DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH 303 



interest, and, whatever be urged by the advocates 

 of peace, must augment the resources of the 

 nation which exacts it. This is also the case 

 with tributes and subsidies, and money which 

 is expended by foreign travellers. The Swiss 

 have, indeed, built up their prosperity with the 

 money which has been attracted by the scenery 

 of their land. The wealth which England ob- 

 tained from her tropical dominions especially 

 from India and Jamaica was the stepping-stone 

 to her present riches and commanding commer- 

 cial position. How many families have been 

 founded, how many noble mansions built, with 

 the profits of indigo, tea, and sugar ! From the 

 whole world she levies contributions by her 

 earnings in the ocean carrying trade. 



<: i 



We turn now to the distribution of wealth 

 to the influences which determine its appropria- 

 tion by individuals, and result in the distinction 

 between rich and poor. The simplest and most 

 ancient of these influences is force. The criminal 

 classes still employ it. The levy of taxes by the 

 State, and, in many cases, the exaction of rent 

 by a landlord are ultimately secured by force. 

 A community settled upon land which it was the 

 first to colonize, would hardly appreciate the 

 meaning of rent : each cultivator would expect 

 to keep the whole of his produce. But, when 

 conquered by invaders, they would be forcibly 

 taught that the profits of agriculture leave some- 

 thing for a landlord to exact ; and that, indeed, 

 under the rule of force, the cultivator may con- 

 fidently expect to retain only so much of the 

 produce as will keep him from starvation. Rents 

 are now commonly regulated by competition, by 

 custom, by kindness, or by law, and their just 



