Butevenfar

morethanbyimprovedbreeds,andimportationfromonecountryinto

anotherofvariousanimals,hastheproductivepowerofthehuman

racebeenincreasedbytheimprovementandimportationoftreesand

plants。Thisisatonceevident,ifwecomparetheoriginalplants

astheyhavesprungfromthebosomofnature,withtheirimproved

species。Howlittledotheprimitiveplantsofthevariousspecies

ofcornandoffruittrees,ofediblevegetablesandoftheolive,

resembleinformandutilitytheirimprovedoffspring!Whatmasses

ofmeansofnourishment,ofenjoyment,andcomfort,andwhat

opportunitiesfortheusefulapplicationofhumanpowers,havebeen

derivedfromthem!Thepotato,thebeet-root,thecultivationof

rootcropsforcattle,togetherwiththeimprovedsystemsof

manuringandimprovedagriculturalmachines,haveincreased

ten-foldthereturnsofagriculture,asitisatpresentcarriedon

bytheAsiatictribes。

Sciencehasalreadydonemuchwithregardtothediscoveryof

newplantsandtheimprovementofthem;butgovernmentshavenot

yetdevotedtothisimportantobjectsomuchattentionasthey

oughttohavedone,intheinterestsofeconomy。Quiterecently,

speciesofgrassaresaidtohavebeendiscoveredinthesavannas

ofNorthAmerica,whichfromthepoorestsoilyieldahigher

producethananyfodderplants,whichareasyetknowntous,do

fromtherichestsoil。Itisveryprobablethatinthewildregions

ofAmerica,Asia,Africa,andAustralia,aquantityofplantsstill

vegetateuselessly,thetransplantationandimprovementofwhich

mightinfinitelyaugmenttheprosperityoftheinhabitantsof

temperateclimates。

Itisclearthatmostoftheimprovementsandtransportations

ofanimalsandvegetables,mostofthenewdiscoverieswhichare

madewithrespecttothem,aswellasallotherprogress,

inventions,anddiscoveries,arechieflycalculatedtobenefitthe

countriesofthetemperatezone,andofthosemostofall,the

manufacturingcountries。

NOTES:

