PREFACE. XXI 



the effect of the method in which trade has been 

 carried on has been to make colossal fortunes in 

 the midst of starving millions, and to increase con- 

 tinually the clamour for bread from multitudes 

 ready to perish. 



Traders and manufacturers can always find mar- 

 kets and consumers much better when left to their 

 own ingenuity than when a government endeavours 

 to assist them ; and from thence the economists 

 draw the erroneous conclusion, that government 

 ought not to interfere with trade and traders let the 

 consequences be what they may. Thus, although 

 it be shown that trade and manufactures pushed 

 beyond a certain point produce the misery of the 

 lower orders, and that the rich capitalists alone 

 profit by it, still the economists contend that trade 

 and manufactures must not be discouraged. 



Statesmen are of a higher grade than either mer- 

 chants, manufacturers, or economists ; their busi- 

 ness is with the welfare of the whole of the popula- 

 tion of the country ; not with their ephemeral money- 

 making interests only, but with the whole moral 

 as well as physical, permanent as well as temporary, 

 prosperity of the kingdom which they are called 

 upon to govern. The interests which are tempo- 

 rary, however specious, must give way to those 

 which are permanent : although trade may bring in 

 a large income to-day, yet if it call into being a 



