THE FISCAL SYSTEM 225 



forward. One well-known and esteemed resi- 

 dent, who has held high office in the country 

 and spent his time and his own money in 

 endeavouring to develop her resources, is now 

 after thirty years giving it up, driven out as he 

 declares by the obstructing laws of his own 

 country. He is typical of the majority of Portu- 

 guese, who would ardently welcome a strong 

 revising hand secure of support from Lisbon to 

 reconstruct the fiscal system. There are not 

 wanting signs that their hopes will be fulfilled. 

 Monopolies constitute another barrier to pro- 

 gress. In some of the districts one person has 

 the monopoly of selling firewood, another paraffin, 

 another alcohol, another mineral waters. The 

 prazo system is a monopoly over the best land 

 in the country by a few companies whose capital 

 is totally inadequate for their task. One prazo 

 company controlling about four million acres of 

 land has a capital of but £6,000. The system 

 whereby planters are dependent upon the adminis- 

 trators for their labour supply amounts to a 

 monopoly of labour by the Government. The 

 French economist, Morellet, endorsed by Franklin 

 and quoted by Lord Acton, wrote that he pre- 

 ferred liberty of trading, cultivating, manufactur- 

 ing, &c., even to civil liberty, this being affected 

 but rarely, the other every hour. 