1。EspritdesLois,Livrexx。chap。xxiii。

2。AccordingtoChardin,theGuebres,anunmixedtribeoftheold

Persians,areanugly,deformed,andclumsyrace,likeallnations

ofMongoldescent,whilethePersiannobility,whichforcenturies

hasintermarriedwithGeorgianandCircassianwomen,is

distinguishedforbeautyandstrength。DrPritchardremarksthat

theunmixedCeltsoftheScottishhighlandsarefarbehindthe

ScottishLowlanders(descendantsofSaxonsandCelts)inheight,

bodilypower,andfinefigure。Pallasmakessimilarobservations

respectingthedescendantsoftheRussiansandTartarsin

comparisonwiththeunmixedtribestowhichtheyarerelated。Azara

affirmsthatthedescendantsoftheSpaniardsandthenativesof

Paraguayareamuchmorehandsomeandpowerfulraceofmenthan

theirancestorsonbothsides。Theadvantagesofthecrossingof

racearenotonlyapparentinthemixingofdifferentnations,but

alsointhemixingofdifferentfamilystocksinoneandthesame

nation。ThustheCreolenegroesfarsurpassthosenegroeswhohave

sprungfromunmixedtribes,andwhohavecomedirectfromAfricato

America,inmentalgiftsaswellasinbodilypower。The

Caribbeans,theonlyIndianracewhichchoosesregularlyitswomen

Fromneighbouringtribes,areineveryrespectsuperiortoall

otherAmericantribes。Ifthisisalawofnature,theriseand

progresswhichthecitiesoftheMiddleAgesdisplayedshortly

aftertheirfoundation,aswellastheenergyandfinebodily

appearanceoftheAmericanpeople,arehencepartlyexplained。

Chapter19

TheManufacturingPowerandtheInstrumentalPowers(Material

Capital)OftheNation

Thenationderivesitsproductivepowerfromthementaland

physicalpowersoftheindividuals;fromtheirsocial,municipal,

andpoliticalconditionsandinstitutions;fromthenatural

resourcesplacedatitsdisposal,orfromtheinstrumentsit

possessesasthematerialproductsofformermentalandbodily

exertions(material,agricultural,manufacturing,andcommercial

capital)。Inthelasttwochapterswehavedealtwiththeinfluence

ofmanufacturesonthethreefirst-namedsourcesofthenational

productivepowers;thepresentandthefollowingchapterare

devotedtothedemonstrationofitsinfluenceontheonelast

named。

Thatwhichweunderstandbytheterm\'instrumentalpowers\'is

called\'capital\'bytheschool。Itmattersbutlittlebywhatword

anobjectissignified,butitmattersverymuch(especiallywith

regardtoscientificinvestigations)thatthewordselectedshould

alwaysindicateoneandthesameobject,andnevermoreorless。As

often,therefore,asdifferentbranchesofamatterarediscussed,

thenecessityforadistinctionarises。Theschoolnowunderstands

bytheterm\'capital\'notmerelythematerial,butalsoallmental

andsocialmeansofandaidstoproduction。Itclearlyought,

therefore,tospecifywhereveritspeaksofcapital,whetherthe

materialcapital,thematerialinstrumentsofproduction,orthe

mentalcapital,themoralandphysicalpowerswhichareinherentin

individuals,orwhichindividualsderivefromsocial,municipal,

andpoliticalconditions,aremeant。Theomissionofthis

distinction,whereitoughttobedrawn,mustnecessarilyleadto

falsereasoning,orelseservetoconcealfalsereasoning。

Meanwhile,however,asitisnotsomuchourbusinesstofounda

newnomenclatureastoexposetheerrorscommittedunderthecover

ofaninexactandinadequatenomenclature,wewilladopttheterm

\'capital,\'butdistinguishbetweenmentalandmaterialcapital,

betweenmaterial,agricultural,manufacturing,andcommercial

capital,betweenprivateandnationalcapital。

AdamSmith(bymeansofthecommonexpression,capital)urges

thefollowingargumentagainsttheprotectivecommercialpolicy

whichisadoptedtothepresentdaybyallhisfollowers:\'A

countrycanindeedbymeansofsuch(protective)regulations

produceaspecialdescriptionofmanufacturessoonerthanwithout

them;andthisspecialkindofmanufactureswillbeabletoyield

aftersometimeascheaporstillcheaperproductionsthanthe

foreigncountry。Butalthoughinthismannerwecansucceedin

directingnationalindustrysoonerintothosechannelsintowhich

itwouldlaterhaveflowedofitsownaccord,itdoesnotinthe

leastfollowthatthetotalamountofindustryoroftheincomesof

thecommunitycanbeincreasedbymeansofsuchmeasures。The

industryofthecommunitycanonlybeaugmentedinproportionas

itscapitalincreases,andthecapitalofthecommunitycanonly

increaseinaccordancewiththesavingswhichitgraduallymakes

fromitsincome。Now,theimmediateeffectofthesemeasuresisto

decreasetheincomeofthecommunity。Butitiscertainthatthat

whichdecreasesthatincomecannotincreasethecapitalmore

quicklythanitwouldhavebeenincreasedbyitself,ifit,aswell

asindustry,hadbeenleftfree。\'(1*)

