list2-第54章
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discharging; as it were; the function of a preserver and augmenter
of the material capital of society; finally; by inciting through
his display all other classes of society to emulation。 As a whole
school is encouraged to exertions by the offer of prizes; although
only a few become winners of the principal prizes; so does the
possession of large property; and the appearance and display
connected with it; act on civil society。 This action of course
ceases when the great property is the fruit of usurpation; of
extortion; or fraud; or where the possession of it and the
enjoyment of its fruits cannot be openly displayed。
Manufacturing production yields either productive instruments
or the means of satisfying the necessities of life and the means of
display。 The last two advantages are frequently combined。 The
various ranks of society are everywhere distinguished by the manner
in which and where they live; and how they are furnished and
clothed; by the costliness of their equipages and the quality;
number; and external appearance of their servants。 Where the
commercial production is on a low scale; this distinction is but
slight; i。e。 almost all people live badly and are poorly clothed;
emulation is nowhere observable。 It originates and increases
according to the ratio in which industries flourish。 In flourishing
manufacturing countries almost everyone lives and dresses well;
although in the quality of manufactured goods which are consumed
the most manifold degrees of difference take place。 No one who
feels that he has any power in him to work is willing to appear
outwardly needy。 Manufacturing industry; therefore; furthers
production by the community by means of inducements which
agriculture; with its mean domestic manufacture; its productions of
raw materials and provisions; cannot offer。
There is of course an important difference between various
modes of living; and everyone feels some inducement to eat and
drink well; but we do not dine in public; and a German proverb says
strikingly; 'Man sieht mir auf den Kragen; nicht auf den Magen'
(One looks at my shirt collar; not at my stomach)。 If we are
accustomed from youth to rough and simple fare; we seldom wish for
better。 The consumption of provisions also is restricted to very
narrow limits where it is confined to articles produced in the
immediate neighbourhood。 These limits are extended in countries of
temperate climate; in the first instance; by procuring the products
of tropical climates。 But as respects the quantity and the quality
of these products; in the enjoyment of which the whole population
of a country can participate; they can only be procured (as we have
shown in a former chapter) by means of foreign commerce in
manufactured goods。
Colonial products; so far as they do not consist of raw
materials for manufacturing purposes; evidently act more as
stimulants than necessary means of subsistence。 No one will deny
that barley coffee without sugar is as nutritious as mocha coffee
with sugar; and admitting also that these products contain some
nutritious matter; their value in this respect is nevertheless so
unimportant that they can scarcely be considered as substitutes for
native provisions。 With regard to spices and tobacco; they are
certainly mere stimulants; i。e。 they chiefly produce a useful
effect on society only so far as they augment the enjoyments of the
masses; and incite them to mental and bodily labour。
In many countries very erroneous notions prevail among those
who live by salaries or rents; respecting what they are accustomed
to call the luxurious habits of the lower classes; such persons are
shocked to observe that labourers drink coffee with sugar; and
regret the times when they were satisfied with gruel; they deplore
that the peasant has exchanged his poor clothing of coarse homespun
for woollen cloth; they express fears that the maid…servant will
soon not be distinguishable from the lady of the house; they praise
the legal restrictions on dress of previous centuries。 But if we
compare the result of the labour of the workman in countries where
he is clad and nourished like the well…to…do man with the result of
his labour where he has to be satisfied with the coarsest food and
clothing; we shall find that the increase of his comfort in the
former case has been attained not at the expense of the general
welfare; but to the advantage of the productive powers of the
community。 The day's work of the workman is double or three times
greater in the former case than in the latter。 Attempts to regulate
dress and restrictions on luxury have destroyed wholesome emulation
in the large masses of society; and have merely tended to the
increase of mental and bodily idleness。
In any case products must be created before they can be
consumed; and thus production must necessarily generally precede
consumption。 In popular and national practice; however; consumption
frequently precedes production。 Manufacturing nations; supported by
large capital and less restricted in their production than mere
agricultural nations; make; as a rule; advances to the latter on
the yield of future crops; the latter thus consume before they
produce they produce later on because they have previously
consumed。 The same thing manifests itself in a much greater degree
in the relation between town and country: the closer the
manufacturer is to the agriculturist; the more will the former
offer to the latter both an inducement to consume and means for
consumption; the more also will the latter feel himself stimulated
to greater production。
Among the most potent stimulants are those afforded by the
civil and political institutions of the country。 Where it is not
possible to raise oneself by honest exertions and by prosperity
from one class of society to another; from the lowest to the
highest; where the possessor necessarily hesitates to show his
property publicly or to enjoy the fruits of it because it would
expose his property to risk; or lest he should be accused of
arrogance or impropriety; where persons engaged in trade are
excluded from public honour; from taking part in administration;
legislation; and juries; where distinguished achievements in
agriculture; industry; and commerce do not lead also to public
esteem and to social and civil distinction; there the most
important motives for consumption as well as for production are
wanting。
Every law; every public regulation; has a strengthening or
weakening effect on production or on consumption or on the
productive forces。
The granting of patent privileges offers a prize to inventive
minds。 The hope of obtaining the prize arouses the mental powers;
and gives them a direction towards industrial improvements。 It
brings honour to the inventive mind in society; and roots out the
prejudice for old customs and modes of operation so injurious among
uneducated nations。 It provides the man who merely possesses mental
faculties for new inventions with the material means which he
requires; inasmuch as capitalists are thus incited to support the
inventor; by being assured of participation in the anticipated
profits。
Protective duties act as stimulants on all those branches of
internal industry the produce of which foreign countries can
provide better than the home country but of the production of which
the home country is capable。 They guarantee a reward to the man of
enterprise and to the workman for