Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-04-18

qualified for his own business. Then,
it is the theory of the protectionist
that it is for the advantage of a, b.
C and ID to transfer an indefinite part
of their energy to Z; and A, B, and
L to transfer part to d; and A, B,
d and Z to transfer a portion to c; a,
c, d and Z to transfer part to B, ETC.:
and the implied conclusion is, that
this interchange of individual energies
has been productive of an increased
total of collective energy; and this con-
ception either involves the creation of
force, or is meaningless.
We have seen that there are no
sound reasons for believing that pro-
lection ever increases production, I'M
der any circumstances. On the con-
trary, we have found cogent reasons for
believing that it always diminishes it.
And now. what can be said in favor
of its increasing human welfare and
happiness? Welfare is comprehen-
siye term, and implies state of we'll
being; it includes happiness and pros
perity, and the moral virtues, and all
those varied activities essential to in
dividual and race preservation, and
improvement. But between all these
varied human activities and senti-
ments, and the means of subsistence,
there is a qualitative and quantitative
relation. They all increase life by
augm enting the means of living:
whatever their several immediate ends
may BE-, they all converge in practical
utility, to the fuitherance of life as
their ultimate end, by increasing the
means of subsistence and the power
Of utilizing those means; and this in
creased power implies increased enjoy
ment; and increased enjoyment means
a higher, intenser life. Then increased
human welfare means increased ca
pacity Of living. Therefore, prOtec-
ton, by diminishing the means of
sustaining life, is opposed to human
welfare. The only way in which it
can increase the well-being of people,
is by increasing those material things
which are indispensibly requisite to
that state.
But, let us take one of the compo-
nents of human welfare, viz: happi-
ness, and inquire how protection may
be imagined to increase it. First, by
increasing the quantity, and improving
the quality of those things necessary
to satisfy our wants and presrve
our lives. Second, by effecting a
distribution of them more favorable
to happiness. We have endeavored
to how that it does not fulfill the
iirsl Of these requirements. Now,
let us turn to the assumption that it
augmcnts human happiness by caus-
ing more favorable distribution of
wealth. 70 say that protection does
this, is equivalent to affirming that
men, generally, derive more happiness
from the nOn-attainment of all the
objects of their desires, than other
wise; that expenditure Of portion of
their energy without receiving any re-
turn, will give greater measure of sat
isfaction, than the reception of a just
equivalent; and that others will re
ceive more pleasure from unearned
gains, than from legitimate ones. And
both positions are false. For happi-
ness consists not alone, in the enjoy
ment of the objects of desires, but
also, in the pursuit of them; and the
man who satisfies his wants by uniuStly
appropriating a part of the product of
Others labor, not only himself comes
short of realizing the full measure of
incident to the satisfaction
of his wants; but also robs the others
of part Of their happiness; by di-
their returns, and hence, |
the effectiveness of their efforts. This |