list2-第32章
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chiefly conditional on the sum of its mental and bodily powers； and
on the degree to which they are perfected； in social and political
respects （especially by means of more perfect division of labour
and confederation of the national productive powers）； and that
although measures of protection require sacrifices of material
goods for a time； these sacrifices are made good a hundred…fold in
powers； in the ability to acquire values of exchange； and are
consequently merely reproductive outlay by the nation。
He has forgotten that the ability of the whole nation to
increase the sum of its material capital consists mainly in the
possibility of converting unused natural powers into material
capital； into valuable and income…producing instruments； and that
in the case of the merely agricultural nation a mass of natural
powers lies idle or dead which can bequickened into activity only
by manufactures。 He has not considered the influence of
manufactures on the internal and external commerce； on the
civilisation and power of the nation； and on the maintenance of its
independence； as well as on the capability arising from these of
gaining material wealth。
He has e。g。 not taken into consideration what a mass of capital
the English have obtained by means of colonisation （Martin
estimates the amount of this at more than two and a half milliards
of pounds sterling）。
He； who nevertheless elsewhere proves so clearly that the
capital employed in intermediate commerce is not to be regarded as
belonging to any given nation； so long as it is not equally
embodied in that nation's land； has here not duly considered that
the nationalisation of such capital is most effectually realised by
favouring the nation's inland manufactures。
He has not taken into account； that by the policy of favouring
native manufacture a mass of foreign capital； mental as well as
material； is attracted into the country。
He falsely maintains that these manufactures have originated in
the natural course of things and of their own accord；
notwithstanding that in every nation the political power interferes
to give to this so…called natural course an artificial direction
for the nation's own special advantage。
He has illustrated his argument； founded on an ambiguous
expression and consequently fundamentally wrong； by a fundamentally
wrong example； in seeking to prove that because it would be foolish
to produce wine in Scotland by artificial methods； therefore it
would be foolish to establish manufactures by artificial methods。
He reduces the process of the formation of capital in the
nation to the operation of a private rentier； whose income is
determined by the value of his material capital； and who can only
increase his income by savings which he again turns into capital。
He does not consider that this theory of savings； which in the
merchant's office is quite correct； if followed by a whole nation
must lead to poverty； barbarism； powerlessness； and decay of
national progress。 Where everyone saves and economises as much as
he possibly can； no motive can exist for production。 Where everyone
merely takes thought for the accumulation of values of exchange；
the mental power required for production vanishes。 A nation
consisting of such insane misers would give up the defence of the
nation from fear of the expenses of war； and would only learn the
truth after all its property had been sacrificed to foreign
extortion； that the wealth of nations is to be attained in a manner
different to that of the private rentier。
The private rentier himself； as the father of a family； must
follow a totally different theory to the shopkeeper theory of the
material values of exchange which is here set up。 He must at least
expend on the education of his heirs as much value of exchange as
will enable them to administer the property which is some day to
fall to their lot。
The building up of the material national capital takes place in
quite another manner than by mere saving as in the case of the
rentier； namely； in the same manner as the building up of the
productive powers； chiefly by means of the reciprocal action
between the mental and material national capital； and between the
agricultural； manufacturing； and commercial capital。
The augmentation of the national material capital is dependent
on the augmentation of the national mental capital； and vice vers狻�
The formation of the material agricultural capital is dependent
on the formation of the material manufacturing capital； and vice
vers狻�
The material commercial capital acts everywhere as an
intermediary； helping and compensating between both。
In the uncivilised state； in the state of the hunter and the
fisher； the powers of nature yield almost everything； capital is
almost nil。 Foreign commerce increases the latter； but also in so
doing （through fire…arms； powder； lead） totally destroys the
productiveness of the former。 The theory of savings cannot profit
the hunter； he must be ruined or become a shepherd。
In the pastoral state the material capital increases quickly；
but only so far as the powers of nature afford spontaneously
nourishment to the cattle。 The increase of population； however；
follows closely upon the increase of flocks and herds and of the
means of subsistence。 On the one hand； the flocks and herds as well
as pastures become divided into smaller shares； on the other hand；
foreign commerce offers inducements to consumption。 It would be in
vain to preach to the pastoral nation the theory of savings； it
must sink into poverty or pass over into the agricultural State。
To the agricultural nation is open an immense； but at the same
time limited； field for enriching itself by utilising the dormant
powers of nature。
The agriculturist for himself alone can save provisions；
improve his fields； increase his cattle； but the increase of the
means of subsistence always follows the increase of population。 The
material capital （namely； cultivated land and cattle）； in
proportion as the former becomes more fertile and the latter
increase； becomes divided among a larger number of persons。
Inasmuch； however； as the surface of the land cannot be increased
by industry； and the land cannot be utilised up to the measure of
its natural capacity； for want of means of transport； which （as we
showed in the preceding chapter） must remain imperfect in such a
state of things owing to lack of intercourse； and as moreover the
merely agricultural nation is mostly in want of those instruments；
intelligence； motives to exertion； and also of that energy and
social development which are imparted to the nation through
manufactures and the commerce which originates from them； the mere
agricultural population soon reaches a point in which the increase
of material agricultural capital can no longer keep pace with the
increase of population； and where consequently individual poverty
increases more and more； notwithstanding that the total capital of
the nation is continually increasing。
In such a condition the most important product of the nation
consists of men； who； as they cannot find sufficient support in
their own country； emigrate to other countries。 It can be but
little consolation to such a country； that the school regards man
as an accumulated capital； for the exportation of men does not
occasion return freights； but； on the contrary； causes the
unproductive export of
