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money answers all things-第25部分
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Labour of the Industrious; as Multitudes always must;(26*) as long as any Taxes are raised on Goods。 This Reasoning holds as to our Laws; which are multiplied almost to Immensity; but ought to be reduced to so small a Volume; and be so clear and easy; that the meanest Subject may know the Laws of his Country as well as the greatest。 This is the Case in Denmark; and might be the same here; and then a vast Number of Hands would be gained to contribute to the Good of Society; in a Way congruous to the Circumstances of Mankind。 And as to the Practitioners in Physick; I am sure many of them must get their Livelihood this useful Way; because most of the Diseases and Vices which Mankind are so generally over…run with; will be prevented: For industry; and every social Virtue will certainly take Place;and remove those Vices and Corruptions; which have drawn in such prodigious Numbers; as this Profession is so horribly surcharged with。 And many of those who (for want of this useful Way to employ them) are now brought up to Divinity; would soon find the Way to be more usefully employed for their own Comfort and Support; than the Generality of that Profession now are; or ever can be; till such a Demand for their Skill and Industry is produced; as the full and sufficient Execution of this Proposal alone can effect。 For can it be imagined; that if so much Business could be made as I am aiming at; such a vast Number as now follows this Profession; the Generality of whom are not only insufficiently but scandalously rewarded; would not prefer the Profit; which; in every Employ; must be necessarily connected with such a Quantity of Business; as leaves it doubtful whether Hands sufficient can be found to perform and transact it? As to the Sword; I would have every Person in the Kingdom trained to all the needful military Exercises; in the utmost Perfection; and that from their earliest Capacity to receive any such Instructions; which; I am sure; would as effectually preserve us from the unjust Attacks of our Neighbours; as any Body of mercenary Forces we can maintain will ever do。 And; I think; we should be less liable to make any unjust Attacks on our Neighbours; in this Case; since Men will not easily be induced to leave their Families and Livelihoods; to carry War and Destruction to those that have not made it necessary。 But War seems now a civil Game; to divert Princes; and employ the numerous Troops they keep in Arms; whilst it is become so general a Practice to keep a standing Force; that they are almost become necessary even to free Kingdoms and States。 But if; after all; it should be found true; that we can't get Hands enough into Tillage; etc。 to carry this proposal compleatly to the End I am aiming at; yet this must itself be a cogent Reason for carrying this Mater as far as may be; since it is infinitely for the Happiness of Mankind; rather to want Hands to do all the work that may arise; than to have such a vast number of hands to spare; as are now degenerated into Vagabonds; relieved by the Publick; or almost perishing for want of Work enough to render Labour so valuable; as to be a sufficient; fit and natural Motive to make them industrious。 But; besides this Difficulty of wanting Hands sufficient to execute this Proposal effectually; 'tis objected; that the working People will not now work above 3 or 4 Days in a Week; but get drunk the other 2 or 3 days; and that this would be worse; if Necessaries were rendered so cheap as I am contending for。 In answer to which I must observe; that Necessaries can't be rendered so cheap; as I am aiming at; without employing more of the labouring Peoples Time and Labour; to raise such a Plenty of them as may make them cheaper。 Nor can there be this additional Employment for their Time and Labour; till the Reduction of the Price of Necessaries shall not only be this Way attempted; but proceeded in: If therefore I can prove that; notwithstanding the working People do waste a great deal of their Time; they nevertheless do Work enough; and too much too; as Things now stand; and that they would do more; if it were provided in a Way that would encourage their Industry; I hope no such Stress ought to be laid on this Objection; as to hinder the Execution of this Proposal。 And; First; I say the working People do work enough; because there is always such a Plenty of all Kinds of Goods in the Hands of the Venders; that the Consumers can always buy what they want。 This being undeniably true; shews that the working People; who alone make all these; do Work enough; the End of making them being to supply the Wants of the Consumers。 Again; I say; if it is become a Custom to hawk Goods about; to such an extraordinary Degree; that the Traders and Shopkeepers in most Parts of the Kingdom have petition'd the Parliament to have it prevented; because it disabled many of them to live; and pay their Rents; as they justly alledge; then there is not only Work enough; but too much done; since it hurts both the Traders; and Landlords of Houses; by a greater Plenty of Goods than those who should be the Consumers of them are able to purchase: For this too great Plenty of Goods is the sole Foundation of Hawking them。 The like may be said of giving any considerable Credit; either as to Sums or Time。 I wish I could say; the Plenty of the Necessaries of Life was as great as the Plenty of all other Things always is: But this is so far otherwise; that but 4 or 5 Years ago; many Thousands of Poor; in several Parts of the Kingdom; were forced to live on such unwholesome Trash; as introduced a Distemper little less than Pestilential; and almost; if not altogether as fatal to them; whole Families being frequently swept away by it in a few Days; and probably many were actually starved to Death。 See Mr Richard Bradley's Philosophical Enquiry into the late severe Winter; and Scarcity and Dearness of Provision。 Again; if there be any flagrant Marks of a Decay of Trade upon us (and I will presently produce enough of them) then there is evidently more Work done; than either our domestick or foreign Trade doth require; let the Time wasted by our working People be what it will: For a decay of Trade; and a sufficient Demand for the Goods we make; are incompatible Things。 But I shall offer an Instance; to shew that the working People can and will do a great deal more Work than they do; if they were sufficiently encouraged。 For I take it for a Maxim; that the People of no Class will ever want Industry; if they don't want Encouragement: The Truth of which is as certain and undeniable; as that the Consumer; if he had money to pay for ti; and was willing to buy; never yet went entirely without any staple Commodity whatsoever; or indeed without any other common thing he wanted。 And if the labouring People do so much Work under the discouraging Wages; which I have shewn; are not equal to 2/3 of the necessary Charge of a middling Family; what might we not expect; if they were animated by a sufficient Supply; and those Temptation removed; which I have shewn; are the greatest Snares to them; and which I think would certainly in a great Measure be remov'd; if this Proposal were to be executed? The Instance I sh
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