list2-第3章
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A true principle； therefore； underlies the system of the
popular school； but a principle which must be recognised and
applied by science if its design to enlighten practice is to be
fulfilled； an idea which practice cannot ignore without getting
astray； only the school has omitted to take into consideration the
nature of nationalities and their special interests and conditions；
and to bring these into accord with the idea of universal union and
an everlasting peace。
The popular school has assumed as being actually in existence
a state of things which has yet to come into existence。 It assumes
the existence of a universal union and a state of perpetual peace；
and deduces therefrom the great benefits of free trade。 In this
manner it confounds effects with causes。 Among the provinces and
states which are already politically united； there exists a state
of perpetual peace； from this political union originates their
commercial union； and it is in consequence of the perpetual peace
thus maintained that the commercial union has become so beneficial
to them。 All examples which history can show are those in which the
political union has led the way； and the commercial union has
followed。（3*） Not a single instance can be adduced in which the
latter has taken the lead； and the former has grown up from it。
That； however； under the existing conditions of the world； the
result of general free trade would not be a universal republic；
but； on the contrary； a universal subjection of the less advanced
nations to the supremacy of the predominant manufacturing；
commercial； and naval power； is a conclusion for which the reasons
are very strong and； according to our views； irrefragable。 A
universal republic （in the sense of Henry IV and of the Abb椤t。
Pierre）； i。e。 a union of the nations of the earth whereby they
recognize the same conditions of right among themselves and
renounce self…redress； can only be realised if a large number of
nationalities attain to as nearly the same degree as possible of
industry and civilisation； political cultivation； and power。 Only
with the gradual formation of this union can free trade be
developed； only as a result of this union can it confer on all
nations the same great advantages which are now experienced by
those provinces and states which are politically united。 The system
of protection； inasmuch as it forms the only means of placing those
nations which are far behind in civilisation on equal terms with
the one predominating nation （which； however； never received at the
hands of Nature a perpetual right to a monopoly of manufacture； but
which merely gained an advance over others in point of time）； the
system of protection regarded from this point of view appears to be
the most efficient means of furthering the final union of nations；
and hence also of promoting true freedom of trade。 And national
economy appears from this point of view to be that science which；
correctly appreciating the existing interests and the individual
circumstances of nations； teaches how every separate nation can be
raised to that stage of industrial development in which union with
other nations equally well developed； and consequently freedom of
trade； can become possible and useful to it。
The popular school； however； has mixed up both doctrines with
one another； it has fallen into the grave error of judging of the
conditions of nations according to purely cosmopolitical
principles； and of ignoring from merely political reasons the
cosmopolitical tendency of the productive powers。
Only by ignoring the cosmopolitical tendency of the productive
powers could Malthus be led into the error of desiring to restrict
the increase of population； or Chalmers and Torrens maintain more
recently the strange idea that augmentation of capital and
unrestricted production are evils the restriction of which the
welfare of the community imperatively demands； or Sismondi declare
that manufactures are things injurious to the community。 Their
theory in this case resembles Saturn； who devours his own children
the same theory which allows that from the increase of
population； of capital and machinery division of labour takes
place； and explains from this the welfare of society； finally
considers these forces as monsters which threaten the prosperity of
nations； because it merely regards the present conditions of
individual nations； and does not take into consideration the
conditions of the whole globe and the future progress of mankind。
It is not true that population increases in a larger proportion
than production of the means of subsistence； it is at least foolish
to assume such disproportion； or to attempt to prove it by
artificial calculations or sophistical arguments； so long as on the
globe a mass of natural forces still lies inert by means of which
ten times or perhaps a hundred times more people than are now
living can be sustained。 It is mere narrow…mindedness to consider
the present extent of the productive forces as the test of how many
persons could be supported on a given area of land。 The savage； the
hunter； and the fisherman； according to his own calculation； would
not find room enough for one million persons； the shepherd not for
ten millions； the raw agriculturist not for one hundred millions on
the whole globe； and yet two hundred millions are living at present
in Europe alone。 The culture of the potato and of food…yielding
plants； and the more recent improvements made in agriculture
generally； have increased tenfold the productive powers of the
human race for the creation of the means of subsistence。 In the
Middle Ages the yield of wheat of an acre of land in England was
fourfold； to…day it is ten to twenty fold； and in addition to that
five times more land is cultivated。 In many European countries （the
soil of which possesses the same natural fertility as that of
England） the yield at present does not exceed fourfold。 Who will
venture to set further limits to the discoveries； inventions； and
improvements of the human race？ Agricultural chemistry is still in
its infancy； who can tell that to…morrow； by means of a new
invention or discovery； the produce of the soil may not be
increased five or ten fold？ We already possess； in the artesian
well； the means of converting unfertile wastes into rich corn
fields； and what unknown forces may not yet be hidden in the
interior of the earth？ Let us merely suppose that through a new
discovery we were enabled to produce heat everywhere very cheaply
and without the aid of the fuels at present known： what spaces of
land could thus be utilised for cultivation； and in what an
incalculable degree w ould the yield of a given area of land be
increased？ If Malthus' doctrine appears to us in its tendency
narrow…minded； it is also in the methods by which it could act an
unnatural one； which destroys morality and power； and is simply
horrible。 It seeks to destroy a desire which nature uses as the
most active means for inciting men to exert body and mind； and to
awaken and support their nobler feelings a desire to which
humanity for the greater part owes its progress。 It would elevate
the most heartless egotism to the position of a law； it requires us
to close our hearts against the starving man； because if we hand
him food and drink； another might starve in his place in thirty
years' time。 It substitutes cold calculation for sympathy。 This
doctrine tends to convert the hearts of men into stones。