Asaproofofthisargument,thefounderoftheschooladduces

thewell-knownexample,refutedbyusinthepreviouschapter,how

foolishitwouldbetoplantthevineinScotland。

Inthesamechapterhestates,theannualincomeofthe

communityisnothingelsebutthevalueinexchangeofthose

objectswhichthenationalindustryproducesannually。

Intheabove-namedargumentliesthechiefproofoftheschool

againsttheprotectivecommercialpolicy。Itadmitsthatby

measuresofprotectionmanufactoriescanbeestablishedandenabled

toproducemanufacturedgoodsascheaporevencheaperthanthey

canbeobtainedfromabroad;butitmaintainsthattheimmediate

effectofthesemeasuresistodecreasetheincomeofthecommunity

(thevalueinexchangeofthosethingswhichthenationalindustry

producesannually)。Ittherebyweakensitspowerofacquiring

capital,forcapitalisformedbythesavingswhichthenation

makesoutofitsannualincome;thetotalofthecapital,however,

determinesthetotalofthenationalindustry,andthelattercan

onlyincreaseinproportiontotheformer。Itthereforeweakensits

industrybymeansofthosemeasures——byproducinganindustry

which,inthenatureofthings,iftheyhadbeenlefttotheirown

freecoursewouldhaveoriginatedofitsownaccord。

Itisfirstlytoberemarkedinoppositiontothisreasoning,

thatAdamSmithhasmerelytakenthewordcapitalinthatsensein

whichitisnecessarilytakenbyrentiersormerchantsintheir

book-keepingandtheirbalance-sheets,namely,asthegrandtotal

oftheirvaluesofexchangeincontradistinctiontotheincome

accruingtherefrom。

Hehasforgottenthathehimselfincludes(inhisdefinitionof

capital)thementalandbodilyabilitiesoftheproducersunder

thisterm。

Hewronglymaintainsthattherevenuesofthenationare

dependentonlyonthesumofitsmaterialcapital。Hisownwork,on

thecontrarycontainsathousandproofsthattheserevenuesare

chieflyconditionalonthesumofitsmentalandbodilypowers,and

onthedegreetowhichtheyareperfected,insocialandpolitical

respects(especiallybymeansofmoreperfectdivisionoflabour

andconfederationofthenationalproductivepowers),andthat

althoughmeasuresofprotectionrequiresacrificesofmaterial

goodsforatime,thesesacrificesaremadegoodahundred-foldin

powers,intheabilitytoacquirevaluesofexchange,andare

consequentlymerelyreproductiveoutlaybythenation。

Hehasforgottenthattheabilityofthewholenationto

increasethesumofitsmaterialcapitalconsistsmainlyinthe

possibilityofconvertingunusednaturalpowersintomaterial

capital,intovaluableandincome-producinginstruments,andthat

inthecaseofthemerelyagriculturalnationamassofnatural

powersliesidleordeadwhichcanbequickenedintoactivityonly

bymanufactures。Hehasnotconsideredtheinfluenceof

manufacturesontheinternalandexternalcommerce,onthe

civilisationandpowerofthenation,andonthemaintenanceofits

independence,aswellasonthecapabilityarisingfromtheseof

gainingmaterialwealth。

Hehase。g。nottakenintoconsiderationwhatamassofcapital

theEnglishhaveobtainedbymeansofcolonisation(Martin

estimatestheamountofthisatmorethantwoandahalfmilliards

ofpoundssterling)。

He,whoneverthelesselsewhereprovessoclearlythatthe

capitalemployedinintermediatecommerceisnottoberegardedas

belongingtoanygivennation,solongasitisnotequally

embodiedinthatnation\'sland,hasherenotdulyconsideredthat

thenationalisationofsuchcapitalismosteffectuallyrealisedby

favouringthenation\'sinlandmanufactures。

Hehasnottakenintoaccount,thatbythepolicyoffavouring

nativemanufactureamassofforeigncapital,mentalaswellas

material,isattractedintothecountry。

Hefalselymaintainsthatthesemanufactureshaveoriginatedin

thenaturalcourseofthingsandoftheirownaccord;

notwithstandingthatineverynationthepoliticalpowerinterferes

togivetothisso-callednaturalcourseanartificialdirection

forthenation\'sownspecialadvantage。

Hehasillustratedhisargument,foundedonanambiguous

expressionandconsequentlyfundamentallywrong,byafundamentally

wrongexample,inseekingtoprovethatbecauseitwouldbefoolish

toproducewineinScotlandbyartificialmethods,thereforeit

wouldbefoolishtoestablishmanufacturesbyartificialmethods。

Hereducestheprocessoftheformationofcapitalinthe

nationtotheoperationofaprivaterentier,whoseincomeis

determinedbythevalueofhismaterialcapital,andwhocanonly

increasehisincomebysavingswhichheagainturnsintocapital。

Hedoesnotconsiderthatthistheoryofsavings,whichinthe

merchant\'sofficeisquitecorrect,iffollowedbyawholenation

mustleadtopoverty,barbarism,powerlessness,anddecayof

nationalprogress。Whereeveryonesavesandeconomisesasmuchas

hepossiblycan,nomotivecanexistforproduction。Whereeveryone

merelytakesthoughtfortheaccumulationofvaluesofexchange,

thementalpowerrequiredforproductionvanishes。Anation

consistingofsuchinsanemiserswouldgiveupthedefenceofthe

nationfromfearoftheexpensesofwar,andwouldonlylearnthe

truthafterallitspropertyhadbeensacrificedtoforeign

extortion,thatthewealthofnationsistobeattainedinamanner

differenttothatoftheprivaterentier。

Theprivaterentierhimself,asthefatherofafamily,must

followatotallydifferenttheorytotheshopkeepertheoryofthe

materialvaluesofexchangewhichisheresetup。Hemustatleast

expendontheeducationofhisheirsasmuchvalueofexchangeas

willenablethemtoadministerthepropertywhichissomedayto

falltotheirlot。

Thebuildingupofthematerialnationalcapitaltakesplacein

quiteanothermannerthanbymeresavingasinthecaseofthe

rentier,namely,inthesamemannerasthebuildingupofthe

productivepowers,chieflybymeansofthereciprocalaction

betweenthementalandmaterialnationalcapital,andbetweenthe

agricultural,manufacturing,andcommercialcapital。

Theaugmentationofthenationalmaterialcapitalisdependent

ontheaugmentationofthenationalmentalcapital,andvicevers?

