The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-25 00:00:00

Ztt :7 tut

LONDON:
THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 25, 1842.

We endeavoured to show on Saturday that all
:rade is founded on great natural facts, such as
nequalities in the seasons, and differences in the
productions of different countries, while the great
wants of the human race, of food, clothing, and
shelter are comparatively steady, or subject only
to progressive augmentation ; that the great end
and object of all trade is to bring into harmony
these permanent and these varying facts, and
that it mainly accomplishes this great and bene-
ficent end by buying when and where commodi-
ties are cheap, that is not wanted, and selling
them when and where they are dear, that is
comparatively much wanted. We endeavoured,
therefore, to show that trade, instead of being a
cause of fluctuations in the condition of society,
as is continually assumed by Liberals, we regret
to say, as well as by Tories, or peculiarly liable
to fluctuations—like the produce of the harvest
from year to year—is the very means and instru-
ment by which fluctuations in the condition of
society are lessened, and the variations of sea-
sons and climates neutralized, so as to spread an
equal abundance over all the families of man-
kind. We adverted to the influence of legis-
lation in preventing the complete realization
of the natural and necessary results of
trade, but we did not pretend, in the compass
of a single column of a newspaper, to exhaust
such a vast subject, or nicely discriminate the
degree in which ill-considered and ill-contrived
laws have caused theSe fluctuations in the condi-
tion of our manufacturing comtnunity, which we
all deplore, and tome of the consequences of
which now show themselves in a painful disease
in the very heart of society. We propose, there-
fore, now to cast a hasty glance over this im-
portant branch of the subject.
It is, perhaps, hardly worth while to interrupt
the course of our argument by a reference to the
opinions of our Contemporaries—certainly not
with any view to enter into a profitless contro-
versy, but as the discussion has been forced on
by their making some hasty and random asser-
tions, it may not be considered courteous to
omit all notice of them. To our Saturday's re-
marks the Post objected :
One of our Contemporaries, who no doubt means very
well, and wishes to show us a view of the truth which it
is supposed has escaped our observation, presents us, in
reply, with a very vehement panegyric upon trade,
which is certainly rather stronger and more unguarded
than we are prepared to admit. But, to what purpose
is this panegyric given ? Are we enemies of trade ? Do
we wish to throw any discredit upon trade ? Have we
denied the usefulness of trade ? No ; but we think there
are more ways than one of carrying on the trade of a nation.
It may be carried on for the benefit of many, or only of
a few. It may be carried on in a sordid, selfish spirit, or
in an honourable, generous spirit. Trade is a good thing
under the government of good principles and generous
feelings ; but trade is not exactly the same thing as benevo-
lence, though one might suppose, from the language of
The Sun, that there are writers who consider the terms
synonymous.
We pass by all the observations except those
which concern the principle involved in carrying
on trade. Far from thinking trade in any de-
gree synonymous with benevolence, it is, we as-
sert, the very reverse. Benevolence proposes,
however ignorant it may be of the means, to do
good to others. Trade, whatever benefit it may
confer on mankind, is altogether set in motion
by the desire to benefit the trader. The latter
contemplates self; the former contemplates
others. What benevolence may have done to
nurture, to feed, to clothe, to civilize mankind, we
will not now inquire—we desire on this occasion

to avoid all sneers against behevolenee—but i

the most enlightened-benevolence that ever ye

inhabited a -human heart, were night and

day, and day and night, to devise schemes of
human improvement, it never would effect one
tithe of the magnificent benefits which trade,
conducted on the principle of self-interest, has
conferred on mankind. " The individual," says
Dr. SMITH, " neither intends to promote the
public interest, nor knows how much he is pro-
motingHe ii:tends only
it." " his own gain,
and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by
an invisible hand to promote an end which
was no part of his intention. Nor is it always
the worse for society that it was no part of it.
By pursuing his own interest he frequently pro-
motes that of society more effectually than
when he really intends to promote it. I have
never known much good done by those who
affected to trade for the public good." We re-
gard trade, therefore, almost as the reverse of
benevolence; it is altogether selfish, and there
is but one way of carrying it on. The principle
from which it springs must guide it throughout.
To make it advantageous it must be always car-
ried on exclusively with a view to self-advan-