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nations is enriched； and； much more； with a new degree of probity。
The expense of crime； one of the principal charges of every nation；
is so far stopped。 In Europe； crime is observed to increase or abate
with the price of bread。 If the Rothschilds at Paris do not accept
bills； the people at Manchester； at Paisley； at Birmingham； are
forced into the highway； and landlords are shot down in Ireland。 The
police records attest it。 The vibrations are presently felt in New
York； New Orleans； and Chicago。 Not much otherwise； the economical
power touches the masses through the political lords。 Rothschild
refuses the Russian loan； and there is peace； and the harvests are
saved。 He takes it； and there is war； and an agitation through a
large portion of mankind； with every hideous result； ending in
revolution； and a new order。
Wealth brings with it its own checks and balances。 The basis
of political economy is non…interference。 The only safe rule is
found in the self…adjusting meter of demand and supply。 Do not
legislate。 Meddle； and you snap the sinews with your sumptuary laws。
Give no bounties： make equal laws： secure life and property； and you
need not give alms。 Open the doors of opportunity to talent and
virtue； and they will do themselves justice； and property will not be
in bad hands。 In a free and just commonwealth； property rushes from
the idle and imbecile； to the industrious； brave； and persevering。
The laws of nature play through trade； as a toy…battery
exhibits the effects of electricity。 The level of the sea is not
more surely kept； than is the equilibrium of value in society； by the
demand and supply： and artifice or legislation punishes itself； by
reactions； gluts； and bankruptcies。 The sublime laws play
indifferently through atoms and galaxies。 Whoever knows what happens
in the getting and spending of a loaf of bread and a pint of beer；
that no wishing will change the rigorous limits of pints and penny
loaves； that； for all that is consumed； so much less remains in the
basket and pot； but what is gone out of these is not wasted； but well
spent； if it nourish his body； and enable him to finish his task；
knows all of political economy that the budgets of empires can teach
him。 The interest of petty economy is this symbolization of the
great economy； the way in which a house； and a private man's methods；
tally with the solar system； and the laws of give and take；
throughout nature； and； however wary we are of the falsehoods and
petty tricks which we suicidally play off on each other； every man
has a certain satisfaction； whenever his dealing touches on the
inevitable facts； when he sees that things themselves dictate the
price； as they always tend to do； and； in large manufactures； are
seen to do。 Your paper is not fine or coarse enough； is too
heavy； or too thin。 The manufacturer says； he will furnish you with
just that thickness or thinness you want； the pattern is quite
indifferent to him； here is his schedule； any variety of paper； as
cheaper or dearer； with the prices annexed。 A pound of paper costs
so much； and you may have it made up in any pattern you fancy。
There is in all our dealings a self…regulation that supersedes
chaffering。 You will rent a house； but must have it cheap。 The
owner can reduce the rent； but so he incapacitates himself from
making proper repairs； and the tenant gets not the house he would
have； but a worse one； besides； that a relation a little injurious is
established between land…lord and tenant。 You dismiss your laborer；
saying； 〃Patrick； I shall send for you as soon as I cannot do without
you。〃 Patrick goes off contented； for he knows that the weeds will
grow with the potatoes； the vines must be planted； next week； and；
however unwilling you may be； the cantelopes； crook…necks； and
cucumbers will send for him。 Who but must wish that all labor and
value should stand on the same simple and surly market？ If it is the
best of its kind； it will。 We must have joiner； locksmith； planter；
priest； poet； doctor； cook； weaver； ostler； each in turn； through the
year。
If a St。 Michael's pear sells for a shilling； it costs a
shilling to raise it。 If； in Boston； the best securities offer
twelve _per cent_。 for money； they have just six _per cent_。 of
insecurity。 You may not see that the fine pear costs you a shilling；
but it costs the community so much。 The shilling represents the
number of enemies the pear has； and the amount of risk in ripening
it。 The price of coal shows the narrowness of the coal…field； and a
compulsory confinement of the miners to a certain district。 All
salaries are reckoned on contingent； as well as on actual services。
〃If the wind were always southwest by west；〃 said the skipper； 〃women
might take ships to sea。〃 One might say； that all things are of one
price； that nothing is cheap or dear； and that the apparent
disparities that strike us； are only a shopman's trick of concealing
the damage in your bargain。 A youth coming into the city from his
native New Hampshire farm； with its hard fare still fresh in his
remembrance； boards at a first…class hotel； and believes he must
somehow have outwitted Dr。 Franklin and Malthus； for luxuries are
cheap。 But he pays for the one convenience of a better dinner； by
the loss of some of the richest social and educational advantages。
He has lost what guards！ what incentives！ He will perhaps find by
and by； that he left the Muses at the door of the hotel； and found
the Furies inside。 Money often costs too much； and power and
pleasure are not cheap。 The ancient poet said； 〃the gods sell all
things at a fair price。〃
There is an example of the compensations in the commercial
history of this country。 When the European wars threw the
carrying…trade of the world； from 1800 to 1812； into American
bottoms； a seizure was now and then made of an American ship。 Of
course； the loss was serious to the owner； but the country was
indemnified； for we charged threepence a pound for carrying cotton；
sixpence for tobacco； and so on； which paid for the risk and loss；
and brought into the country an immense prosperity； early marriages；
private wealth； the building of cities； and of states： and； after the
war was over； we received compensation over and above； by treaty； for
all the seizures。 Well； the Americans grew rich and great。 But the
pay…day comes round。 Britain； France； and Germany； which our
extraordinary profits had impoverished； send out； attracted by the
fame of our advantages； first their thousands； then their millions；
of poor people； to share the crop。 At first； we employ them； and
increase our prosperity： but； in the artificial system of society and
of protected labor； which we also have adopted and enlarged； there
come presently checks and stoppages。 Then we refuse to employ these
poor men。 But they will not so be answered。 They go into the