Theformationofthematerialagriculturalcapitalisdependent

ontheformationofthematerialmanufacturingcapital,andvice

vers?

Thematerialcommercialcapitalactseverywhereasan

intermediary,helpingandcompensatingbetweenboth。

Intheuncivilisedstate,inthestateofthehunterandthe

fisher,thepowersofnatureyieldalmosteverything,capitalis

almostnil。Foreigncommerceincreasesthelatter,butalsoinso

doing(throughfire-arms,powder,lead)totallydestroysthe

productivenessoftheformer。Thetheoryofsavingscannotprofit

thehunter;hemustberuinedorbecomeashepherd。

Inthepastoralstatethematerialcapitalincreasesquickly,

butonlysofarasthepowersofnatureaffordspontaneously

nourishmenttothecattle。Theincreaseofpopulation,however,

followscloselyupontheincreaseofflocksandherdsandofthe

meansofsubsistence。Ontheonehand,theflocksandherdsaswell

aspasturesbecomedividedintosmallershares;ontheotherhand,

foreigncommerceoffersinducementstoconsumption。Itwouldbein

vaintopreachtothepastoralnationthetheoryofsavings;it

mustsinkintopovertyorpassoverintotheagriculturalState。

Totheagriculturalnationisopenanimmense,butatthesame

timelimited,fieldforenrichingitselfbyutilisingthedormant

powersofnature。

Theagriculturistforhimselfalonecansaveprovisions,

improvehisfields,increasehiscattle;buttheincreaseofthe

meansofsubsistencealwaysfollowstheincreaseofpopulation。The

materialcapital(namely,cultivatedlandandcattle),in

proportionastheformerbecomesmorefertileandthelatter

increase,becomesdividedamongalargernumberofpersons。

Inasmuch,however,asthesurfaceofthelandcannotbeincreased

byindustry,andthelandcannotbeutiliseduptothemeasureof

itsnaturalcapacity,forwantofmeansoftransport,which(aswe

showedintheprecedingchapter)mustremainimperfectinsucha

stateofthingsowingtolackofintercourse;andasmoreoverthe

merelyagriculturalnationismostlyinwantofthoseinstruments,

intelligence,motivestoexertion,andalsoofthatenergyand

socialdevelopmentwhichareimpartedtothenationthrough

manufacturesandthecommercewhichoriginatesfromthem,themere

agriculturalpopulationsoonreachesapointinwhichtheincrease

ofmaterialagriculturalcapitalcannolongerkeeppacewiththe

increaseofpopulation,andwhereconsequentlyindividualpoverty

increasesmoreandmore,notwithstandingthatthetotalcapitalof

thenationiscontinuallyincreasing。

Insuchaconditionthemostimportantproductofthenation

consistsofmen,who,astheycannotfindsufficientsupportin

theirowncountry,emigratetoothercountries。Itcanbebut

littleconsolationtosuchacountry,thattheschoolregardsman

asanaccumulatedcapital;fortheexportationofmendoesnot

occasionreturnfreights,but,onthecontrary,causesthe

unproductiveexportofconsiderableamountsofmaterialvalues(in

theshapeofimplements,utensils,money,&c。)。

Itisclearthatinsuchastateofthings,wherethenational

divisionoflabourisnotproperlydeveloped,neitherindustrynor

economycanbringabouttheaugmentationofthematerialcapital

(materialenrichmentofindividuals)。

Theagriculturalcountryis,ofcourse,rarelyquitewithout

anyforeigncommerce,andforeigncommerce,asfarasitextends,

alsosuppliestheplaceofinternalmanufactureswithregardtothe

augmentationofcapital,inasmuchasitplacesthemanufacturerof

theforeigncountryincommercialrelationwiththeagriculturist

ofthehomecountry。This,however,takesplaceonlypartiallyand

veryimperfectly;firstly,becausethiscommerceextendsmerelyto

specialstapleproducts,andchieflyonlytothosedistrictswhich

aresituatedonthesea-coastandonnavigablerivers;and

secondly,becauseitisinanycasebutaveryirregularone,and

isliabletobefrequentlyinterruptedbywars,fluctuationsin

tradeandchangesincommerciallegislation,byspeciallyrich

harvests,andbyforeignimportations。

Theaugmentationofthematerialagriculturalcapitalcanonly

takeplaceonalargescale,withregularityandcontinuously,if

acompletelydevelopedmanufacturingpowerisestablishedinthe

midstoftheagriculturists。

Byfarthegreatestportionofthematerialcapitalofanation

