THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. 731 



some denial, and a great many expressions of doubt ; but it seems suf- 

 cient to say that, if the more democratic form of industry were at pres- 

 ent practicable, it would not have failed so often as it has in picked 

 cases. Lastly, not only would there be less wealth to distribute, but 

 the number among whom it would be divided would, from known bio- 

 logical laws, be increased in a startling ratio ; only afterward to dimin- 

 ish with the same excessive speed when the penalty for waste fell upon 

 the world.* 



It thus becomes plain that it is difficult, not to say impossible, to 

 tell where a more equal distribution of wealth will be for the public 

 advantage ; and particularly how equal the distribution should be. 

 It is a matter far too delicate for the wisest assembly that ever sat. 

 Even if this were not the case, there should still be no interference 

 with the natural ratios of distribution, and for this reason, which lies 

 at the heart of all our remarks : that the want of economic virtues in 

 the mass is the exact measure of the advantage of the few. The few 

 can not surpass the many except as their superiority permits, and any 

 limitation of the free action of the superior is therefore certain to re- 

 sult in public economic damage ; and hence the best adaptation of 

 the ratios of distribution is natural, and not artificial or legislative. 

 The result of our special examination is a confirmation of our general 

 examination. 



We have still to deal with the question of inheritance. The acqui- 

 sition of large properties in this way is in conflict with the first principle 

 of a free industrial system, which in general requires each person to 

 earn what he gets, excepting children and the infirm or aged. Here 

 too, however, there are opposing considerations. In the first place, 

 there is no way to prevent the transmission of property if wills were 

 made legally null, their office could be practically occupied in various 

 ways. Even overlooking this obstacle, we are confronted with the 

 damage resulting from the embargo on the natural activities and affec- 

 tions of men. The economic damage thus resulting would be inesti- 

 mable. Again, the management of property acquires, by means of 

 inheritance and bequest, a stability very necessary for the best results. 

 And here, too, as in the former case, it is impossible to be sure that 

 the spontaneous desires of men do not in the long run lead to the pub- 

 lic advantage. Probably the sentiments governing this matter are as 

 much the offspring of social discipline as the sentiments called moral. 

 We find that customs of inheritance change from age to age and con- 

 form to the temper of the time. In an age like the present the first 



* A certain increase of population has, as Mr. George says, the effect of increasing 

 every man's share of the total production, through the increased division of labor allowed ; 

 but, obviously, that increase can outrun the capacity for profiting by it. If the entire 

 population of China were landed in the United States at once, a great many several 

 hundred millions, probably would starve before our industrial system could adapt itself 

 to the vast increase of population. 



