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science。



    The sciences and industry in combination have produced that



great material power which in the new state of society has replaced



with tenfold benefits the slave labour of ancient times; and which



is destined to exercise on the condition of the masses; on the



civilisation of barbarous countries; on the peopling of uninhabited



lands; and on the power of the nations of primitive culture; such



an immeasurable influence…namely; the power of machinery。



    A manufacturing nation has a hundred times more opportunities



of applying the power of machinery than an agricultural nation。 A



cripple can accomplish by directing a steam engine a hundred times



more than the strongest man can with his mere hand。



    The power of machinery; combined with the perfection of



transport facilities in modern times; affords to the manufacturing



State an immense superiority over the mere agricultural State。 It



is evident that canals; railways; and steam navigation are called



into existence only by means of the manufacturing power; and can



only by means of it be extended over the whole surface of the



country。 In the mere agricultural State; where everybody produces



for himself the greater part of what he requires; and consumes



himself the greater part of what he produces; where the individuals



among themselves can only carry on a small amount of goods and



passenger traffic; it is impossible that a sufficiently large



traffic in either goods or passengers can take place to defray the



costs of the erection and maintenance of the machinery of



transport。



    New inventions and improvements in the mere agricultural State



are of but little value。 Those who occupy themselves with such



things in such a State fall themselves; as a rule; a sacrifice to



their investigations and endeavours; while in the manufacturing



State there is no path which leads more rapidly to wealth and



position than that of invention and discovery。 Thus; in the



manufacturing State genius is valued and rewarded more highly than



skill; and skill more highly than mere physical force。 In the



agricultural State; however; excepting in the public service; the



reverse is almost the rule。



    As; however; manufactures operate beneficially on the



development of the mental powers of the nation; so also do they act



on the development of the physical power of labour; by affording to



the labourers means of enjoyment; inducements to exert their



powers; and opportunities for making use of them。 It is an



undisputed observation; that in flourishing manufacturing States



the workman; irrespective of the aid which he obtains from better



machinery and tools; accomplishes a far larger day's work than in



mere agricultural countries。



    Moreover; the circumstance that in manufacturing States the



value of time is recognised much more than in agricultural States;



affords proof of the higher standing in the former of the power of



labour。 The degree of civilisation of a nation and the value of its



labour power cannot be estimated more accurately than according to



the degree of the value which it attributes to time。 The savage



lies for days idle in his hut。 How can the shepherd learn to



estimate the value of time; to whom time is simply a burden which



his pastoral pipe or sleep alone makes tolerable to him? How can a



slave; a serf; a peasant; subject to tributes of forced labour;



learn to value time; he to whom labour is penalty; and idleness



gain? Nations only arrive at the recognition of the value of time



through industry。 At present time gained brings gain of profit;



loss of time; loss of profit。 The zeal of the manufacturer to



utilise his time in the highest possible degree imparts itself to



the agriculturist。 Through the increased demand for agricultural



products caused by manufactures; the rent and therefore the value



of land is raised; larger capital is employed in cultivating it;



profits are increased; a larger produce must be obtained from the



soil in order to be able to provide for the increased rent and



interest of capital; and for the increased consumption。 One is in



a position to offer higher wages; but one also requires more work



to be done。 The workman begins to feel that he possesses in his



bodily powers; and in the skill with which he uses them; the means



of improving his condition。 He begins to comprehend why the



Englishman says; 'Time is money。'



    Owing to the isolation in which the agriculturist lives; and to



his limited education; he is but little capable of adding anything



to general civilisation or learning to estimate the value of



political institutions; and much less still to take an active part



in the administration of public affairs and of justice; or to



defend his liberty and rights。 Hence he is mostly in a state of



dependence on the landed proprietor。 Everywhere merely agricultural



nations have lived in slavery; or oppressed by despotism;



feudalism; or priestcraft。 The mere exclusive possession of the



soil gave the despot; the oligarchy; or the priestly caste a power



over the mass of the agricultural population; of which the latter



could not rid themselves of their own accord。



    Under the powerful influence of habit; everywhere among merely



agricultural nations has the yoke which brute force or superstition



and priestcraft imposed upon them so grown into their very flesh;



that they come to regard it as a necessary constituent of their own



body; as a condition of their very existence。



    On the other hand; the separation and variety of the operations



of business; and the confederation of the productive powers; press



with irresistible force the various manufacturers towards one



another。 Friction produces sparks of the mind; as well as those of



natural fire。 Mental friction; however; only exists where people



live together closely; where frequent contact in commercial;



scientific; social; civil; and political matters exists; where



there is large interchange both of goods and ideas。 The more men



live together in one and the same place; the more every One of



these men depends in his business on the co…operation of all



others; the more the business of every one of these individuals



requires knowledge; circumspection; education; and the less that



obstinacy; lawlessness; oppression and arrogant opposition to



justice interfere with the exertions of all these individuals and



with the objects at which they aim; so much the more perfect will



the civil institutions be found; so much larger will be the degree



of liberty enjoyed; so much more opportunity will be given for



self…improvement and for co…operation in the improvement of others。



Therefore liberty and civilisation have everywhere and at all times



emanated from towns; in ancient times in Greece and Italy; in the



Middle Ages in Italy; Germany; belgium; and Holland; later on in



England; and still more recently in North America and France。



    But there are two kinds of towns; one of which we may term the



productive; the other the consuming kind。 There are towns which



work up raw materials; and pay the country districts for these; as



well as for the means of subsistence which they require; by means



of manufactured goods。 These are the manufacturing towns; the



productive ones。 The more that these prosper; the more the



agriculture of the country prospers; and the more powers that



agriculture unfolds; so much the greater do those manufacturing



towns become。 But there are also towns where those live who simply



consume the rents of the land。 In all countries which are civilised



to some extent; a large portion of the national income is consumed



as rent in the towns。 It would be false; however; were we to



maintain as a general principle that this consumption is injurious



to production; or does not tend to promote it。 For the possibility



of securing to oneself an independent life by the acquisition of



rents; is a powerful stimulus to economy and to the utilisation of



savings in agriculture and in agricultural improvements。 Moreover



the man who lives on rents; stimulated by the inclination to



distinguish himself before his fellow…citizens; supported by his



education and his independent position; will promote civilisation;



the efficiency of public institutions; of State administration;



science and art。 But the degree in which rent influences in this



manner the industry; prosperity; and civilisation of the nation



will always depend on the de
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