In the same way, a chamber in which each should consult exclusively his own immediate interest as a consumer, would tend to systematize liberty, to suppress all restrictive measures, to overthrow all artificial barriers--in a word, to realize the _theory of plenty_. Hence it follows: That to consult exclusively the immediate interest of the producer, is to consult an interest which is anti-social. That to take for basis exclusively the immediate interest of the consumer, would be to take for basis the general interest. Let me enlarge on this view of the subject a little, at the risk of being prolix. A radical antagonism exists between seller and buyer.* The former desires that the subject of the bargain should be scarce, its supply limited, and its price high. The latter desires that it should be _abundant_, its supply large, and its price low. The laws, which should be at least neutral, take the part of the seller against the buyer, of the producer against the consumer, of dearness against cheapness,** of scarcity against abundance. * The author has modified somewhat the terms of this proposition in a posterior work.--See _Harmonies Économiques_, chapter xi.--Editor. ** We have not in French a substantive to express the idea opposed to that of dearness (cheapness). It is somewhat remarkable that the popular instinct expresses the idea by this periphrase, _marché avantageux, bon marche'_. The protectionists would do well to reform this locution, for it implies an economic system opposed to theirs. They proceed, if not intentionally, at least logically, on this datum: _a nation is rich when it is in want of everything_. For they say, it is the producer that we must favour by securing him a good market for his product. For this purpose it is necessary to raise the price, and in order to raise the price we must restrict the supply; and to restrict the supply is to create scarcity. Just let us suppose that at the present moment, when all these laws are in full force, we make a complete inventory, not in value, but in weight, measure, volume, quantity, of all the commodities existing in the country, which are fitted to satisfy the wants and tastes of its inhabitants--corn, meat, cloth, fuel, colonial products, etc. Suppose, again, that next day all the barriers which oppose the introduction of foreign products are removed. Lastly, suppose that in order to test the result of this reform, they proceed three months afterwards to make a new inventory. Is it not true that there will be found in France more corn, cattle, cloth, linen, iron, coal, sugar, etc., at the date of the second, than at the date of the first inventory? So true is this, that our protective tariffs have no other purpose than to hinder all these things from reaching us, to restrict the supply, and prevent depreciation and abundance.