list1-第30章
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agriculture even to thrive in these states; when by means of
canals; railways; &c。 the produce of the much more fertile and
cheaper tracts of land in the west which require no manure; can be
carried to the east much more cheaply than it could be there
produced upon soil exhausted long ago? How under such circumstances
can civilisation thrive and population increase in the eastern
states; when it is clear that under free trade with England all
increase of population and of agricultural capital must flow to the
west? The present state of Virginia gives but a faint idea of the
condition into which the Atlantic states would be thrown by the
absence of manufactures in the east; for Virginia; like all the
southern states on the Atlantic coast; at present takes a
profitable share in providing the Atlantic states with agricultural
produce。
All these things bear quite a different complexion; owing to
the existence of a flourishing manufacturing power in the Atlantic
states。 Now population; capital; technical skill and intellectual
power; flow into them from all European countries; now the demand
for the manufactured products of the Atlantic states increases
simultaneously with their consumption of the raw materials supplied
by the west。 Now the population of these states; their wealth; and
the number and extent of their towns increase in equal proportion
with the cultivation of the western virgin lands; now; on account
of the larger population; and the consequently increased demand for
meat; butter; cheese; milk; garden produce; oleaginous seeds;
fruit; &c。; their own agriculture is increasing; now the sea
fisheries are flourishing in consequence of the larger demand for
salted fish and train oil; now quantities of provisions; building
materials; coal; &c。 are being conveyed along the coast to furnish
the wants of the manufacturing population; now the manufacturing
population produce a large quantity of commodities for export to
all the nations of the earth; from whence result profitable return
freights; now the nation's naval power increases by means of the
coasting trade; the fisheries; and navigation to distant lands; and
with it the guarantee of national independence and influence over
other nations; particularly over those of South America; now
science and art; civilisation and literature; are improving in the
eastern states; whence they are being diffused amongst the western
states。
These were the circumstances which induced the United States to
lay restrictions upon the importation of foreign manufactured
goods; and to protect their native manufactures。 With what amount
of success this has been done; we have shown in the preceding
pages。 That without such a policy a manufacturing power could never
have been maintained successfully in the Atlantic states; we may
learn from their own experience and from the industrial history of
other nations。
The frequently recurring commercial crises in America have been
very often attributed to these restrictions on importation of
foreign goods; but without reasonable grounds。 The earlier as well
as the later experience of North America shows; on the contrary;
that such crises have never been more frequent and destructive than
when commercial intercourse with England was least subject to
restrictions。 Commercial crises amongst agricultural nations; who
procure their supplies of manufactured goods from foreign markets;
arise from the disproportion between imports and exports。
Manufacturing nations richer in capital than agricultural states;
and ever anxious to increase the quantity of their exports; deliver
their goods on credit and encourage consumption。 In fact; they make
advances upon the coming harvest。 But if the harvest turn out so
poor that its value falls greatly below that of the goods
previously consumed; or if the harvest prove so rich that the
supply of produce meets with no adequate demand and falls in price;
while at the same time the markets still continue to be overstocked
with foreign goods then a commercial crisis will occur by reason
of the disproportion existing between the means of payment and the
quantity of goods previously consumed; as also by reason of the
disproportion between supply and demand in the markets for produce
and manufactured goods。 The operations of foreign and native banks
may increase and promote such a crisis; but they cannot create it。
In a future chapter we shall endeavour more closely to elucidatc
this subject。
NOTES:
1。 Statistical Table of Massachusetts for the Year ending April 1;
1837; by J。 P。 Bigelow; Secretary of the Commonwealth (Boston;
1838)。 No American state but Massachusetts possesses similar
statistical abstracts。 We owe those here referred to; to Governor
Everett; distinguished alike as a scholar; an author; and a
statesman。
2。 The American papers of July 1839 report that in the
manufacturing town of Lowell alone there are over a hundred
workwomen who have each over a thousand dollars deposited to their
credit in the savings bank。
Chapter 10
The Teachings of History
Everywhere and at all times has the well…being of the nation
been in equal proportion to the intelligence; morality; and
industry of its citizens; according to these; wealth has accrued or
been diminished; but industry and thrift; invention and enterprise;
on the part of individuals; have never as yet accomplished aught of
importance where they were not sustained by municipal liberty; by
suitable public institutions and laws; by the State administration
and foreign policy; but above all by the unity and power; of the
nation。
History everywhere shows us a powerful process of reciprocal
action between the social and the individual powers and conditions。
In the Italian and the Hanseatic cities; in Holland and England; in
France and America; we find the powers of production; and
consequently the wealth of individuals; growing in proportion to
the liberties enjoyed; to the degree of perfection of political and
social institutions; while these; on the other hand; derive
material and stimulus for their further improvement from the
increase of the material wealth and of the productive power of
individuals。
The real rise of the industry and power of England dates only
from the days of the actual foundation of England's national
freedom; while the industry and power of Venice; of the Hanse
Towns; of the Spanish and Portuguese; decayed concurrently with
their loss of freedom。 However industrious; thrifty; inventive; and
intelligent; individual citizens might be; they could not make up
for the lack of free institutions。 History also teaches that
individuals derive the greater part of their productive powers from
the social institutions and conditions under which they are placed。
The influence of liberty; intelligence; and enlightenment over
the power; and therefore over the productive capacity and wealth of
a nation; is exemplified in no respect so clearly as in navigation。
Of all industrial pursuits; navigation most demands energy;
personal courage; enterprise; and endurance; qualifications that
can only flourish in an atmosphere of freedom。 In no other calling
do ignorance; superstition; and prejudice; indolence; cowardice;
effeminacy; and weakness produce such disastrous consequences;
nowhere else is a sense of self…reliance so indispensable。 Hence
history cannot p