按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
supposing two or three； or possibly the half of them； hit upon a lode；
19
… Page 20…
On Revenues
clearly these several operations will proportionally be more remunerative
still。 That the whole ten will fail is not at all in accordance with what we
should expect from the history of the past。 It is possible； of course； for
private persons to combine in the same way；＇35＇ and share their fortunes
and minimise their risks。 Nor need you apprehend； sirs； that a state mining
company； established on this principle； will prove a thorn in the side＇36＇
of the private owner； or the private owner prove injurious to the state。 But
rather like allies who render each other stronger the more they
combine；＇37＇ so in these silver mines； the greater number of companies at
work＇38＇ the larger the riches they will discover and disinter。＇39＇
＇35＇ 〃To form similar joint…stock companies。〃
＇36＇ See 〃Cyneg。〃 v。 5。
＇37＇ Or； 〃deriving strength from combination。〃
＇38＇ Co…operators。
＇39＇ Reading ｛ekphoresousi｝； after Cobet。
This then is a statement； as far as I can make it clear； of the method by
which； with the proper state organisation； every Athenian may be supplied
with ample maintenance at the public expense。 Possibly some of you may
be calculating that the capital＇40＇ requisite will be enormous。 They may
doubt if a sufficient sum will ever be subscribed to meet all the needs。 All
I can say is； even so； do not dispond。 It is not as if it were necessary that
every feature of the scheme should be carried out at once； or else there is
to be no advantage in it at all。 On the contrary； whatever number of houses
are erected； or ships are built； or slaves purchased； etc。； these portions will
begin to pay at once。 In fact； the bit…by…bit method of proceeding will be
more advantageous than a simultaneous carrying into effect of the whole
plan； to this extent： if we set about erecting buildings wholesale＇41＇ we
shall make a more expensive and worse job of it than if we finish them off
gradually。 Again； if we set about bidding for hundreds of slaves at once we
shall be forced to purchase an inferior type at a higher cost。 Whereas； if we
proceed tentatively； as we find ourselves able；＇42＇ we can complete any
well…devised attempt at our leisure；＇43＇ and； in case of any obvious failure；
take warning and not repeat it。 Again； if everything were to be carried out
at once； it is we； sirs； who must make the whole provision at our
20
… Page 21…
On Revenues
expense。＇44＇ Whereas； if part were proceeded with and part stood over； the
portion of revenue in hand will help to furnish what is necessary to go on
with。 But to come now to what every one probably will regard as a really
grave danger； lest the state may become possessed of an over large number
of slaves； with the result that the works will be overstocked。 That again is
an apprehension which we may escape if we are careful not to put into the
works more hands from year to year than the works themselves demand。
Thus＇45＇ I am persuaded that the easiest method of carrying out this
scheme； as a whole； is also the best。 If； however； you are persuaded that；
owing to the extraordinary property taxes＇46＇ to which you have been
subjected during the present war； you will not be equal to any further
contributions at present；＇47＇ what you should do is this：＇48＇ during the
current year resolve to carry on the financial administration of the state
within the limits of a sum equivalent to that which your dues＇49＇ realised
before the peace。 That done； you are at liberty to take any surplus sum；
whether directly traceable to the peace itself； or to the more courteous
treatment of our resident aliens and traders； or to the growth of the imports
and exports； coincident with the collecting together of larger masses of
human beings； or to an augmentation of harbour＇50＇ and market dues： this
surplus； I say； however derived； you should take and invest＇51＇ so as to
bring in the greatest revenue。＇52＇
＇40＇ Or； 〃sinking fund。〃
＇41＇ ｛athrooi｝〃in a body。〃 It is a military phrase； I think。 In
close order； as it were； not in detachments。
＇42＇ 〃According to our ability；〃 a favourite Socratic phrase。
＇43＇ ｛authis｝。 See for this corrupt passage Zurborg； 〃Comm。〃 p。 31。
He would insert； 〃and a little delay will not be prejudicial to our
interests； but rather the contrary；〃 or to that effect； thus： ｛kai authis
an ＇anutoimen ou gar toiaute te anabole blaben genesthai an＇ emin
oiometha｝ 〃vel simile aliquid。〃
＇44＇ Or； 〃it is we who must bear the whole burthen of the outlay。〃
＇45＇ ｛outos｝； 〃so far； unless I am mistaken； the easiest method is the
best。〃
＇46＇ Or； 〃heavy contributions； subscriptions incidental to；〃 but the
21
… Page 22…
On Revenues
word ｛eisphoras｝ is technical。 For the exhaustion of the treasury see
Dem。 〃Lept。〃 464； Grote； 〃H。 G。〃xi。 326。
＇47＇ Or； 〃you will not be able to subscribe a single penny more。〃
＇48＇ ｛umeis de｝； you are masters of the situation。 It lies with you to
carry on； etc。； ｛dioikeite｝ is of course imperative。
＇49＇ Or； 〃taxes。〃
＇50＇ Reading； after Zurborg； ｛dia ta ellimenia｝。 Or； if the vulg。 ｛dia
en limeni｝； transl。 〃an augmentation of market dues at Piraeus。〃
＇51＇ I。e。 as fixed capital； or； 〃you should expend on plant。〃
＇52＇ Or； adopting Zurborg's emend； ｛os an pleista eggignetai｝； transl。
〃for the purposes of the present scheme as far as it may be
available。〃
Again； if there is an apprehension on the part of any that the whole
scheme＇53＇ will crumble into nothing on the first outbreak of war； I would
only beg these alarmists to note that； under the condition of things which
we propose to bring about； war will have more terrors for the attacking
party than for this state。 Since what possession I should like to know can
be more serviceable for war than that of men？ Think of the many ships
which they will be capable of manning on public service。 Think