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  ChapterThirtyKarlMarxCapitalVolumeOnePartVIII:

  PrimativeAccumulationCHAPTERTHIRTY:

  REACTIONOFTHEAGRICULTURALREVOLUTIONONINDUSTRY。CREATIONOFTHEHOME—MARKET

  FORINDUSTRIALCAPITAL

  Theexpropriationandexpulsionoftheagriculturalpopulation,intermittentbutrenewedagainandagain,supplied,aswesaw,thetownindustrieswithamassofproletariansentirelyconnectedwiththecorporateguildsandunfetteredbythem;afortunatecircumstancethatmakesoldA。Anderson(nottobeconfoundedwithJamesAnderson),inhis\"HistoryofCommerce\",believeinthedirectinterventionofProvidence。Wemuststillpauseamomentonthiselementofprimitiveaccumulation。Thethinning—outoftheindependent,self—supportingpeasantsnotonlybroughtaboutthecrowdingtogetheroftheindustrialproletariat,inthewaythatGeoffreySaintHilaireexplainedthecondensationofcosmicalmatteratoneplace,byitsrarefactionatanother。[1]Inspiteofthesmallernumberofitscultivators,thesoilbroughtforthasmuchormoreproduce,afterasbefore,becausetherevolutionintheconditionsoflandedpropertywasaccompaniedbyimprovedmethodsofculture,greaterco—operation,concentrationofthemeansofproduction,&c。,andbecausenotonlyweretheagriculturalwage—laborersputonthestrainmoreintensely[2],butthefieldofproductiononwhichtheyworkedforthemselvesbecamemoreandmorecontracted。Withthesettingfreeofapartoftheagriculturalpopulation,therefore,theirformermeansofnourishmentwerealsosetfree。Theywerenowtransformedintomaterialelementsofvariablecapital。

  Thepeasant,expropriatedandcastadrift,mustbuytheirvalueintheformofwages,fromhisnewmaster,theindustrialcapitalist。thatwhichholdsgoodofthemeansofsubsistenceholdswiththerawmaterialsofindustrydependentuponhomeagriculture。Theyweretransformedintoanelementofconstantcapital。Suppose,e。g。,apartoftheWestphalianpeasants,who,atthetimeofFrederickII,allspanflax,forciblyexpropriatedandhuntedfromthesoil;andtheotherpartthatremained,turnedintoday—laborersoflargefarmers。Atthesametimeariselargeestablishmentsforflax—spinningandweaving,inwhichthemen\"setfree\"nowworkforwages。Theflaxlooksexactlyasbefore。Notafibreofitischanged,butanewsocialsoulhaspoppedintoitsbody。Itformsnowapartoftheconstantcapitalofthemastermanufacturer。Formerlydividedamonganumberofsmallproducers,whocultivateditthemselvesandwiththeirfamiliesspunitinretailfashion,itisnowconcentratedinthehandofonecapitalist,whosetsotherstospinandweaveitforhim。Theextralaborexpendedinflax—spinningrealizeditselfformerlyinextraincometonumerouspeasantfamilies,ormaybe,inFrederickII’stime,intaxespourleroidePrusse。Itrealizesitselfnowinprofitforafewcapitalists。thespindlesandlooms,formerlyscatteredoverthefaceofthecountry,arenowcrowdedtogetherinafewgreatlabor—barracks,togetherwiththelaborersandtherawmaterial。Andspindles,looms,rawmaterial,arenowtransformedfrommeansofindependentexistenceforthespinnersandweavers,intomeansforcommandingthemandsuckingoutofthemunpaidlabor。[3]Onedoesnotperceive,whenlookingatthelargemanufactoriesandthelargefarms,thattheyhaveoriginatedfromthethrowingintooneofmanysmallcentresofproduction,andhavebeenbuiltupbytheexpropriationofmanysmallindependentproducers。Nevertheless,thepopularintuitionwasnotatfault。InthetimeofMirabeau,thelionoftheRevolution,thegreatmanufactorieswerestillcalledmanufacturesreunies,workshopsthrownintoone,aswespeakoffieldthrownintoone。SaysMirabeau:\"Weareonlypayingattentiontothegrandmanufactories,inwhichhundredsofmenworkunderadirectorandwhicharecommonlycalledmanufacturesréunies。Thosewhereaverylargenumberoflaborerswork,eachseparatelyandonhisownaccount,arehardlyconsidered;theyareplacedataninfinitedistancefromtheothers。Thisisagreaterror,asthelatteralonemakeareallyimportantobjectofnationalprosperity……

