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progeny; and this observation extends to the mixing of the white



race with the black in the third and the fourth generation。 This



observation seems to confirm more than any other thing the fact;



that those nations which have emanated from a crossing of race



frequently repeated and comprising the whole nation; have surpassed



all other nations in power and energy of the mind and character; in



intelligence; bodily strength; and personal beauty。(2*)



    We think we may conclude from this that men need not



necessarily be such dull; clumsy; and unintellectual beings as we



perceive them to be when occupied in crippled agriculture in small



villages; where a few families have for thousands of years



intermarried only with one another; where for centuries it has



occurred to no one to make use of an implement of a new form; or to



adopt a new method of culture; to alter the style of a single



article of clothing; or to adopt a new idea; where the greatest art



consisted; not in exerting one's bodily and mental powers in order



to obtain as much enjoyment as possible; but to dispense with as



much of it as possible。



    This condition of things is entirely changed (and for the best



purposes of the improvement of race of a whole nation) by



establishing a manufacturing power。 While a large portion of the



increase of the agricultural population goes over into the



manufacturing community; while the agricultural population of



various districts becomes mixed by marriages between one another



and with the manufacturing population; the mental; moral; and



physical stagnation of the population is broken up。 The intercourse



which manufactures and the commerce between various nations and



districts which is based upon them bring about; brings new blood



into the whole nation as well as into separate communities and



families。



    The development of the manufacturing power has no less



important an influence on the improvement of the breeds of cattle。



Everywhere; where woollen manufactures have been established; the



race of sheep has quickly been improved。 Owing to a greater demand



for good meat; which a numerous manufacturing population creates;



the agriculturist will endeavour to introduce better breeds of



cattle。 The greater demand for 'horses of luxury' is followed by



the improvement of the breeds of horses。 We shall then no longer



see those wretched primitive breeds of cattle; horses; and sheep;



which having resulted from the crippled state of agriculture and



everywhere from neglect of crossing of breeds; exhibit a side



spectacle worthy of their clumsy owners。



    How much do the productive powers of the nations already owe to



the importation of foreign breeds of animals and to the improvement



of the native breeds; and how much has yet to be done in this



respect! All the silkworms of Europe are derived from a few eggs;



which (under Constantine) were brought to Constantinople in hollow



sticks; by Greek monks from China; where their exportation was



strictly prohibited。 France is indebted to the importation of the



Thibet goat for a beautiful product of her industry。 It is very



much to be regretted; that hitherto the breeding and improving of



animals has been chiefly carried on in order to satisfy the



requirements of luxury; and not in order to promote the welfare of



the large masses。 The descriptions of travellers show that in some



countries of Asia a race of cattle has been seen which combines



considerable draught power with great swiftness of pace; so that



they can be used with almost the same advantage as horses for



riding and driving。 What immense advantages would such a breed of



cattle confer on the smaller agriculturists of Europe! What an



increase in means of subsistence; productive power; and



convenience; would the working classes thereby obtain! But even far



more than by improved breeds; and importation from one country into



another of various animals; has the productive power of the human



race been increased by the improvement and importation of trees and



plants。 This is at once evident; if we compare the original plants



as they have sprung from the bosom of nature; with their improved



species。 How little do the primitive plants of the various species



of corn and of fruit trees; of edible vegetables and of the olive;



resemble in form and utility their improved offspring! What masses



of means of nourishment; of enjoyment; and comfort; and what



opportunities for the useful application of human powers; have been



derived from them! The potato; the beet…root; the cultivation of



root crops for cattle; together with the improved systems of



manuring and improved agricultural machines; have increased



ten…fold the returns of agriculture; as it is at present carried on



by the Asiatic tribes。



    Science has already done much with regard to the discovery of



new plants and the improvement of them; but governments have not



yet devoted to this important object so much attention as they



ought to have done; in the interests of economy。 Quite recently;



species of grass are said to have been discovered in the savannas



of North America; which from the poorest soil yield a higher



produce than any fodder plants; which are as yet known to us; do



from the richest soil。 It is very probable that in the wild regions



of America; Asia; Africa; and Australia; a quantity of plants still



vegetate uselessly; the transplantation and improvement of which



might infinitely augment the prosperity of the inhabitants of



temperate climates。



    It is clear that most of the improvements and transportations



of animals and vegetables; most of the new discoveries which are



made with respect to them; as well as all other progress;



inventions; and discoveries; are chiefly calculated to benefit the



countries of the temperate zone; and of those most of all; the



manufacturing countries。







NOTES:







1。 Esprit des Lois; Livre xx。 chap。 xxiii。







2。 According to Chardin; the Guebres; an unmixed tribe of the old



Persians; are an ugly; deformed; and clumsy race; like all nations



of Mongol descent; while the Persian nobility; which for centuries



has intermarried with Georgian and Circassian women; is



distinguished for beauty and strength。 Dr Pritchard remarks that



the unmixed Celts of the Scottish highlands are far behind the



Scottish Lowlanders (descendants of Saxons and Celts) in height;



bodily power; and fine figure。 Pallas makes similar observations



respecting the descendants of the Russians and Tartars in



comparison with the unmixed tribes to which they are related。 Azara



affirms that the descendants of the Spaniards and the natives of



Paraguay are a much more handsome and powerful race of men than



their ancestors on both sides。 The advantages of the crossing of



race are not only apparent in the mixing of different nations; but



also in the mixing of different family stocks in one and the same



nation。 Thus the Creole negroes far surpass those negroes who have



sprung from unmixed tribes; and who have come direct from Africa to



America; in mental gifts as well as in bodily power。 The



Caribbeans; the only Indian race which chooses regularly its women



From neighbouring tribes; are in every respect superior to all



other American tribes。 If this is a law of nature; the rise and



progress which the cities of the Middle Ages displayed shortly



after their foundation; as well as the energy and fine bodily



appearance of the American people; are hence partly explained。







Chapter 19







The Manufacturing Power and the Instrumental Powers (Material



Capital) Of the Nation







    The nation derives its productive power from the mental and



physical powers of the individuals; from their social; municipal;



and political conditions and institutions; from the natural



resources placed at its disposal; or from the instruments it



possesses as the material products of former mental and bodily



exertions (material; agricultural; manufacturing; and commercial



capital)。 In the last two chapters we have dealt with the influence



of manufactures on the three first…named sources of the national



productive powers; the present and the following chapter are



devoted to the demonstration of its influence on the one last



named。



    That which we understand by the term 'instrumental powers' is



called 'capital' by the school。 It matters but little by what word



an object is signified; 

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