Practically so much of any effect is due to any one of its causes as would be absent from this effect were the cause in question taken away. Illustrations. Labour itself produces as much as it would produce were there no ability to direct it. The argument which might be drawn from the case of a community in which there was no labour. Such an argument illusory; for a community in which there was no labour would be impossible; but the paralysis of ability, or its practical non-existence possible. Practical reasoning of all kinds always confines itself to the contemplation of possibilities. Illustrations. Restatement of proposition as to the amount of the product of labour. The product of ability only partially described by assimilating it to rent. Ability produces everything which would not be produced if its operation were hampered or suspended. Increased reward of labour in Great Britain since the year 1800. The reward now received by labour far in excess of what labour itself produces. In capitalistic countries generally labour gets, not less, but far more than its due, if its due is to be measured by its own products. It is necessary to remember this; but its due is not to be measured exclusively by its own products. As will be seen in the concluding chapter. CHAPTER XIII INTEREST AND ABSTRACT JUSTICE The proposal to confiscate interest for the public benefit, on the ground that it is income unconnected with any corresponding effort. Is the proposal practicable? Is it defensible on grounds of abstract justice? The abstract moral argument plays a large part in the discussion. It assumes that a man has a moral right to what he produces, interest being here contrasted with this, as a something which he does not produce. Defects of this argument. It ignores the element of time. Some forms of effort are productive long after the effort itself has ceased. For examples, royalties on an acted play. Such royalties herein typical of interest generally. Industrial interest as a product of the forces of organic nature. Henry George's defence of interest as having this origin. His argument true, but imperfect. His superficial criticism of Bastiat. Nature works through machine-capital just as truly as it does in agriculture. Machines are natural forces captured by men of genius, and set to work for the benefit of human beings. Interest on machine-capital is part of an extra product which nature is made to yield by those men who are exceptionally capable of controlling her.