defence of usury-第15节
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to pick out bad projects from the good。 Is it worth while to add； which I think I may do with some truth； that the tendency of them is rather to pick the good out from the bad？ Thus much at least may be said； and it comes to the same thing； that there is one case in which； be the project what it may； they may have the effect of checking it； and another in which they can have no such effect； and that the first has for its accompaniment； and that a necessary one； a circumstance which has a strong tendency to separate and discard every project of the injudicious stamp； but which is wanting in the other case。 I mean； in a word； the benefit of discussion。 It is evident enough； that upon all such projects； whatever be their nature； as find funds sufficient to carry them on； in the hands of him whose invention gave them birth； these laws are perfectly； and if by this time you will allow me to say so； very happily； without power。 But for these there has not necessarily been any other judge； prior to experience； than the inventor's own partial affection。 It is not only not necessary that they should have had； but it is natural enough that they should not have had； any such judge： since in most cases the advantage to be expected from the project depends upon the exclusive property in it； and consequently upon the concealment of the principle。 Think； on the other hand； how different is the lot of that enterprize which depends upon the good opinion of another man； that other； a man possessed of the wealth which the projector wants； and before whom necessity forces him to appear in the character of a suppliant at least： happy if； in the imagination of his judge； he adds not to that degrading character； that of a visionary enthusiast or an impostor！ At any rate； there are； in this case； two wits； set to sift into the merits of the project； for one； which was employed upon that same task in the other case： and of these two there is one； whose prejudices are certainly not most likely to be on the favourable side。 True it is； that in the jumble of occurrences； an over…sanguine projector may stumble upon a patron as over…sanguine as himself； and the wishes may bribe the judgment of the one； as they did of the other。 The opposite case； however； you will allow； I think； to be by much the more natural。 Whatever a man's wishes may be for the success of an enterprize not yet his own； his fears are likely to be still stronger。 That same pretty generally implanted principle of vanity and self…conceit； which disposes most of us to over…value each of us his own conceptions； disposes us； in a proportionable degree； to undervalue those of other men。 Is it worth adding； though it be undeniably true； that could it even be proved； by ever so uncontrovertible evidence； that； from the beginning of time to the present day； there never was a project that did not terminate in the ruin of its author； not even from such a fact as this could the legislator derive any sufficient warrant； so much as for wishing to see the spirit of projects in any degree repressed？ The discouraging motto； Sic vos non vobis； may be matter of serious consideration to the individual； but what is it to the legislator？ What general； let him attack with ever so superior an army； but knows that hundreds； or perhaps thousands； must perish at the first onset？ Shall he； for that consideration alone； lie inactive in his lines？ 〃Every man for himself but God；〃 adds the proverb （and it might have added the general； and the legislator； and all other public servants）； 〃for us all。〃 Those sacrifices of individual to general welfare； which； on so many occasions； are made by third persons against men's wills； shall the parties themselves be restrained from making； when they do it of their own choice？ To tie men neck and heels； and throw them into the gulphs I have been speaking of； is altogether out of the question： but if at every gulph a Curtius stands mounted and caparisoned； ready to take the leap； is it for the legislator； in a fit of old…womanish tenderness； to pull him away？ laying even public interest out of the question； and considering nothing but the feelings of the individuals immediately concerned； a legislator would scarcely do so； who knew the value of hope； 〃the most precious gift of heaven。〃 Consider； Sir； that it is not with the invention…lottery （that great branch of the project…lottery； for the sake of which I am defending the whole； and must continue so to do until you or somebody else can shew me how to defend it on better terms）； it is not I say with the invention…lottery； as with the mine…lottery； the privateering…lottery； and so many other lotteries； which you speak of； and in no。 instance； I think； very much to their advantage。 In these lines； success does not； as in this； arise out of the embers of ill success； and thence propagate itself； by a happy contagion； perhaps to all eternity。 let Titius have found a mine； it is not the more easy； but by so much the less easy； for Sempronius to find one too： let Titius have made a capture； it is not the more easy； but by so much the less easy； for Sempronius to do the like。 But let Titius have found out a new dye； more brilliant or more durable than those in use； let him have invented a new and more convenient machine； or a new and more profitable mode of husbandry； a thousand dyers； ten thousand mechanics； a hundred thousand husbandmen； may repeat and multiply his success： and then； what is it to the public； though the fortune of Titius； or of his usurer。 should have sunk under the experiment？ Birmingham and Sheffield are pitched upon by you as examples； the one of a projecting town； the other of an unprojecting one。（31*） Can you forgive my saying； I rather wonder that this comparison of your own chosing； did not suggest some suspicions of the justice of the conceptions you had taken up； to the disadvantage of projectors。 Sheffield is an old oak： Birmingham； but a mushroom。 What if we should find the mushroom still vaster and more vigorous than the oak？ Not but the one as well as the other； at what time soever planted； must equally have been planted by projectors： for though Tubal Cain himself were to be brought post from Armenia to plant Sheffield； Tubal Cain himself was as arrant a projector in his day； as ever Sir Thomas Lombe was； or Bishop Blaise： but Birmingham； it seems； claims in common parlance the title of a projecting town； to the exclusion of the other； because； being but of yesterday； the spirit of project smells fresher and stronger there than elsewhere。 When the odious sound of the word projector no longer tingles in your ears； the race of men thus stigmatized do not always find you their enemy。 Projects； even under the name of 〃dangerous and expensive experiments；〃 are represented as not unfit to be encouraged； even though monopoly be the means： and the monopoly is defended in that instance； by its similarity to other instances in which the like means are employed to the like purpose。 〃When a company of merchants undertake at their own risk and expence to establish a new trade； with some remote and barbarous nation； it may not be unreasonable〃 （you observe） 〃to incorporate them into a joint…stock company； and to grant them； in case of their success； a monopoly of the trade for a certain number of years。 It is the easiest and most natural way； in which the state can recompense them； for hazarding a dangerous and expensive experiment； of which the public is afterwards to reap the benefit。 A temporary monopoly of this kind may be vindicated； upon the same principles； upon which a like monopoly of a new machine is granted to its inventor； and that of a new book to its author。〃 Private respect must not stop me from embracing this occasion of giving a warning； which is so much needed by mankind。 If so original and independent a spirit has not been always able to save itself from being drawn aside by the fascination of sounds； into the paths of vulgar prejudice； how strict a watch ought not men of common mould to set over their judgments； to save themselves from being led astray by similar delusions？ I have sometimes been tempted to think； that were it in the power of laws to put words under proscription； as it is to put men； the cause of inventive industry might perhaps derive scarcely less assistance from a bill of attainder against the words project and Projectors； than it has derived from the act authorizing the grant of patents。 I should add； however； for a time： for even then the envy； and vanity； and wounded pride； of the uningenious herd； would sooner or later infuse their venom into some other word； and set it up as a new tyrant； to hover； like its predecessor； over the birth of infant genius； and crush it in its cradle。 Will not you accuse me of pushing malice beyond all bounds； if I bring down against you so numerous and respectable a body of men； as the members of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts？ I do not； must not； care： for you command too much respect to have any claim to mercy。 At least you will not accuse me of spiriting up against you barbarian enemies； and devoting you to the vengeance of Cherokees and Chicasaws。 Of that popular institution； the very professed and c