  Thelargeworkshop(manufactureréunie)willenrichprodigiouslyoneortwoentrepreneurs,butthelaborerswillonlybejourneymen,paidmoreorless,andwillnothaveanyshareinthesuccessoftheundertaking。

  Inthediscreteworkshop(manufactureseparee),onthecontrary,noonewillbecomerich,butmanylaborerswillbecomfortable;thesavingandtheindustriouswillbeabletoamassalittlecapital,toputbyalittleforabirthofachild,foranillness,forthemselvesortheirbelongings。

  Thenumberofsavingandindustriouslaborerswillincrease,becausetheywillseeingoodconduct,inactivity,ameansofessentiallybetteringtheircondition,andnotofobtainingasmallriseinwagesthatcanneverbeofanyimportanceofthefuture,andwhosesoleresultistoplacemeninthepositiontolivealittlebetter,butonlyfromdaytoday……Thelargeworkshops,undertakingsofcertainprivatepersonswhopaylaborersfromdaytodaytoworkfortheirgain,maybeabletoputtheseprivateindividualsattheirease,buttheywillneverbeanobjectworththeattentionofgovernments。Discreteworkshops,forthemostpartcombinedwithcultivationofsmallholdings,aretheonlyfreeones。\"[4]Theexpropriationandevictionofapartoftheagriculturalpopulationnotonlysetfreeforindustrialcapital,thelaborers,theirmeansofsubsistence,andmaterialforlabor;italsocreatedthehome—market。

  Infact,theeventsthattransformedthesmallpeasantsintowage—laborers,andtheirmeansofsubsistenceandoflaborintomaterialelementsofcapital,created,atthesametime,ahome—marketforthelatter。Formerly,thepeasantfamilyproducedthemeansofsubsistenceandtherawmaterials,whichtheythemselves,forthemostpart,consumed。Theserawmaterialsandmeansofsubsistencehavenowbecomecommodities;thelargefarmersellsthem,hefindshismarketinmanufactures。Yarn,inen,coarsewoollenstuffs?thingswhoserawmaterialshadbeenwithinthereachofeverypeasantfamily,hadbeenspunandwovenbyitforitsownuse?werenowtransformedintoarticlesofmanufacture,towhichthecountrydistrictsatonceservedformarkets。Themanyscatteredcustomers,whomstrayartisansuntilnowhadfoundinthenumeroussmallproducersworkingontheirownaccount,concentratethemselvesnowintoonegreatmarketprovidedforbyindustrialcapitap;[5]Thus,handinhandwiththeexpropriationoftheself—supportingpeasants,withtheirseparationfromtheirmeansofproduction,goesthedestructionofruraldomesticindustry,theprocessofseparationbetweenmanufactureandagriculture。Andonlythedestructionofruraldomesticindustrycangivetheinternalmarketofcountrythatextensionandconsistencewhichthecapitalistmodeofproductionrequires。Stillthemanufacturingperiod,properlysocalled,doesnotsucceedincarryingoutthistransformationradicallyandcompletely。Itwillberememberedthatmanufacture,properlysocalled,conquersbutpartiallythedomainofnationalproduction,ndalwaysrestsonthehandicraftsofthetownandthedomesticindustryoftheruraldistrictsasitsultimatebasis。Ifitdestroystheseinoneform,inparticularbranches,atcertainpoints,itcallsthemupagainelsewhere,becauseitneedsthemforthepreparationofrawmaterialuptoacertainpoint。Itproduces,therefore,anewclassofsmallvillagerswho,whilefollowingthecultivationofthesoilasanaccessarycalling,findtheirchiefoccupationinindustriallabor,theproductsofwhichtheyselltothemanufacturersdirectly,orthroughthemediumofmerchants。

  Thisisone,thoughnotthechief,causeofaphenomenonwhich,atfirst,puzzlesthestudentofenglishhistory。Fromthelastthirdofthe15thcenturyhefindscontinuallycomplaints,onlyinterruptedatcertainintervals,abouttheencroachmentofcapitalistfarminginthecountrydistricts,andtheprogressivedestructionofthepeasantry。Ontheotherhand,healwaysfindsthispeasantryturningupagain,althoughindiminishednumber,andalwaysunderworseconditions。Thechiefreasonis:Englandisatonetimechieflyacultivatorofcorn,atanotherchieflyabreederofcattle,inalternateperiods,andwiththesetheextent,supplies,inmachinery,thelastingbasisofcapitalisticagriculture,expropriatesradicallytheenormousmajorityoftheagriculturalpopulation,andcompletestheseparationbetweenagricultureandruraldomesticindustry,whoseroots?spinningandweaving?ittearsup;[7]Itthereforealso,forthefirsttie,conquersforindustrialcapitaltheentirehome—market。[8]

