26 ON THE TRUE CLAIMS TO ATTENTION 
the various branches of industry, is often founded on the assumption 
that different nations have essentially different interests, so that 
what would be beneficial to one might be injurious to another, and 
therefore that there really can be no general principles, but trial, 
experience, and the prudence of those interested must decide what 
is good in each particular instance. It may be replied that, even 
granting the interests of some nations to be naturally opposed, they 
must be so in consequence of certain circumstances of climate, pro- 
ductions, national character or mode of government, which may be 
understood and explained so as to bring the nations of the world 
into classes, the laws of economical science being definitely modified 
to meet the case of each class, and all sound opinions as to what is 
required for the general good, being still founded on a wide induction 
of facts, with proper care in tracing particular results to their real 
causes ; but, I believe, the more we examine the more completely we 
shall be convinced that economical science is based upon what is 
common to mankind in all circumstances, and gives us rules of gene- 
ral application,—that the more we study it the more thoroughly we 
believe that, as producers and exchangers of produce, there is one 
plan which suits us all,—that in peaceful intercourse we may 
help, but cannot injure each other, and that the intercourse which we 
are disposed to hold is the appointed means for diffusing the enjoy- 
ment of the productions of all climates, and distributing the blessings 
which flow from arts and industry, as well as those which luxuriant 
nature freely pours forth. Political economy has substituted for the 
narrow policy and mutual jealousies of former times, the principle 
that an industrious nation needs wealthy customers, and that the 
more other countries flourish the more certain it is that we can be 
useful to them and they to us, so that mutual interests should make 
each nation rejoice in others’ prosperity, and bind together the 
world in peace and harmony. This grand lesson of true science is 
becoming each day better and more widely understood, and will 
unite, we may hope, with more diffused sentiments of true religion, 
in checking the ravages of war, and disposing all the nations of men . 
to kindly feeling and the interchange of benefits. Certainly the 
notions of necessary opposition of interests and natural enmities are 
as unphilosophical as they are unchristian, and an objection founded 
upon them will have no weight with liberal minds. 
I will, in conclusion, point out in a few words the reasons why this 
