1820 July 29

Emancipation Spanish

Summary

But the inequality, and the loss that results from it to the

universal interest - to that all comprehensive interest which is composed of the

interests of both parties - is in all such cases enormous.

Not to speak of the misery - the positive misery produced by actual

war, behold three causes by the conjunct operation of which the inegality with the

loss attendant on it is produced.

1. Of the whole quantity of the money expended by the ruling few as

such, it is but a comparatively small part that upon the most predatory plan of

management, can be applied to their own use, in augmentation of their own felicity:

namely that part alone which is composed of official emolument and extra mercantile profit (a) upon stores

furnished.

2. So unlimited is the capacity for felicity in the human frame, it

may be a question whether into any human breast by a mass of the instruments of

felicity in all possible shapes and to the utmost possible amount it be possible that

a quantity of actual felicity can be condensed equal to so much as the double of the

average quantity enjoyed by an individual of the labouring class /class/ whose

earnings afford an adequate supply to his animal wants. In this consideration may be

seen the argument for equality, in so far as consistent

with security: the only argument, nor is it an insufficient

one.

3. Other circumstances equal, the felicity produced by the

acquisition of any given sum is never so great as the suffering produced by the

involuntary loss of it /that same sum./ Were it not for

this, no reason would be to be found for employing the force of government in the

endeavour to present depredation - in the endeavour to give security to property in

any of its shapes.

Lay these three circumstances together and then calculate who can at

what expence every addition to the enjoyment of the ruling few, as such, at the

expence of the subject many can not but be purchased.

Note (a)

(a) On whatever subject capital were thus employed, ordinary

mercantile profit would equally be made, were the capital employed - not upon these

but other articles.