Part 2 (1/2)

As these two interests are immediately opposed to each other, it follows that if one coincides with the general interest of society the other islation favor as contributing ood of the community?

To determine this question, it suffices to inquire in which the secret desires of the majority of men would be accomplished

Inasmuch as we are producers, it must be confessed that we have each of us anti-social desires Are we vine-growers? It would not distress _us_ were the frost to nip all the vines in the world except our own: _this is the scarcity theory_ Are we iron-workers? We would desire (whatever ht be the public need) that the market should offer no iron but our own; and precisely for the reason that this need, painfully felt and ih price for _our_ iron: _again here is the theory of scarcity_ Are we agriculturists? We say with Mr Bugeaud, let bread be dear, that is to say scarce, and our business goes well: _again the theory of scarcity_

Are we physicians? We cannot but see that certain physical ameliorations, such as the improved climate of the country, the develope pushed to the extent of enabling each individual to take care of his own health, the discovery of certain simple remedies easily applied, would be so many fatal blows to our profession As physicians, then, our secret desires are anti-social I must not be understood to imply that physicians allow themselves to form such desires I am happy to believe that they would hail with joy a universal panacea But in such a sentiment it is the man, the Christian, who ation of self, takes that point of view of the question, which belongs to the consu fro in society, his comforts, even the means of existence of his family, it is impossible but that his desires, or if you please so to word it, his interests, should be anti-social

Are we oods? We desire to sell theeous to _ourselves_ We would willingly consent to the suppression of all rival manufactories And if we dare not publicly express this desire, or pursue the complete realization of it with some success, we do so, at least to a certain extent, by indirect oods, in order to diminish the _quantity offered_, and to produce thus by forcible

We ht thus pass in review every business and every profession, and should always find that the producers, _in their character of producers_, have invariably anti-social interests ”The shop-keeper (says Montaigne) succeeds in his business through the extravagance of youth; the laborer by the high price of grain; the architect by the decay of houses; officers of justice by lawsuits and quarrels The standing and occupation even of ion are drawn from our death and our vices No physician takes pleasure in the health even of his friends; no soldier in the peace of his country; and so on with all”

If then the secret desires of each producer were realized, the world would rapidly retrograde towards barbarism The sail would proscribe steaive way to wagons, the wagon to the mule, and the mule to the foot-peddler Wool would exclude cotton; cotton would exclude wool; and thus on, until the scarcity and want of every thing would cause lobe

Ifgo on to consider the immediate interest of the _consumer_, we shall find it in perfect har of humanity When the buyer presents himself in the market, he desires to find it abundantly furnished He sees with pleasure propitious seasons for harvesting; wonderful inventions putting within his reach the largest possible quantity of produce; time and labor saved; distances effaced; the spirit of peace and justice diht of taxes; every barrier to improvement cast down; and in all this his interest runs parallel with an enlightened public interest He ht, but never can they cease to be hu in their tendency He , house and hearth, instruction and th and health, should come to us without limit and without labor or effort on our part, as the water of the stream, the air which we breathe, and the sunbeams in which we bask, but never could the realization of his ood of society

It ranted, the labor of the producer constantly checked would end by being entirely arrested for want of support But why? Because in this extreinable need and desire would be completely satisfied Man, like the All-powerful, would create by the single act of his will How in such an hypothesis could laborious production be regretted?

Iislative assembly composed of producers, of whom each member should cause to pass into a law his secret desire as a _producer_; the code which would e but systematized monopoly; the scarcity theory put into practice

In the same manner, an assembly in which each member should consult only his i of free trade; the suppression of every restrictive measure; the destruction of artificial barriers; in a word, would realize the theory of abundance

It follows then,

That to consult exclusively the immediate interest of the producer, is to consult an anti-social interest

To take exclusively for basis the interest of the consueneral interest

Let me be perh at the risk of repetition

A radical antagonism exists between the seller and the buyer

The former wishes the article offered to be _scarce_, supply sh price

The latter wishes it _abundant_, supply large, and at a low price

The lahich should at least reainst the buyer; for the producer against the consuainst abundance They act, if not intentionally at least logically, upon the principle that _a nation is rich in proportion as it is in want of every thing_

For, say they, it is necessary to favor the producer by securing hioods To effect this, their price must be raised; to raise the price the supply must be diminished; and to diminish the supply is to create scarcity

Let us suppose that at this moment, with these laws in full action, a coht, measure and quantity, of all articles now in France calculated to supply the necessities and pleasures of its inhabitants; as grain, oods, fuel, etc

Let us suppose again that to-oods should be ree of the effect of such a reform, let a new inventory be made three months hence