  Footnotes[1]Inhis\"NotionsdePhilosophieNaturelle\"。Paris,1838。

  [2]ApointthatSirJamesSteuartemphasizes。

  [3]\"Jepermettrai,\"saysthecapitalist,\"quevousayezl’honneurdemeservir,àconditionquevousmedonnezlepeuquivouslapeinequejeprendsdevouscommander。\"(J。J。Rousseau:\"Discourssurl’EconomiePolitique。\")

  [4]Mirabeau,l。c。,t。III,pp。20—109passim。ThatMirabeauconsiderstheseparateworkshopsmoreeconomicalandproductivethanthe\"combined\",andseesinthelattermerelyartificialexoticsundergovernmentcultivation,isexplainedbythepositionatthattimeofagreatpartofthecontinentalmanufactures。

  [5]\"Twentypoundsofwoolconvertedunobtrusivelyintoyearlyclothingofalaborer’sfamilybyitsownindustryintheintervalsofotherworks?thismakesnoshow;butbringittomarket,sendittothefactory,thencetothebroker,thencetothedealer,andyouwillhavegreatcommercialoperations,andnominalcapitalengagedtotheamountoftwentytimesitsvalue……Theworking—classisthusemersedtosupportawretchedfactorypopulation,aparasticalshop—keepingclass,andafictitiouscommercial,monetary,andfinancialsystem。\"(DavidUrquhart,l。c。,p。120。)

  [6]Cromwell’stimeformsanexception。SolongastheRepubliclasted,themassoftheEnglishpeopleofallgradesrosefromthedegradationintowhichtheyhadsunkundertheTudors。

  [7]Tuckettisawarethatthemodernwoollenindustryhassprung,withtheintroductionofmachinery,frommanufactureproperandfromthedestructionofruralanddomesticindustries。\"Theplough,theyoke,were’theinventionofgods,andtheoccupationofheroes’;aretheloom,thespindle,thedistaff,oflessnobleparentage。

  Youseverthedistaffandtheplough,thespindleandtheyoke,andyougetfactoriesandpoor—houses,creditandpanics,twohostilenations,agricultureandcommercial。\"(DavidUrquhart,l。c。,p。122。)ButnowcomesCarey,andcriesoutuponEngland,surelynotwithunreason,thatitistryingtoturneveryothercountryintoamereagriculturalnation,whosemanufactureristobeEngland。HepretendsthatinthiswayTurkeyhasbeenruined,because\"theownersandoccupantsoflandhaveneverbeenpermittedbyEnglandtostrengthenthemselvesbytheformationofthatnaturalalliancebetweentheploughandtheloom,thehammerandtheharrow。\"(\"TheSlaveTrade\",p。125。)Accordingtohim,UrquharthimselfisoneofthechiefagentsintheruinofTurkey,wherehehadmadeFree—tradepropagandaintheEnglishinterest。ThebestofitisthatCarey,agreatRussophilebytheway,wantstopreventtheprocessofseparationbythatverysystemofprotectionwhichacceleratesit。

  [8]PhilanthropicEnglisheconomists,likeMill,Rogers,GoldwinSmith,Fawcett,&c。,andliberalmanufacturerslikeJohnBright&Co。,asktheEnglishlandedproprietors,asGodaskedCainafterAbel,Whereareourthousandsoffreeholdersgone?Butwheredoyoucomefrom,then?

  Fromthedestructionofthosefreeholders。Whydon’tyouaskfurther,wherearetheindependentweavers,spinners,andartisansgone?

