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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

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