Principles of Political Economy, Vol. 2Roscher, Wilhelm
General
Principles of Political Economy, Vol. 2
Roscher, Wilhelm
Economics
[Footnote 201-4: It is a very characteristic fact that, in
our days, when workmen are spoken of, it is generally day
laborers and tradesmen that are understood. In Prussia, in
1804, 17.8 per cent. of the population earned their living
by letting out their labor; in 1846, 22.8 per cent. as
day-laborers, servants, journeymen, tradesmen and factory
hands. (_Dieterici._)]
[Footnote 201-5: _Ricardo_, Principles, ch. 4, recognizes
the bright side as well as _Sismondi_, N. P., I, 268, or
_Buret_, De la Misère des Classes laborieuses en Angleterre
et en France, 1841, its dark side. _Sismondi_ thinks that
land and the capital employed in its cultivation are found
to the greatest disadvantage in the hands of the same
person. The existence of a thrifty peasant class (also of a
class of tradesmen) is one of the best means to prevent the
too wide separation of the three branches of income.]
SECTION CCII.
HARMONY OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF INCOME.--NECESSITY OF THE FEELING OF A
COMMON INTEREST.
Every class corresponding to a branch of the national income must live
with the consciousness that its interests coincide with the economic
interests of the whole nation. Whenever the entire national income
increases, each branch of it may increase without any injury to the
others, and, as a rule, does really increase.[202-1] But it is possible
that the land owning class may be specially dependent on the prosperity
of the whole people. How easy it is for workmen to emigrate; and how
much easier yet for capital! England, to-day, can scarcely carry on a
great war, in which it would not, at least at the beginning, have to
fight English capital.[202-2] Where the treasure is, the heart is also!
The land alone is immovable. It alone cannot be withdrawn from the
pressure of taxation or from the distress of war. It alone cannot flee
into foreign parts.[202-3] [202-4] At the same time, it cannot be denied
that the possibility of being able to carry one's fortune out of a
country in one's pocketbook and to be able to procure there with one's
money the same conveniences, customs, etc., to which one was accustomed
at home, is, under certain circumstances, an important element of
political and religious freedom. Moreover, the bright side and the dark
of every class of owners, especially the dread of all unnecessary and
also of all necessary change, must be common to rent and interest.
Hence, where there is a marked and well-defined separation of the
branches of income, it will be always considered a difficult but
unavoidable problem, how to enable mere labor to take an active part in
the affairs of the state.[202-5]
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