Force applied to spoliation, furnishes the great material for the annals of men. To retrace its history would be to present almost the entire history of every nation: Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Goths, Franks, Huns, Turks, Arabs, Tartars, without counting the more recent expeditions of the English in India, the French in Africa, the Russians in Asia, etc., etc. But among civilized nations surely the producers of riches are now become sufficiently numerous and strong to defend themselves. Does this mean that they are no longer robbed? They are as much so as ever, and moreover they rob one another. The only difference is that Spoliation has changed her agent. She acts no longer by _Force_, but by _Cunning_. To rob the public, it is necessary to deceive them. To deceive them, it is necessary to persuade them that they are robbed for their own advantage, and to induce them to accept in exchange for their property, imaginary services, and often worse. Hence spring _Sophisms_ in all their varieties. Then, since Force is held in check, _Sophistry_ is no longer only an evil; it is the genius of evil, and requires a check in its turn. This check must be the enlightenment of the public, which must be rendered more _subtle_ than the subtle, as it is already _stronger_ than the strong. * * * * * GOOD PUBLIC! I now dedicate to you this first essay; though it must be confessed that the Preface is strangely transposed, and the Dedication a little tardy. PART II. SOPHISMS OF PROTECTION. SECOND SERIES. "The request of Industry to the government is as modest as that of Diogenes to Alexander: 'Stand out of my sunshine.'"--BENTHAM. I. NATURAL HISTORY OF SPOLIATION. Why do I give myself up to that dry science, political economy? The question is a proper one. All labor is so repugnant in its nature that one has the right to ask of what use it is. Let us examine and see. I do not address myself to those philosophers who, if not in their own names, at least in the name of humanity, profess to adore poverty. I speak to those who hold wealth in esteem--and understand by this word, not the opulence of the few, but the comfort, the well-being, the security, the independence, the instruction, the dignity of all. There are only two ways by which the means essential to the preservation, the adornment and the perfection of life may be obtained--production and spoliation. Some persons may say: "Spoliation is an accident, a local and transient abuse, denounced by morality, punished by the law, and unworthy the attention of political economy." Still, however benevolent or optimistic one may be, he is compelled to admit that spoliation is practiced on so vast a scale in this world, and is so generally connected with all great human events, that no social science, and, least of all, political economy, can refuse to consider it.