友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
list2-第34部分
快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
not perceive what rich fruits such a system would have yielded to
the Polish nation? By the aid of large and industrious towns; the
crown would have been rendered hereditary; the nobility would have
been obliged to make it convenient to take part in legislation in
a House of Peers; and to emancipate their serfs; agriculture would
have developed itself; as it has developed itself in England; the
Polish nobility would now be rich and respected; the Polish nation
would; even if not so respected and influential in the affairs of
the world as the English nation is; would have long ago become so
civilised and powerful as to extend its influence over the less
cultivated East。 Without a manufacturing power she has become
ruined and partitioned; and were she not so already she must have
become so。 Of its own accord and spontaneously no manufacturing
power was developed in her; it could not be so; because its efforts
would have been always frustrated by further advanced nations。
Without a system of protection; and under a system of free trade
with further advanced nations; even if Poland had retained her
independence up to the present time; she could never have carried
on anything more than a crippled agriculture; she could never have
become rich; powerful; and outwardly influential。
By the circumstance that so many natural resources and natural
powers are converted by the manufacturing power into productive
capital is the fact chiefly to be accounted for; that protective
regulations act so powerfully on the augmentation of national
wealth。 This prosperity is not a false appearance; like the effects
of restrictions on the trade in mere natural products; it is a
reality。 They are natural powers which are otherwise quite dead
natural resources which are otherwise quite valueless; which an
agricultural nation calls to life and renders valuable by
establishing a manufacturing power of its own。
It is an old observation; that the human race; like the various
breeds of animals; is improved mentally and bodily by crossings;
that man; if a few families always intermarry amongst one another;
just as the plant if the seed is always sown in the same soil;
gradually degenerates。 We seem obliged to attribute to this law of
nature the circumstance that among many wild or half…wild tribes in
Africa and Asia; whose numbers are limited; the men choose their
wives from foreign tribes。 The fact which experience shows; that
the oligarchies of small municipal republics; who continually
intermarry among themselves; gradually die out or visibly
degenerate; appears similarly attributable to such a natural law。
It is undeniable that the mixing of two quite different races
results; almost without exception; in a powerful and fine future
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
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!