282 ADMINISTRATIVE NIHILISM VT 



the same way. A thousand men may enjoy the 

 pleasure derived from a picture, a symphony, or 

 a pen -m, Avithout lessening the happiness of the 

 most devoted connoisseur. The investigation of 

 Nature is an infinite pasture-ground, where all 

 may graze, and where the more bite, the longer 

 the grass grows, the sweeter is its flavour, and 

 the more it nourishes. If I love a friend, it is 

 no damage to me, but rather a pleasure, if all the 

 world also love him and think of him as highly 

 as I do. 



, It appears to be universally agreed, for the 



-> reasons already mentioned, that it is unnecessary 

 and undesirable, JoiLlLe-Stata lo attempt to pro- 

 mote the acquisition of wealth by any direct 

 interference with commerce. But there is no_sueh 

 agreement as to the further question whether 

 the State may not promote the acquisition of 

 ^ wealth by indirqpt mf>ans F<>r example, may 

 the State make a road, or build a harbour, when 

 it is quite clear that by so doing it will open 

 up a productive district, and thereby add enor- 

 mously to the total wealth of the community ? 

 And if so, may the State, acting for the general 

 good, take charge of the means of communication 

 between its members, or of the postal and t 

 graph services ? I have not yet met with any 

 valid argument against the propriety of the State 

 d< iii ig what our Government does in this matter; 

 except the assumption, which remains t be 



