...........................
cal and commercial purposes. Limitation of liability throughout the Roman
empire. With growing centralization and declining civilization, limitation
disappears. Consequent disappearance of local governments, followed by
ruin of the empire. Gradual revival of local institutions. Effect of their
re-appearance, in facilitating commerce, promoting the development of
individuality, and aiding in the re-establishment of regular government.
American civil polity distinguished by the prevalence and diversity of corpo-
rations. Organization necessary to association. Societary movement be-
comes more rapid as the power of combination becomes more complete.
Power of the trader declines as men are more enabled to associate. Buying
and selling an array of hostile interests-all idea of harmony or equity being
excluded. Harmony grows as the producer and the consumer take their
places by each other-discord, on the contrary, growing, as they become more
widely separated.
24. Colbert and his policy. His full appreciation of the necessity for the
exercise, by the State, of a power of co-ordination. Hume, on the necessity
for preserving with care the manufactures of a nation. Adam Smith no
advocate of the indiscriminate adoption of the system of laisser faire. Say,
Rossi, Mill, and others, on the duties of a government, in reference to diver-
sification of the pursuits of the people over whom it is placed................... 424
5. M. Chevalier. His approval of the protective system. Within certain
limits, governments, being the personification of nations, are but performing
a positive duty, when they favor the taking possession of all the branches of
industry whose acquisition is authorized by the nature of things. Holds that
French agriculture has ceased to be protected. Inaccuracy of the view thus
presented. Accuracy of his views in reference to the small product of
American agriculture. Heavy taxation of American farmers, and compara-
tive exemption of those of France. Freedom of trade enjoyed by the latter,
as compared with the restrictions on the former. Causes of these differences, 425
6. The world word-governed — unmeaning phrases being made objects of
world-worship. Tyranny of governments whose theory is that of laisser faire.
Governments oppressive in the ratio of failure to exercise their powers of co-
ordination. Errors of modern economists. Gigantic communism a conse-
quence of the British system. Real import of the doctrine of laisser faire.
Necessity for exercise of the co-ordinating power grows with the growth of
wealth and numbers. The more perfect the power of association within the
State, the greater the power of its people to contribute to the commerce of
the world