list4-第14节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sea； and further； that fractions of other nations which； hitherto
divided； have possessed either no naval power whatever or only an
unimportant one； should constitute themselves into one united naval
power。 In regard to England； France and North America sustain loss
if the naval power of Russia declines； and vice vers狻！hey all
gain； if Germany； Holland； and Belgium constitute together a common
naval power； for while separated these last are mere satellites to
the supremacy of England； but if united they strengthen the
opposition to that supremacy of all nations at sea。
None of these less powerful nations possesses a mercantile
marine which exceeds the requirements of its own international
trade none of these nations possesses a manufacturing power
which would maintain important preponderance over that of the
others。 None of them； therefore； has any ground to fear the
competition of the others。 On the other hand； all have a common
interest in protecting themselves against the destructive
competition of England。 Hence it must be to the interests of all
that the predominating manufacturing power of England should lose
those means of access （Holland； Belgium； and the Hanse Towns） by
means of which England has hitherto dominated the markets of the
Continent。
Inasmuch as the products of tropical climates are chiefly paid
for by the manufactured products of temperate climates； and hence
the consumption of the former depends on the sale of the latter；
therefore every manufacturing nation should endeavour to establish
direct intercourse with tropical countries。 And thus； if all
manufacturing nations of the second rank understand their own
interests and act accordingly； no nation will be permitted to
maintain a predominant amount of colonial possessions in tropical
countries。 If； for instance； England could succeed in the object
for which she is at present striving； viz。 to produce in India the
colonial produce which she requires in that case England could
only carry on trade with the West Indies to the extent to which she
was able to sell to other countries the colonial produce which she
now obtains from the West Indies in exchange for her manufactured
goods。 If； however； she could not dispose of these to other
countries； then her West Indian possessions would become useless to
her。 She would then have no other option than either to let them go
free； or to surrender the trade with them to other manufacturing
countries。 Hence it follows that all manufacturing nations less
powerful at sea have a common interest in following this policy and
in reciprocally supporting one another in it； and it follows
further that no one of these nations would lose by the accession of
Holland to the German Commercial Union； and through the closer
connection of Germany with the Dutch colonies。
Since the emancipation of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies
in South America and the West Indies； it is no longer indispensably
necessary that a manufacturing nation should possess colonies of
its own in tropical climates in order to put itself in a position
to carry on directly the exchange of manufactured goods against
colonial produce。 As the markets of these emancipated tropical
countries are free； every manufacturing nation which is able to
compete in these free markets can carry on direct trade with them。
But these free tropical countries can only produce great quantities
of colonial products； and only consume great quantities of
manufactured goods； if prosperity and morality； peace and repose；
lawful order and religious tolerance； prevail within them。 All
nations not powerful at sea； especially those who possess no
colonies； or only unimportant ones； have hence a common interest in
bringing about such a state of things by their united power。 To
England； with her commercial supremacy； the circumstances of these
countries cannot matter so much because she is sufficiently
supplied； or at least hopes to become sufficiently supplied； with
colonial produce from her own exclusive and subject markets in the
East and West Indies。 From this point of view also we must partly
judge respecting the extremely important question of slavery。 We
are very far from ignoring that much philanthropy and good motive
lies at the root of the zeal with which the object of the
emancipation of the negroes is pursued by England； and that this
zeal does great honour to the character of the English nation。 But
at the same time； if we consider the immediate effects of the
measures adopted by England in reference to this matter； we cannot
get rid of the idea that also much political motive and commercial
interest are mingled with it。 These effects are： （1） That by the
sudden emancipation of the blacks； through their rapid transition
from a condition of disorder and carelessness little removed from
that of wild animals to a high degree of individual independence；
the yield of tropical produce of South America and the West Indies
will be extremely diminished and ultimately reduced to nothing； as
the example of St。 Domingo incontestably shows； inasmuch as there
since the expulsion of the French and Spaniards the production has
greatly decreased from year to year； and continues to do so。 （2）
That the free negroes continually seek to obtain an increase in
their wages； whilst they limit their labour to the supply of their
most indispensable wants； that hence their freedom merely leads to
idleness。 （3） That； on the other hand； England possesses in the
East Indies ample means for supplying the whole world with colonial
products。 It is well known that the Hindoos； owing to great
industry and great moderation in their food and other wants；
especially in consequence of the precepts of their religion； which
forbid the use of animal food； are excessively frugal。 To these
must be added the want of capital among the natives； the great
fruitfulness of the soil in vegetable products； and the restriction
of caste and the great competition of those in want of work。
The result of all this is； that wages in India are incomparably
lower than in the West Indies and South America； whether the
plantations there are cultivated by free blacks or by slaves； that
consequently the production of India； after trade has been set free
in that country； and wiser principles of administration have
prevailed； must increase at an enormous rate； and the time is no
longer distant when England will not only be able to supply all her
own requirements of colonial produce from India； but also export
great quantities to other countries。 Hence it follows that England
cannot lose through the diminution of production in the West Indies
and South America； to which countries other nations also export
manufactured goods； but she will gain if the colonial production in
India becomes preponderant； which market England exclusively
supplies with manufactured goods。 （4） Finally； it may be asserted；
that by the emancipation of the slaves England desires to hang a
sword over the head of the North American slave states； which is so
much the more menacing to the Union the more this emancipation
extends and the wish is excited among the negroes of North America
to partake of similar liberty。 The question if rightly viewed must
appear a philanthropical experiment of doubtful benefit towards
those on whose behalf it was undertaken from motives of general
philanthropy； but must in any case appear to those nations who rely
on the trade with South America and the West Indies as not
advantageous to them； and they may not unreasonably inquire：
Whether a sudden transition from slavery to freedom may not prove
more injurious to the negroes themselves than the maintenance of
the existing state of things？ whether it may not be the task of
several generations to educate the negroes （who are accustomed to
an almost animal state of subjection） to habits of voluntary labour
and thrift？ whether it might not better attain the object if the
transition from slavery to freedom was made by the introduction of
a mild form of serfdom； whereby at first some interest might be
secured to the serf in the land which he cultivates； and a fair
share of the fruits of his labour； allowing sufficient rights to
the landlord in order to bind the serf to habits of industry and
order？ whether such a condition would not be more desirable than
that of a miserable； drunken； lazy； vic