  ChapterThirty—OneKarlMarxCapitalVolumeOnePartVIII:

  PrimativeAccumulationCHAPTERTHIRTY—ONE:

  GENESISOFTHEINDUSTRIALCAPITALIST

  Thegenesisoftheindustrial[1]capitalistdidnotproceedinsuchagradualwayasthatofthefarmer。

  Doubtlessmanysmallguild—masters,andyetmoreindependentsmallartisans,orevenwage—labourers,transformedthemselvesintosmallcapitalists,and(bygraduallyextendingexploitationofwage—labourandcorrespondingaccumulation)intofull—blowncapitalists。Intheinfancyofcapitalistproduction,thingsoftenhappenedasintheinfancyofmedievaltowns,wherethequestion,whichoftheescapedserfsshouldbemasterandwhichservant,wasingreatpartdecidedbytheearlierorlaterdateoftheirflight。Thesnail’spaceofthismethodcorrespondedinnowisewiththecommercialrequirementsofthenewworld—marketthatthegreatdiscoveriesoftheendofthe15thcenturycreated。Butthemiddleageshadhandeddowntwodistinctformsofcapital,whichmatureinthemostdifferenteconomicsocialformations,andwhichbeforetheeraofthecapitalistmodeofproduction,areconsideredascapitalquandmême?usurer’scapitalandmerchant’scapital;

  \"Atpresent,allthewealthofsocietygoesfirstintothepossessionofthecapitalist……hepaysthelandownerhisrent,thelabourerhiswages,thetaxandtithegatherertheirclaims,andkeepsalarge,indeedthelargest,andacontinuallyaugmentingshare,oftheannualproduceoflabourforhimself。Thecapitalistmaynowbesaidtobethefirstownerofallthewealthofthecommunity,thoughnolawhasconferredonhimtherighttothisproperty……thischangehasbeeneffectedbythetakingofinterestoncapital……anditisnotalittlecuriousthatallthelaw—giversofEuropeendeavouredtopreventthisbystatutes,viz。,statutesagainstusury……Thepowerofthecapitalistoverallthewealthofthecountryisacompletechangeintherightofproperty,andbywhatlaw,orseriesoflaws,wasiteffected?\"[2]Theauthorshouldhaverememberedthatrevolutionsarenotmadebylaws。

  Themoneycapitalformedbymeansofusuryandcommercewaspreventedfromturningintoindustrialcapital,inthecountrybythefeudalconstitution,inthetownsbytheguildorganisation。[3]Thesefettersvanishedwiththedissolutionoffeudalsociety,withtheexpropriationandpartialevictionofthecountrypopulation。ThenewmanufactureswereestablishedatWeapons,oratinlandpointsbeyondthecontroloftheoldmunicipalitiesandtheirguilds。HenceinEnglandanembitteredstruggleofthecorporatetownsagainstthesenewindustrialnurseries。

  ThediscoveryofgoldandsilverinAmerica,theextirpation,enslavementandentombmentinminesoftheaboriginalpopulation,thebeginningoftheconquestandlootingoftheEastIndies,theturningofAfricaintoawarrenforthecommercialhuntingofblack—skins,signalisedtherosydawnoftheeraofcapitalistproduction。Theseidyllicproceedingsarethechiefmomentaofprimitiveaccumulation。OntheirheelstreadsthecommercialwaroftheEuropeannations,withtheglobeforatheatre。ItbeginswiththerevoltoftheNetherlandsfromSpain,assumesgiantdimensionsinEngland’sAnti—JacobinWar,andisstillgoingonintheopiumwarsagainstChina,&c。

  Thedifferentmomentaofprimitiveaccumulationdistributethemselvesnow,moreorlessinchronologicalorder,particularlyoverSpain,Portugal,Holland,France,andEngland。InEnglandattheendofthe17thcentury,theyarriveatasystematicalcombination,embracingthecolonies,thenationaldebt,themodernmodeoftaxation,andtheprotectionistsystem。

  Thesemethodsdependinpartonbruteforce,e。g。,thecolonialsystem。But,theyallemploythepoweroftheState,theconcentratedandorganisedforceofsociety,tohasten,hot—housefashion,theprocessoftransformationofthefeudalmodeofproductionintothecapitalistmode,andtoshortenthetransition。Forceisthemidwifeofeveryoldsocietypregnantwithanewone。Itisitselfaneconomicpower。

  OftheChristiancolonialsystem,W。Howitt,amanwhomakesaspecialityofChristianity,says:\"Thebarbaritiesanddesperateoutragesoftheso—calledChristianrace,throughouteveryregionoftheworld,anduponeverypeopletheyhavebeenabletosubdue,arenottobeparalleledbythoseofanyotherrace,howeverfierce,howeveruntaught,andhoweverrecklessofmercyandofshame,inanyageoftheearth。\"[4]ThehistoryofthecolonialadministrationofHolland?andHollandwastheheadcapitalisticnationofthe17thcentury?\"isoneofthemostextraordinaryrelationsoftreachery,bribery,massacre,andmeannesp;[5]Nothingismorecharacteristicthantheirsystemofstealingmen,togetslavesforJava。Themenstealersweretrainedforthispurpose。Thethief,theinterpreter,andtheseller,werethechiefagentsinthistrade,nativeprincesthechiefsellers。Theyoungpeoplestolen,werethrownintothesecretdungeonsofCelebes,untiltheywerereadyforsendingtotheslave—ships。

