Part 9 (2/2)

What do _we_ maintain? and what do _you_ maintain?

We maintain that ”it is best to buy froher price”

You h it should cost usaside theory, des which seem to nauseate you,) which of these assertions is sanctioned by _universal practice_?

Visit our fields, workshops, forges, stores; look above, below, and around you; exa in your own household; observe your own actions at every moment, and say which principle it is, that directs these laborers, workmen, contractors, and merchants; say what is your own personal _practice_

Does the agriculturist rain which he consumes? Does not your housekeeper cease to make her bread at home, as soon as she finds it more economical to buy it fro-brush in order to avoid paying tribute to the shoe-black? Does not the whole economy of society depend upon a separation of occupations, a division of labor, in a word, upon e of production, by which we, one and all, make a calculation which causes us to discontinue direct production, when indirect acquisition offers us a saving of time and labor

You are not then sustained by _practice_, since it would be ileto your principle

You may answer that you never intended to make your principle the rule of individual relations You confess that it would thus destroy all social ties, and force overns _in fact_, the relations which are established between the agglomerations of the human family

We say that this assertion too is erroneous A faglomerations, which, without any exception, all _practically_ reject your principle; never, indeed, even think of it Each of these procures by barter, ould be more expensively procured by production Nations would do the same, did you not _by force_ prevent theuided by practice and experience For to combat the interdict which you have specially put upon so forward the practice and experience of all individuals, and of all agglo voluntary, render theiven as proof in the question But you, on your part, begin by _forcing_, by _hindering_, and then, adducing forced or forbidden acts, you exclaim: ”Look; we can prove ourselves justified by exaainst _all theory_ But are you certain, in laying down your principles, so antagonistic to ours, that you too are not building up theories? Truly, you too have your theory; but between yours and ours there is this difference:

Our theory is formed upon the observation of universal _facts_, universal senti e these, in order to better understand them It is so little opposed to practice, that it is in fact only _practice explained_ We look upon the actions of men as proress What they do freely, willingly,--this is e call _Political Economy_, or economy of society We must repeat constantly that each man is _practically_ an excellent political econoe dictates Each by experience raises hi more than experience, scrupulously observed and methodically expounded

But _your_ theory is _theory_ in the worst sense of the word You iine procedures which are sanctioned by the experience of no living man, and then call to your aid constraint and prohibition You cannot avoid having recourse to force; because, wishi+ng to eously_ buy, you require thee, and to be led by a doctrine which implies contradiction even in its terms

I defy you too, to take this doctrine, which by your own avoould be absurd in individual relations, and apply it, even in speculation, to transactions between families, towns, departments, or provinces You yourselves confess that it is only applicable to internal relations

Thus it is that you are daily forced to repeat:

”Principles can never be universal What is _well_ in an individual, a faood in detail--for instance: purchase rather than production, where purchase is eous--is _bad_ in a society The political economy of individuals is not that of nations;” and other such stuff, _ejusdem farinae_

And all this for what? To prove to us, that we consu to you, soul and body! that you have an exclusive right on our stoht to feed and dress us at your own price, however great your ignorance, your rapacity, or the inferiority of your work

Truly, then, your system is one not founded upon practice; it is one of abstraction--of extortion

XIV

CONFLICTING PRINCIPLES

There is one thing which embarrassesupon the subject of political economy the point of view of producers, have arrived at this double forovernment should dispose of consumers subject to its laws in favor of hon consumers, in order to dispose of them in favor of home industry”

The first of the formulas is that of _Protection_; the second that of _Outlets_