isboundtoitslandandsoil。Ineverynationthevalueoflanded

property,ofdwellinghousesinruraldistrictsandintowns,of

workshops,manufactories,waterworks,mines,&c。amountstofrom

two-thirdstonine-tenthsoftheentirepropertyofthenation。It

mustthereforebeacceptedasarule,thatallthatincreasesor

decreasesthevalueofthefixedproperty,increasesordecreases

thetotalofthematerialcapitalofthenation。Now,itisevident

thatthecapitalvalueoflandofequalnaturalfertilityis

incomparablylargerintheproximityofasmalltownthaninremote

districts;thatthisvalueisincomparablylargerstillinthe

neighbourhoodofalargetownthaninthatofasmallone;andthat

inmanufacturingnationsthesevaluesarebeyondallcomparison

greaterthaninmereagriculturalnations。Wemayobserve

(inversely)thatthevalueofthedwellinghousesandmanufacturing

buildingsintowns,andthatofbuildingland,risesorfalls(as

arule)inthesameratioinwhichthecommercialintercourseof

thetownwiththeagriculturistsisextendedorrestricted,orin

whichtheprosperityoftheseagriculturistsprogressesorrecedes。

Fromthisitisevidentthattheaugmentationoftheagricultural

capitalisdependentontheaugmentationofthemanufacturing

capital;and(inversely)thelatterontheformer。(2*)

Thisreciprocalactionis,however,inthecaseofthechange

fromtheagriculturalstateintothemanufacturingstatemuch

strongeronthepartofmanufacturethanonthepartof

agriculture。Forastheincreaseofcapitalwhichresultsfromthe

changefromtheconditionofthemerehuntertothepastoral

conditionischieflyeffectedbytherapidincreaseofflocksand

herds,astheincreaseofcapitalresultingfromthechangefrom

thepastoralconditionintotheagriculturalconditionischiefly

effectedbytherapidincreaseincultivatedlandandinsurplus

produce,so,intheeventofachangefromtheagricultural

conditionintothemanufacturingcondition,istheaugmentationof

thematerialcapitalofthenationchieflyeffectedbythosevalues

andpowerswhicharedevotedtotheestablishmentofmanufactures,

becausetherebyamassofformerlyunutilisednaturalandmental

powersareconvertedintomentalandmaterialcapital。Farfrom

hinderingthesavingofmaterialcapital,theestablishmentof

manufacturesisthefirstthingwhichaffordstothenationthe

meansofemployingitsagriculturalsavingsinaneconomical

manner,anditisthefirstmeansbywhichthenationcanbe

incitedtoagriculturaleconomy。

InthelegislativebodiesofNorthAmericaithasoftenbeen

mentionedthatcornthererotsintheearfromwantofsale,

becauseitsvaluewillnotpaytheexpenseofharvestingit。In

Hungaryitisassertedthattheagriculturistisalmostchokedwith

excessofproduce,whilemanufacturedgoodsarethreetofourtimes

dearertherethaninEngland。Germanyevencanremembersuchtimes。

InagriculturalStates,therefore,allsurplusagriculturalproduce

isnotmaterialcapital。Bymeansofmanufacturesitfirstbecomes

commercialcapitalbybeingwarehoused,andthenbybeingsoldto

themanufacturersitisturnedintomanufacturingcapital。Whatmay

beunutilisedstockinthehandoftheagriculturist,becomes

productivecapitalinthehandofthemanufacturer,andvicevers?

Productionrendersconsumptionpossible,andthedesireto

consumeincitestoproduction。Themereagriculturalnationisin

itsconsumptiondependentonforeignconditions,andiftheseare

notfavourabletoit,thatproductiondiesoutwhichwouldhave

ariseninconsequenceofthedesiretoconsume。Butinthatnation

whichcombinesmanufactureswithagricultureinitsterritory,the

reciprocalinducementcontinuallyexists,andtherefore,also,

therewillbecontinuousincreaseofproductionandwithit

augmentationofcapitalonbothsides。

Astheagricultural-manufacturingnationis(forthereasons

whichwehavealreadygiven)alwaysincomparablyricherinmaterial

capitalthanthemereagriculturalnation(whichisevidentata

glance),sointheformertherateofinterestisalwaysmuch

lower,andlargercapitalandmorefavourableconditionsareatthe

disposalofmenofenterprise,thaninthepurelyagricultural

nation。Itfollowsthattheformercanalwaysvictoriouslycompete

withthenewlyformedmanufactoriesintheagriculturalnation;