  Anofficialreportsays:\"ThisonetownofMacassar,e。g。,isfullofsecretprisons,onemorehorriblethantheother,crammedwithunfortunates,victimsofgreedandtyrannyfetteredinchains,forciblytornfromtheirfamilies。\"TosecureMalacca,theDutchcorruptedthePortuguesegovernor。

  Heletthemintothetownin1641。Theyhurriedatoncetohishouseandassassinatedhim,to\"abstain\"fromthepaymentof£21,875,thepriceofhistreason。Wherevertheysetfoot,devastationanddepopulationfollowed。

  Banjuwangi,aprovinceofJava,in1750numberedover80,000inhabitants,in1811only18,000。Sweetcommerce!

  TheEnglishEastIndiaCompany,asiswellknown,obtained,besidesthepoliticalruleinIndia,theexclusivemonopolyofthetea—trade,aswellasoftheChinesetradeingeneral,andofthetransportofgoodstoandfromEurope。ButthecoastingtradeofIndiaandbetweentheislands,aswellastheinternaltradeofIndia,werethemonopolyofthehigheremployésofthecompany。Themonopoliesofsalt,opium,betelandothercommodities,wereinexhaustibleminesofwealth。TheemployésthemselvesfixedthepriceandplunderedatwilltheunhappyHindus。TheGovernor—Generaltookpartinthisprivatetraffic。Hisfavouritesreceivedcontractsunderconditionswherebythey,clevererthanthealchemists,madegoldoutofnothing。Greatfortunesspranguplikemushroomsinaday;primitiveaccumulationwentonwithouttheadvanceofashilling。

  ThetrialofWarrenHastingsswarmswithsuchcases。Hereisaninstance。

  AcontractforopiumwasgiventoacertainSullivanatthemomentofhisdepartureonanofficialmissiontoapartofIndiafarremovedfromtheopiumdistrict。SullivansoldhiscontracttooneBinnfor£40,000;Binnsolditthesamedayfor£60,000,andtheultimatepurchaserwhocarriedoutthecontractdeclaredthatafterallherealisedanenormousgain。AccordingtooneofthelistslaidbeforeParliament,theCompanyanditsemployésfrom1757—1766got£6,000,000

  fromtheIndiansasgifts。Between1769and1770,theEnglishmanufacturedafaminebybuyingupallthericeandrefusingtosellitagain,exceptatfabulousprices。[6]

  Thetreatmentoftheaborigineswas,naturally,mostfrightfulinplantation—coloniesdestinedforexporttradeonly,suchastheWestIndies,andinrichandwell—populatedcountries,suchasMexicoandIndia,thatweregivenovertoplunder。Buteveninthecoloniesproperlysocalled,theChristiancharacterofprimitiveaccumulationdidnotbelieitself。ThosesobervirtuosiofProtestantism,thePuritansofNewEngland,in1703,bydecreesoftheirassemblysetapremiumof£40oneveryIndianscalpandeverycapturedred—skin:in1720apremiumof£100oneveryscalp;in1744,afterMassachusetts—Bayhadproclaimedacertaintribeasrebels,thefollowingprices:foramalescalpof12yearsandupwards£100(newcurrency),foramaleprisoner£105,forwomenandchildrenprisoners£50,forscalpsofwomenandchildren£50。Somedecadeslater,thecolonialsystemtookitsrevengeonthedescendantsofthepiouspilgrimfathers,whohadgrownseditiousinthemeantime。AtEnglishinstigationandforEnglishpaytheyweretomahawkedbyred—skins。TheBritishParliamentproclaimedbloodhoundsandscalpingas\"meansthatGodandNaturehadgivenintoitshand。\"

