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Show 14· INTRODUCTION. and ~quable supply of the national wants. Though to this rule they ~llo~ that exceptions may possibly occur; yet thtnktng that the dancrer fron1 the officious meddling of governments is so~ uch greater than any ,;vhich could arise fron1 the necrlect of such exceptions, they ,;vould be inclined ;o tnake the rule universal. In this, ho,v-ever, I ~annat agree. Though I should most readily allow that altoooether n1ore evil is likely to arise fron1 crovernin: too tnuch h - f b b ' t an rom a tendency to the other extren1e · yet, still, if the consequences of not attendino- t~ these exceptions were of sufficient rnao·nitude ~nd freque~cy to b~ conspicuous to the public, I should be_ de~tdedly of opinion, that the cause of general pr~nc1ples was much n1ore likely to lose than to gain by concealment. . Nothing can tend so ~trong~ly to . bring theories and general principles Into dtscr~dtt as the occurrence of consequences, frotn particular measures, which have not been fore~een. ':fho_ugh in reality such an event forms no JUSt obJeCtion to theory, in the general and proper s_ens~ of the term ; yet it fonns a most valid O?Ject!o~ to the specific theory in question, as. provJng It In some 'v.ay or other wrong; and ~Ith the mass of manlond this will pass for an In1peac~ment of general principles, and of the 1k nbo.\ vledge or good faith of those who at.e . th 111 e 1a It of inculcating thetn. It appears t6 tne I co_nfess, that the most perfect sincerity, together 'vtth the greatest degree of accuracy attainable founded upon the most con1prehensive vie\v 'of ali INTRODUCTION. 15 the circun1stances of the case, . are necessary to give that credit and circulation to general principles 'vhich is so desirable_ And no vie"\\-s of temporary advantage, nor, ,vhat is tnore likely to operate, the fear of destroying the simplicity of a general rule, should ever ten1pt us to deviate from the s'trict line of truth, or to conceal or overlook. any circun1stances that tnay interfere 'vith the .universality of the principle. There is another class of persons who set a very high value upon. the received general rules of political econotny, as of the n1ost extensive practical use. They have seen the errors of the nlercantile systen1 refuted and replaced by a more p~ilosophical and correct view of the subject; and having made thetnselves masters of the question so far, they seem to be satisfied \vith what they have got, and do not look 'vith a favorable eye on new and further inquiries, particularly if they do not see at once clearly and distinctly to what beneficial effects they lead. · This indisposition to innovation, even in science, tnay possibly have its use, by tending to check crude and premature theories ; but it is obvious that, if carried too far, it strikes at the root of all itnprovement. It is itnpossible to observe the great events of the last t\venty-five years in their relation to subjects belonging to poli6ca1 econon1y, and sit down satisfied \Vith ,vhat has been already done in the science. But if the science be tnanifestly incon1plete, and yet of the highest itnportanca, it would surely be n1ost un~r ise to |
