按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
completing the engagements they have contracted with the
capitalist； they will do themselves and the country incalculable
service。 They may reduce or destroy altogether the profit of the
idle capitalist and from the manner in which capitalists have
treated labourers； even within our own recollection； they have no
claim on the gratitude of the labourer but they will augment
the wages and rewards of industry； and will give to genius and
skill their due share of the national produce。 They will also
increase prodigiously the productive power of the country by
increasing the number of skilled labourers。 The most successful
and widest spread possible combination to obtain an augmentation
of wages would have no other injurious effect than to reduce the
incomes of those who live on profit and interest； and who have no
just claim but custom to any share of the national produce。
It has indeed been said by some sapient legislators； both
Lords and Commoners； that the journeymen will do themselves
incalculable mischief by driving capital out of the country； and
one of the reasons urged for the new law was that it would
prevent the journeymen injuring themselves。 Whenever the devil
wants to do mischief he assumes the garb of holiness； and
whenever a certain class of persons wish to commit a more than
usually flagrant violation of justice it is always done in the
name of humanity。 If the labourers are disposed blindly to injure
themselves I see no reason for the legislature interfering to
prevent them； except as a farmer watches over the health of his
cattle； or a West India planter looks after the negroes because
they are his property； and bring him a large profit。 The
journeymen； however； know their own interest better than it is
known to the legislator； and they would be all the richer if
there were not an idle capitalist in the country。 I shall not
enter into any investigation of the origin of this opinion that
the workmen will injure themselves by driving away capital； but
it would not be difficult to show that it springs from the false
theory I have opposed； and that it is based on a narrow
experience。 Because there are a few instances of political and
religious persecution； driving both masters and journeymen； or a
large quantity of national stock of skilled labour； from
different countries； greatly； I admit； to the injury； and justly
so； of the remaining inhabitants who permitted or practised this
persecution； it has been asserted that this injury was caused by
the banishment； not of the men but of the capital； and it being；
therefore； now concluded that the proceedings of the workmen will
in like manner banish capital from this country it has been
affirmed that they will injure both themselves and the rest of
the inhabitants。 But they carry on neither political nor
religious persecution； and it is somewhat preposterous in the
race of politicians； by way； perhaps； of throwing a veil over
their own crimes； to attribute to the actions of the workmen the
same consequences as have been produced by some of the absurd and
cruel proceedings of their own class。 If the workmen do not
frighten away the skill of the contriver and the master and
where can that be put to so good a use as where there are plenty
of skilful hands and even if they should； the wide spread of
education among the mechanics and artisans will soon repair the
loss； they will frighten away no other part of the national
advantages。 The merest tyro in political economy knows that the
capitalist cannot export any great quantity of food； clothing and
machines from this country； nor even the gold and silver which
forms the current coin of the realm； to any advantage； either he
must bring back an equivalent； which returns him a profit when
consumed here； or he must carry with him those skilled labourers
who have hitherto produced him his profit as they have consumed
his food and used his instruments and machines。 There is not a
political injury on the one hand and both masters and workmen on
the other； but on the one side is the labourer and on the other
the capitalist； and however successful the workmen may be； the
smallest fraction of their produce which the capitalist can
scrape up he will assuredly stay to collect。 The combination of
the workmen will not frighten away their own skill； nor unlearn
them what thy have learned。 Their hand will not forget its
cunning； when its produce goes no longer into the pocket of the
capitalist。 Capitalists； who can grow rich only where there is an
oppressed body of labourers； may probably carry off some of their
cloth； and their corn； and their machines to some country like
Prussia； where the poor people can learn nothing but what the
king and his schoolmasters please； or like France； where a
watchful police allows no man to utter a thought but such as
suits the views of a government and priesthood anxious to restore
despotism and superstition； but they cannot； unless the labourers
please； carry with them the mouths which consume； or the hands
which make their capital useful； and where these are there will
be the productive power。 Our labourers already possess in an
eminent degree the skill to execute； and they are rapidly
acquiring also the skill to contrive。 Never was there a more idle
threat uttered； therefore； than that the combinations of skilled
labourers to obtain greater rewards than they now possess will
drive skilled labour from the country。
This analysis also of the operations of capital leads us at
once boldly to pronounce all those schemes of which we have of
late heard so much for improving countries； by sending capital to
them； to be mere nonsense。 Of what use； for example； would the
butter and salt beef and pork and grain now exported from Ireland
be of in that country if they were to be left there； or if they
were to be sent back？ All these articles form some of the most
valuable parts of circulating capital； and so far from there
being any want of them in Ireland； they are constantly exported
in great quantities。 It is plain； therefore； that there is no
want of circulating capital in Ireland； if the capitalist would
allow the wretched producer of it to consume it。 Of what use also
would steam engines or power looms or stocking frames or mining
tools be to the ragged peasantry of Ireland？ Of none whatever。
If； indeed； masters and journeymen went over with these
instruments and tools； they might use them； and by consuming at
the same time the circulating capital now exported from Ireland
give the owner of it a large profit； and they might teach the
ignorant and helpless natives how to make use of the various
instruments I have mentioned。 Those who talk of improving
Ireland； or any other country； by capital have a double meaning
in their words。 They know the power of the capitalist over the
labourer； and that whenever the master goes or sends； there also
must the slave labourer go。 But neither the lawmaker nor the
capitalist possesses any miraculous power of multiplying loaves
and fishes； or of commanding； like the enchanters of old；
broomsticks to do the work of men。 They must have labourers；
skilled lab