  Thecolonialsystemripened,likeahot—house,tradeandnavigation。

  The\"societiesMonopolia\"ofLutherwerepowerfulleversforconcentrationofcapital。Thecoloniessecuredamarketforthebuddingmanufactures,and,throughthemonopolyofthemarket,anincreasedaccumulation。ThetreasurescapturedoutsideEuropebyundisguisedlooting,enslavement,andmurder,floatedbacktothemother—countryandwerethereturnedintocapital。Holland,whichfirstfullydevelopedthecolonialsystem,in1648

  stoodalreadyintheacmeofitscommercialgreatness。Itwas\"inalmostexclusivepossessionoftheEastIndiantradeandthecommercebetweenthesouth—eastandnorth—westofEurope。Itsfisheries,marine,manufactures,surpassedthoseofanyothercountry。ThetotalcapitaloftheRepublicwasprobablymoreimportantthanthatofalltherestofEuropeputtogether。\"

  Gülichforgetstoaddthatby1648,thepeopleofHollandweremoreover—worked,poorerandmorebrutallyoppressedthanthoseofalltherestofEuropeputtogether。

  To—dayindustrialsupremacyimpliescommercialsupremacy。Intheperiodofmanufactureproperlysocalled,itis,ontheotherhand,thecommercialsupremacythatgivesindustrialpredominance。Hencethepreponderantrôlethatthecolonialsystemplaysatthattime。Itwas\"thestrangeGod\"whoperchedhimselfonthealtarcheekbyjowlwiththeoldGodsofEurope,andonefinedaywithashoveandakickchuckedthemallofaheap。Itproclaimedsurplus—valuemakingasthesoleendandaimofhumanity。

  Thesystemofpubliccredit,i。e。,ofnationaldebts,whoseoriginwediscoverinGenoaandVeniceasearlyasthemiddleages,tookpossessionofEuropegenerallyduringthemanufacturingperiod。Thecolonialsystemwithitsmaritimetradeandcommercialwarsservedasaforcing—houseforit。ThusitfirsttookrootinHolland。Nationaldebts,i。e。,thealienationofthestate—whetherdespotic,constitutionalorrepublican—markedwithitsstampthecapitalisticera。Theonlypartoftheso—callednationalwealththatactuallyentersintothecollectivepossessionsofmodernpeoplesistheirnationaldebt。[7]Hence,asanecessaryconsequence,themoderndoctrinethatanationbecomesthericherthemoredeeplyitisindebt。Publiccreditbecomesthecredoofcapital。Andwiththeriseofnationaldebt—making,wantoffaithinthenationaldebttakestheplaceoftheblasphemyagainsttheHolyGhost,whichmaynotbeforgiven。

  Thepublicdebtbecomesoneofthemostpowerfulleversofprimitiveaccumulation。Aswiththestrokeofanenchanter’swand,itendowsbarrenmoneywiththepowerofbreedingandthusturnsitintocapital,withoutthenecessityofitsexposingitselftothetroublesandrisksinseparablefromitsemploymentinindustryoreveninusury。Thestate—creditorsactuallygivenothingaway,forthesumlentistransformedintopublicbonds,easilynegotiable,whichgoonfunctioningintheirhandsjustassomuchhardcashwould。Butfurther,apartfromtheclassoflazyannuitantsthuscreated,andfromtheimprovisedwealthofthefinanciers,middlemenbetweenthegovernmentandthenation—asalsoapartfromthetax—farmers,merchants,privatemanufacturers,towhomagoodpartofeverynationalloanrenderstheserviceofacapitalfallenfromheaven—thenationaldebthasgivenrisetojoint—stockcompanies,todealingsinnegotiableeffectsofallkinds,andtoagiotage,inawordtostock—exchangegamblingandthemodernbankocracy。

  Attheirbirththegreatbanks,decoratedwithnationaltitles,wereonlyassociationsofprivatespeculators,whoplacedthemselvesbythesideofgovernments,and,thankstotheprivilegestheyreceived,wereinapositiontoadvancemoneytotheState。Hencetheaccumulationofthenationaldebthasnomoreinfalliblemeasurethanthesuccessiveriseinthestockofthesebanks,whosefulldevelopmentdatesfromthefoundingoftheBankofEnglandin1694。TheBankofEnglandbeganwithlendingitsmoneytotheGovernmentat8%;atthesametimeitwasempoweredbyParliamenttocoinmoneyoutofthesamecapital,bylendingitagaintothepublicintheformofbanknotes。Itwasallowedtousethesenotesfordiscountingbills,makingadvancesoncommodities,andforbuyingthepreciousmetals。