thattheagriculturalnationremainscontinuallyindebttothe

manufacturingnation,andthatinthemarketsoftheformer

continualfluctuationsinthepricesofproduceandmanufactured

goodsandinthevalueofmoneytakeplace,wherebythe

accumulationofmaterialwealthinthepurelyagriculturalnation

isnolessendangeredthanitsmoralityanditshabitsofeconomy。

Theschooldistinguishesfixedcapitalfromcirculating

capital,andclassesundertheformerinamostremarkablemanner

amultitudeofthingswhichareincirculationwithoutmakingany

practicalapplicationwhateverofthisdistinction。Theonlycase

inwhichsuchadistinctioncanbeofvalue,itpassesbywithout

notice。Thematerialaswellasthementalcapitalis(namely)

boundinagreatmeasuretoagriculture,tomanufactures,to

commerce,ortospecialbranchesofeither——nayoften,indeed,to

speciallocalities。Fruittrees,whencutdown,areclearlynotof

thesamevaluetothemanufacturer(ifheusesthemforwoodwork)

astheyaretotheagriculturist(ifheusesthemforthe

productionoffruit)。Sheep,if,ashasalreadyfrequentlyhappened

inGermanyandNorthAmerica,theyhavetobeslaughteredin

masses,haveevidentlynotthevaluewhichtheywouldpossesswhen

usedfortheproductionofwool。Vineyardshave(assuch)avalue

which,ifusedasarablefields,theywouldlose。Ships,ifused

fortimberorforfirewood,haveamuchlowervaluethanwhenthey

serveasmeansoftransport。Whatusecanbemadeofmanufacturing

buildings,water-power,andmachineryifthespinningindustryis

ruined?Inlikemannerindividualslose,asarule,thegreatest

partoftheirproductivepower,consistinginexperience,habits,

andskill,whentheyaredisplaced。Theschoolgivestoallthese

objectsandpropertiesthegeneralnameofcapital,andwould

transplantthem(byvirtueofthisterminology)atitspleasure

fromonefieldofemploymenttoanother。J。B。Saythusadvisesthe

Englishtodiverttheirmanufacturingcapitaltoagriculture。How

thiswonderistobeaccomplishedhehasnotinformedus,andit

hasprobablyremainedasecrettoEnglishstatesmentothepresent

day。Sayhasinthisplaceevidentlyconfoundedprivatecapital

withnationalcapital。Amanufacturerormerchantcanwithdrawhis

capitalfrommanufacturesorfromcommercebysellinghisworksor

hisshipsandbuyinglandedpropertywiththeproceeds。Awhole

nation,however,couldnoteffectthisoperationexceptby

sacrificingalargeportionofitsmaterialandmentalcapital。The

reasonwhytheschoolsodeliberatelyobscuresthingswhichareso

clearisapparentenough。Ifthingsarecalledbytheirproper

names,itiseasilycomprehendedthatthetransferofthe

productivepowersofanationfromonefieldofemploymentto

anotherissubjecttodifficultiesandhazardswhichdonotalways

speakinfavourof\'freetrade,\'butveryofteninfavourof

nationalprotection。

NOTES:

1。WealthofNations,bookIV。chap。ii。

2。Comparethefollowingparagraph,whichappearedintheTimes

during1883:

\'MANUFACTURESANDAGRICULTURE。Thestatisticianofthe

AgriculturalDepartmentoftheUnitedStateshasshowninarecent

reportthatthevalueoffarmlandsdecreasesinexactproportion

astheratioofagriculturetootherindustriesincreases。Thatis,

whereallthelabourisdevotedtoagriculture,thelandisworth

lessthanwhereonlyhalfofthepeoplearefarmlabourers,and

whereonlyaquarterofthemaresoengagedthefarmsandtheir

productsarestillmorevaluable。Itis,infact,provedby

statisticsthatdiversifiedindustriesareofthegreatestvalueto

aState,andthatthepresenceofamanufactorynearafarm

increasesthevalueofthefarmanditscrops。Itisfurther

establishedthat,dividingtheUnitedStatesintofoursectionsor

classes,withreferencetotheratioofagriculturalworkerstothe

wholepopulation,andputtingthoseStateshavinglessthan30per

centofagriculturallabourersinthefirstclass,allhavingover

30andlessthan50inthesecond,thosebetween50and70inthe

third,andthosehaving70ormoreinthefourth,thevalueof

farmsisininverseratiototheagriculturalpopulation;andthat,

whereasinthepurelyagriculturalsection,thefourthclass,the

valueofthefarmsperacreisonly$528c,inthenextclassitis

$1303c,inthethird$2221c,andinthemanufacturingdistricts

$4091c。Thisshowsanenormousadvantageforamixeddistrict。Yet

notonlyisthelandmorevaluable——theproductionperacreis

greater,andthewagespaidtofarmhandslarger。Manufacturesand

variedindustriesthusnotonlybenefitthemanufacturers,butare

ofequalbenefitandadvantagetothefarmersaswell。Thelatter

would,therefore,dowelltoabandontheirprejudiceagainst

factories,whichreallyincreasethevalueoftheirproperty

insteadofdepreciatingit。\'——TR。

Chapter20

TheManufacturingPowerandtheAgriculturalInterest

Ifprotectivedutiesinfavourofhomemanufacturesproved

disadvantageoustotheconsumersofmanufacturedgoodsandserved

onlytoenrichthemanufacturer,thisdisadvantagewouldespecially

befeltbythelandedproprietorandtheagriculturist,themost

numerousandimportantclassofthoseconsumers。Butitcanbe

provedthateventhisclassderivesfargreateradvantagesfromthe

establishmentofmanufactures,thanthemanufacturersthemselves

do;forbymeansofthesemanufacturesademandforgreatervariety

andforlargerquantitiesofagriculturalproductsiscreated,the

valueinexchangeoftheseproductsisraised,theagriculturistis

placedinapositiontoutilisehislandandhispowersoflabour

moreprofitably。Henceemanatesanincreaseofrent,ofprofits,

andwages;andtheaugmentationofrentsandcapitalisfollowedby

anincreaseinthesellingvalueoflandandinthewagesof

labour。

Thesellingvalueoflandedpropertyisnothingelsethan

capitalisedrent;itisdependent,ontheonehand,ontheamount

andthevalueoftherent,but,ontheotherhand,andchiefly,on

thequantitiesofmentalandmaterialcapitalexistinginthe

nation。

Everyindividualandsocialimprovement,especiallyevery

augmentationofproductivepowerinthenation,but,mostofall,

ofthemanufacturingpower,raisestheamountofrents,whileat

thesametimeitlessenstheproportionwhichrentbearstothe

grossproduce。Inanagriculturalnationlittledevelopedand

scantilypeopled,e。g。inPoland,theproportionofrentamountsto

one-halforonethirdthegrossproduce。inawell-developed,

populous,andwealthynation,e。g。England,itonlyamountsto

one-fourthorone-fifthpartofthatproduce。Nevertheless,the

actualworthofthissmallerproportionisdisproportionately

greaterthantheworthofthatlargerproportion-inmoneyvalue

especially,andstillmoreinmanufacturedgoods。Forthefifth

partoftwenty-fivebushels(theaverageproduceofwheatin

England)equalsfivebushels;thethirdpart,however,ofnine

bushels(theaverageproduceofwheatinPoland)amountsonlyto

threebushels;further,thesefivebushelsinEnglandareworthon

anaverage25s。to30s。;whilethesethreebushelsintheinterior

ofPolandareatthemostworth8s。to9s。;andfinally,goodsin

EnglandareatleasttwiceascheapasinmanufacturedPoland:

