Our theory is formed upon the observation of universal _facts_, universal sentiments, universal calculations and acts. We do nothing more than classify and arrange these, in order to better understand them. It is so little opposed to practice, that it is in fact only _practice explained_. We look upon the actions of men as prompted by the instinct of self-preservation and of progress. What they do freely, willingly,--this is what we call _Political Economy_, or economy of society. We must repeat constantly that each man is _practically_ an excellent political economist, producing or exchanging, as his advantage dictates. Each by experience raises himself to the science; or rather the science is nothing more than experience, scrupulously observed and methodically expounded. But _your_ theory is _theory_ in the worst sense of the word. You imagine procedures which are sanctioned by the experience of no living man, and then call to your aid constraint and prohibition. You cannot avoid having recourse to force; because, wishing to make men produce what they can _more advantageously_ buy, you require them to give up an advantage, and to be led by a doctrine which implies contradiction even in its terms. I defy you too, to take this doctrine, which by your own avowal would be absurd in individual relations, and apply it, even in speculation, to transactions between families, towns, departments, or provinces. You yourselves confess that it is only applicable to internal relations. Thus it is that you are daily forced to repeat: "Principles can never be universal. What is _well_ in an individual, a family, commune, or province, is _ill_ in a nation. What is good in detail--for instance: purchase rather than production, where purchase is more advantageous--is _bad_ in a society. The political economy of individuals is not that of nations;" and other such stuff, _ejusdem farinae_. And all this for what? To prove to us, that we consumers, we are your property! that we belong to you, soul and body! that you have an exclusive right on our stomachs and our limbs! that it is your right to feed and dress us at your own price, however great your ignorance, your rapacity, or the inferiority of your work. Truly, then, your system is one not founded upon practice; it is one of abstraction--of extortion. XIV. CONFLICTING PRINCIPLES. There is one thing which embarrasses me not a little; and it is this: Sincere men, taking upon the subject of political economy the point of view of producers, have arrived at this double formula: "A government should dispose of consumers subject to its laws in favor of home industry." "It should subject to its laws foreign consumers, in order to dispose of them in favor of home industry." The first of the formulas is that of _Protection_; the second that of _Outlets_. Both rest upon this proposition, called the _Balance of Trade_, that "A people is impoverished by importations and enriched by exportations."