  Itwasnotlongerethiscredit—money,madebythebankitself,became。

  thecoininwhichtheBankofEnglandmadeitsloanstotheState,andpaid,onaccountoftheState,theinterestonthepublicdebt。Itwasnotenoughthatthebankgavewithonehandandtookbackmorewiththeother;itremained,evenwhilstreceiving,theeternalcreditorofthenationdowntothelastshillingadvanced。Graduallyitbecameinevitablythereceptacleofthemetallichoardofthecountry,andthecentreofgravityofallcommercialcredit。Whateffectwasproducedontheircontemporariesbythesuddenuprisingofthisbroodofbankocrats,financiers,rentiers,brokers,stock—jobbers,&c。,isprovedbythewritingsofthattime,e。g。,byBolingbroke’s。[8]

  Withthenationaldebtaroseaninternationalcreditsystem,whichoftenconcealsoneofthesourcesofprimitiveaccumulationinthisorthatpeople。

  ThusthevillainiesoftheVenetianthievingsystemformedoneofthesecretbasesofthecapital—wealthofHollandtowhomVeniceinherdecadencelentlargesumsofmoney。SoalsowasitwithHollandandEngland。Bythebeginningofthe18thcenturytheDutchmanufactureswerefaroutstripped。

  Hollandhadceasedtobethenationpreponderantincommerceandindustry。

  Oneofitsmainlinesofbusiness,therefore,from1701—1776,isthelendingoutofenormousamountsofcapital,especiallytoitsgreatrivalEngland。

  Thesamethingisgoingonto—daybetweenEnglandandtheUnitedStates。

  Agreatdealofcapital,whichappearsto—dayintheUnitedStateswithoutanycertificateofbirth,wasyesterday,inEngland,thecapitalisedbloodofchildren。

  Asthenationaldebtfindsitssupportinthepublicrevenue,whichmustcovertheyearlypaymentsforinterest,&c。,themodernsystemoftaxationwasthenecessarycomplementofthesystemofnationalloans。

  Theloansenablethegovernmenttomeetextraordinaryexpenses,withoutthetax—payersfeelingitimmediately,buttheynecessitate,as。aconsequence,increasedtaxes。Ontheotherhand,theraisingoftaxationcausedbytheaccumulationofdebtscontractedoneafteranother,compelsthegovernmentalwaystohaverecoursetonewloansfornewextraordinaryexpenses。Modernfiscality,whosepivotisformedbytaxesonthemostnecessarymeansofsubsistence(therebyincreasingtheirprice),thuscontainswithinitselfthegermofautomaticprogression。Over—taxationisnotanincident,butratheraprinciple。InHolland,therefore,wherethissystemwasfirstinaugurated,thegreatpatriot,DeWitt,hasinhis\"Maxims\"extolleditasthebestsystemformakingthewage—labourersubmissive,frugal,industrious,andoverburdenedwithlabour。Thedestructiveinfluencethatitexercisesontheconditionofthewage—labourerconcernsuslesshowever,here,thantheforcibleexpropriation,resultingfromit,ofpeasants,artisans,andinaword,allelementsofthelowermiddle—class。Onthistherearenottwoopinions,evenamongthebourgeoiseconomists。Itsexpropriatingefficacyisstillfurtherheightenedbythesystemofprotection,whichformsoneofitsintegralparts。

  Thegreatpartthatthepublicdebt,andthefiscalsystemcorrespondingwithit,hasplayedinthecapitalisationofwealthandtheexpropriationofthemasses,hasledmanywriters,likeCobbett,Doubledayandothers,toseekinthis,incorrectly,thefundamentalcauseofthemiseryofthemodernpeoples。

  Thesystemofprotectionwasanartificialmeansofmanufacturingmanufacturers,ofexpropriatingindependentlabourers,ofcapitalisingthenationalmeansofproductionandsubsistence,offorciblyabbreviatingthetransitionfromthemedievaltothemodernmodeofproduction。TheEuropeanstatestoreoneanothertopiecesaboutthepatentofthisinvention,and,onceenteredintotheserviceofthesurplus—valuemakers,didnotmerelylayundercontributioninthepursuitofthispurposetheirownpeople,indirectlythroughprotectiveduties,directlythroughexportpremiums。Theyalsoforciblyrootedout,intheirdependentcountries,allindustry,as,e。g。,Englanddid。withtheIrishwoollenmanufacture。OnthecontinentofEurope,afterColbert’sexample,theprocesswasmuchsimplified。Theprimitiveindustrialcapital,here,cameinpartdirectlyoutofthestatetreasury。