consequentlytheEnglishlandedproprietorisabletobuyforhis

30s。ofmoney-renttenyardsofcloth,butthePolishlandownerfor

his9s。ofrentcanobtainscarcelytwoyards,fromwhichitis

evidentthattheEnglishlandedproprietorbythefifthpartofthe

grossproduceisasrentierthreetimes,andasconsumerof

manufacturedgoodsfivetimes,betteroffthanthePolishlandowner

isbythethirdpartofhisgrossproduce。Butthatfarmersand

agriculturallabourersalsomustinEngland(especiallyas

consumersofmanufacturedgoods)bedisproportionatelybetteroff

thaninPoland,isshownbythefactthatoutoftheproduceof

twenty-fivebushelsinEnglandtwentybushelsgoforsowing,for

cultivationofthefield,wages,andprofits:halfofwhich(orten

bushels)devotedtothelasttwoitemshaveanaveragevalueof

60s。ortwentyyardsofcloth(at3s。peryard),whilefromthe

produceofninebushelsinPolandonlysixbushelsgoforsowing,

cultivationofthefield,profit,andwages,halfofwhich,or

threebushels,devotedtothelasttwoitems,havemerelyavalue

of10s。to12s。orthreeandahalfyardsofcloth。

Rentisachiefmeansofusefullyemployingmaterialcapital。

Itsprice。therefore,dependsalsoonthequantityofthecapital

existinginthenationandtheproportionofthesupplyofitto

thedemand。Bythesurplusofthecapitalwhichaccumulatesina

manufacturingnationastheresultofitshomeandforeign

commerce,bythelowrateofinterestwhichthereexists,andthe

circumstancethatinamanufacturingandcommercialnationanumber

ofindividualswhohavebecomewealthyarealwaysseekingtoinvest

theirsurpluscapitalinland,thesellingpriceofagivenamount

ofrentoflandisalwaysdisproportionatelyhigherinsucha

nationthaninthemereagriculturalnation。InPolandtherentof

landissoldattenortwentyyears\'purchase;inEnglandatthirty

orfortyyears\'purchase。Intheproportioninwhichtheselling

valueoftherentoflandishigherinthemanufacturingand

commercialnationthanintheagriculturalnation,soalsoisthe

sellingvalueofthelanditselfhigherintheformerthaninthe

latter。Forlandofequalnaturalfertilityineachcountry,the

valueisinEnglandtentotwentytimeshigherthaninPoland。

Thatmanufactureshaveaninfluenceontheamountofrent,and

thereforeonthevalueinexchangeoftheland,isafactwhich

AdamSmithcertainlynoticesattheconclusionoftheninthchapter

ofhisfirstbook,butonlyincidentallyandwithoutbringingthe

vastimportanceofmanufacturesinthisrespectproperlytolight。

Hetheredistinguishesthosecauseswhichinfluencedirectlythe

augmentationofrent(suchastheimprovementofthelanditself,

theincreaseinthenumberandthevalueofthecattlemaintained

uponit)fromthosecauseswhichhaveonlyanindirectinfluenceon

thataugmentation,amongwhichlatterheclassesmanufactures。In

thismannerheplacesthemaincauseoftheaugmentationofthe

rentandofthevalueofland(namely,themanufactures)inthe

backgroundsothatitisscarcelyperceptible;whileheplacesthe

improvementofthelanditselfandtheincreaseofcattle,which

arethemselvesforthemostparttheresultofmanufacturesandof

thecommerceproceedingfromthem,asthechiefcause,oratleast

asanequalcause,ofthataugmentation。

AdamSmithandhisfollowershavenotrecognisedbyanymeans

toitsfullextentthevalueofmanufacturesinthisrespect。

Wehaveremarkedthatinconsequenceofmanufacturesandofthe

commerceconnectedwiththem,thevalueoflandofequalnatural

fertilityinEnglandistentotwentytimesgreaterthaninPoland。

IfwenowcomparethetotalproduceoftheEnglishmanufacturing

productionandoftheEnglishmanufacturingcapitalwiththetotal

produceoftheEnglishagriculturalproductionandoftheEnglish

agriculturalcapital,weshallfindthatthegreatestpartofthe

wealthofthenationshowsitselfinthethusincreasedvalueof

landedproperty。

MacQueen(1*)haspreparedthefollowingestimateofthe

nationalwealthandnationalincomeofEngland:

I。NATIONALCAPITAL。

1。Inagriculture,lands,mines,andfisheries……

2,604mill。

Workingcapitalincattle,implements,stocks,andmoney……

655"

Householdfurnitureandutensilsoftheagriculturists……

52"

3,311"

2。Investedinmanufacturesandcommerce:

Manufactures,andhometradeinmanufactured

goods……178

1/2"

Tradeincolonialgoods……11

"

Foreigntradeinmanufacturedgoods……16

1/2"

206

"

Tothisaddincreasesince1835(inwhichyearthis

estimatewasmade)……12

"

218

mill。

Thenintownbuildingsofallkinds,andinmanu-

facturingbuildings605

"

Inships……33

1/2"

Inbridges,canals,andrailways……118

"

Inhorseswhicharenotusedinagriculture……20

"

776

1/2mill。

Amountofthewholenationalcapital(exclusiveof

thecapitalinvestedinthecolonies,inforeignloans,

andintheEnglishpublicfunds)……4,305

1/2mill。

II。GROSSNATIONALPRODUCTION。

1。Ofagriculture,mines,andfisheries……539

mill。

2。Manufacturingproduction……259

1/2"

798

1/2"

Fromthisestimateitmaybeseen:

1。Thatthevalueofthelanddevotedtoagricultureamountsto

26/43ofthewholeEnglishnational,property,andisabouttwelve

timesmorethanthevalueofthewholecapitalinvestedin

manufacturesandincommerce。

2。Thatthewholecapitalinvestedinagricultureamountsto

overthree-fourthsoftheEnglishnationalcapital。

3。ThatthevalueofthewholefixedpropertyinEngland,

namely:

Oftheland,&c。2,604

mill。

Ofhousesintowns,andmanufacturingbuildings……605

"

Ofcanalsandrailways……118

"

3,327

"

isthereforeequaltomorethanthree-fourthsofthewholeEnglish

nationalcapital。

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