list2-第2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！
the easier it will be for him to utilise for the increase of his
prosperity the properties given him by nature； the knowledge and
talents which he has acquired； and the forces of nature placed at
his disposal。 As with separate individuals； so is it also the case
with individual communities； provinces； and countries。 A simpleton
only could maintain that a union for free commercial intercourse
between themselves is not as advantageous to the different states
included in the United States of North America； to the various
departments of France； and to the various German allied states； as
would be their separation by internal provincial customs tariffs。
In the union of the three kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland
the world witnesses a great and irrefragable example of the
immeasurable efficacy of free trade between united nations。 Let us
only suppose all other nations of the earth to be united in a
similar manner； and the most vivid imagination will not be able to
picture to itself the sum of prosperity and good fortune which the
whole human race would thereby acquire。
Unquestionably the idea of a universal confederation and a
perpetual peace is commended both by common sense and religion。（2*）
If single combat between individuals is at present considered to be
contrary to reason； how much more must combat between two nations
be similarly condemned？ The proofs which social economy can produce
from the history of the civilisation of mankind of the
reasonableness of bringing about the union of all mankind under the
law of right； are perhaps those which are the clearest to sound
human understanding。
History teaches that wherever individuals are engaged in wars；
the prosperity of mankind is at its lowest stage； and that it
increases in the same proportion in which the concord of mankind
increases。 In the primitive state of the human race； first unions
of families took place； then towns； then confederations of towns；
then union of whole countries； finally unions of several states
under one and the same government。 If the nature of things has been
powerful enough to extend this union （which commenced with the
family） over hundreds of millions； we ought to consider that nature
to be powerful enough to accomplish the union of all nations。 If
the human mind were capable of comprehending the advantages of this
great union； so ought we to venture to deem it capable of
understanding the still greater benefits which would result from a
union of the whole human race。 Many instances indicate this
tendency in the spirit of the present times。 We need only hint at
the progress made in sciences； arts； and discoveries； in industry
and social order。 It may be already foreseen with certainty； that
after a lapse of a few decades the civilised nations of the earth
will； by the perfection of the means of conveyance； be united as
respects both material and mental interchange in as close a manner
as （or even closer than） that in which a century ago the various
counties of England were connected。 Continental governments possess
already at the present moment in the telegraph the means of
communicating with one another； almost as if they were at one and
the same place。 Powerful forces previously unknown have already
raised industry to a degree of perfection hitherto never
anticipated； and others still more powerful have already announced
their appearance。 But the more that industry advances； and
proportionately extends over the countries of the earth； the
smaller will be the possibility of wars。 Two nations equally well
developed in industry could mutually inflict on one another more
injury in one week than they would be able to make good in a whole
generation。 But hence it follows that the same new forces which
have hitherto served particularly for production will not withhold
their services from destruction； and will principally favour the
side of defence； and especially the European Continental nations；
while they threaten the insular State with the loss of those
advantages which have been gained by her insular position for her
defence。 In the congresses of the great European powers Europe
possesses already the embryo of a future congress of nations。 The
endeavours to settle differences by protocol are clearly already
prevailing over those which obtain justice by force of arms。 A
clearer insight into the nature of wealth and industry has led the
wiser heads of all civilised nations to the conviction that both
the civilisation of barbarous and semi…barbarous nations； and of
those whose culture is retrograding； as well as the formation of
colonies； offer to civilised nations a field for the development of
their productive powers which promises them much richer and safer
fruits than mutual hostilities by wars or restrictions on trade。
The farther we advance in this perception； and the more the
uncivilised countries come into contact with the civilised ones by
the progress made in the means of transport； so much more will the
civilised countries comprehend that the civilisation of barbarous
nations； of those distracted by internal anarchy； or which are
oppressed by bad government； is a task which offers to all equal
advantages a duty incumbent on them all alike； but one which can
only be accomplished by unity。
That the civilisation of all nations； the culture of the whole
globe； forms a task imposed on the whole human race； is evident
from those unalterable laws of nature by which civilised nations
are driven on with irresistible power to extend or transfer their
powers of production to less cultivated countries。 We see
everywhere； under the influence of civilisation； population； powers
of mind； material capital attaining to such dimensions that they
must necessarily flow over into other less civilised countries。 If
the cultivable area of the country no longer suffices to sustain
the population and to employ the agricultural population； the
redundant portion of the latter seeks territories suitable for
cultivation in distant lands； if the talents and technical
abilities of a nation have become so numerous as to find no longer
sufficient rewards within it； they emigrate to places where they
are more in demand； if in consequence of the accumulation of
material capital； the rates of interest fall so considerably that
the smaller capitalist can no longer live on them； he tries to
invest his money more satisfactorily in less wealthy countries。
A true principle； therefore； underlies the system of the
popular school； but a principle which must be recognised and
applied by science if its design to enlighten practice is to be
fulfilled； an idea which practice cannot ignore without getting
astray； only the school has omitted to take into consideration the
nature of nationalities and their special interests and conditions；
and to bring these into accord with the idea of universal union and
an everlasting peace。
The popular school has assumed as being actually in existence
a state of things which has yet to come into existence。 It assumes
the existence of a universal union and a state of perpetual peace；
and deduces therefrom the great benefits of free trade。 In this
manner it confounds effects with causes。 Among the provinces and
states which are already politically united； there exists a state
of perpetual peace； from this political union originates their
commercial union； and it is in consequence of the perpetual peace
thus maintained that the commercial union has become so beneficial
to them。 All examples which history can show are those in which the
political union has led the way； and the commercial union has
followed。（3*） Not a single instance can be adduced in which the
latter has taken the lead； and the former has grown up from it。
That； however； under the existing conditions of the world； the
result of general free trade would not be a universal republic；
but； on the contrary； a universal subjection of the less advanced
nations to the supremacy of the predominant manufacturing；
commercial； and naval power； is a conclusion for which the reasons
are very strong and； according to our views； irrefragable。 A
universal republic （in the sense of Henry IV and of the Abb椤t。
Pierre）； i。e。 a union of the nations of the earth whereby they
recognize the same conditions of right among themselves and
renounce self…redress； can only be realised if a large nu