  \"Why,\"criesMirabeau,\"whygosofartoseekthecauseofthemanufacturinggloryofSaxonybeforethewar?180,000,000ofdebtscontractedbythesovereigns!\"[9]

  Colonialsystem,publicdebts,heavytaxes,protection,commercialwars,&c。,thesechildrenofthetruemanufacturingperiod,increasegiganticallyduringtheinfancyofModemIndustry。Thebirthofthelatterisheraldedbyagreatslaughteroftheinnocents。Liketheroyalnavy,thefactorieswererecruitedbymeansofthepress—gang。BlaséasSirF。M。Edenisastothehorrorsoftheexpropriationoftheagriculturalpopulationfromthesoil,fromthelastthirdofthe15thcenturytohisowntime;

  withalltheself—satisfactionwithwhichherejoicesinthisprocess,\"essential\"forestablishingcapitalisticagricultureand\"thedueproportionbetweenarableandpastureland\"?hedoesnotshow,however,thesameeconomicinsightinrespecttothenecessityofchild—stealingandchild—slaveryforthetransformationofmanufacturingexploitationintofactoryexploitation,andtheestablishmentofthe\"truerelation\"betweencapitalandlabour—power;Hesays:\"Itmay,perhaps,beworthytheattentionofthepublictoconsider,whetheranymanufacture,which,inordertobecarriedonsuccessfully,requiresthatcottagesandworkhousesshouldberansackedforpoorchildren;

  thattheyshouldbeemployedbyturnsduringthegreaterpartofthenightandrobbedofthatrestwhich,thoughindispensabletoall,ismostrequiredbytheyoung;andthatnumbersofbothsexes,ofdifferentagesanddispositions,shouldbecollectedtogetherinsuchamannerthatthecontagionofexamplecannotbutleadtoprofligacyanddebauchery;willaddtothesumofindividualornationalfelicity?\"[10]

  \"InthecountiesofDerbyshire,Nottinghamshire,andmoreparticularlyinLancashire,\"saysFielden,\"thenewly—inventedmachinerywasusedinlargefactoriesbuiltonthesidesofstreamscapableofturningthewater—wheel。

  Thousandsofhandsweresuddenlyrequiredintheseplaces,remotefromtowns;andLancashire,inparticular,being,tillthen,comparativelythinlypopulatedandbarren,apopulationwasallthatshenowwanted。Thesmallandnimblefingersoflittlechildrenbeingbyveryfarthemostinrequest,thecustominstantlysprangupofprocuringapprenticesfromthedifferentparishworkhousesofLondon,Birmingham,andelsewhere。Many,manythousandsoftheselittle,haplesscreaturesweresentdownintothenorth,beingfromtheageof7totheageof13or14yearsold。Thecustomwasforthemastertoclothehisapprenticesandtofeedandlodgetheminan\"apprenticehouse\"nearthefactory;overseerswereappointedtoseetotheworks,whoseinterestitwastoworkthechildrentotheutmost,becausetheirpaywasinproportiontothequantityofworkthattheycouldexact。Crueltywas,ofcourse,theconsequence……Inmanyofthemanufacturingdistricts,butparticularly,Iamafraid,intheguiltycountytowhichIbelong[Lancashire],crueltiesthemostheart—rendingwerepractisedupontheunoffendingandfriendlesscreatureswhowerethusconsignedtothechargeofmaster—manufacturers;theywereharassedtothebrinkofdeathbyexcessoflabour……wereflogged,fetteredandtorturedinthemostexquisiterefinementofcruelty;……theywereinmanycasesstarvedtothebonewhilefloggedtotheirworkand……eveninsomeinstances……weredriventocommitsuicide……ThebeautifulandromanticvalleysofDerbyshire,NottinghamshireandLancashire,secludedfromthepubliceye,becamethedismalsolitudesoftorture,andofmanyamurder。Theprofitsofmanufacturerswereenormous;butthisonlywhettedtheappetitethatitshouldhavesatisfied,andthereforethemanufacturershadrecoursetoanexpedientthatseemedtosecuretothemthoseprofitswithoutanypossibilityoflimit;theybeganthepracticeofwhatistermed\"night—working,\"thatis,havingtiredonesetofhands,byworkingthemthroughouttheday,theyhadanothersetreadytogoonworkingthroughoutthenight;theday—setgettingintothebedsthatthenight—sethadjustquilted,andintheirturnagain,thenight—setgettingintothebedsthattheday—setquiltedinthemorning。ItisacommontraditioninLancashire,thatthebedsnevergetcold。\"[11]’

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