
Without this foresight, it would be impossible
to have stock enough to supply the wants of the people; by this
foresight, in the anticipation of the people's wants, the mills
are kept regularly at work. With? out capital, such arrangements
would be impossible; therefore the labourer is indebted to capital,
as he is kept employed through its aid. Without it, stock could
not be kept, orders in anticipa? tion could not be given; the
supply not being equal to the demand, goods would fluctuate
in value, some articles would be at famine prices. The working
class would soon find out the advantages of capital, and that,
before a work which will not immediately result in wealth available
for subsist? ence can be carried on, there must exist such a
stock of subsistence as will support the labourer during the
process. Mr. George denies this, and refers us to Robinson Crusoe,
and asks if "it was necessary that, before he commenced to make
his canoe, he should accumulate a stock of food suf? ficient
to maintain him while he felled the tree, hewed out the canoe,
and finally launched her into the sea? " Mr. George says, "Not
Not at all; it was only necessary that he should devote part
of his time to the procurement of food, while he was devoting
part of his time to the building and launching of the canoe."
Mr. George fails to see that part of the time is taken up in
getting food, and that it is better for all parties for capital
to supply the means to get the food, and leave the labourer
free to give his whole time to the work in hand. Then he gives
us another of his peculiar illustrations, how to arrange for
the wants of a community like ours, by asking us to "suppose
a hundred men to be landed, without any stock of provisions,
in a new country ; will it be necessary for them to accumulate
a season's