MACHINERY IN AGRICULTURE. 13 



the time of Adam Smith man's power of production 

 had already been so greatly developed as to enable a 

 fraction of the human family to provide for the wants 

 of all, a large portion not being productively employed, 

 but either absolutely idle, or engaged in the most de- 

 structive pursuits. 



In discussing this matter it must be borne- in mind 

 that we, like every other people, have a certain amount 

 of work to do neither more nor less ; and that is, to 

 supply ourselves with the necessaries and comforts of 

 life to produce of all that is useful and beautiful to 

 the extent of our ability to use and consume. We 

 can not do less than that and prosper ; neither can 

 any other people. Nations, like individuals, can exist 

 only by and through their own industries. Our peo- 

 ple can not exist upon the industries of any other so- 

 ciety, and no other people can be permitted to live 

 upon us. Every independent nation can, must, and 

 will, if wise, use its utmost power to protect its own 

 people in the work of providing for their own wants. 

 In view of these self evident principles there can be 

 no greater folly than that of hoping to be permitted 

 to produce and manufacture for others, except to a 

 very limited extent and for short and most uncertain 

 periods. 



Having the necessity of providing for ourselves only, 

 it follows that the amount of work required to be done, 

 whether by muscular or mechanical force, must be 

 measured by the amount that will supply the liberal 

 use and consumption of our own society. If at any 

 time before the present century we were able to pro- 

 duce sufficient to supply the three great wants of man 



