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Show ... I 250 OF THE WAGES OF LABOUH. · [elL IV. n1odes of subsistence among the lower classes of people of different countries; but the question involves so many considerations, that a satisfactory solution of it' is hardly to be expected. Much tnust certainly depend upon the physical causes of clin1ate and -soil; but still more· perhaps on moral · causes, the forn1ation and action of which are ovving to a variety of circumstances. Fron1 high wages, or the po,;ver of con1n1anding a large portion of the necessaries of life, two very different results may ·follo\V; one, that of a rapid increase of population, in which case the high wages are chiefly spent in the maintenance of large and frequent families: and the other, that of a decided in1provement it~ the modes of subsistenc.e, and the conveniences and comforts enjoyed, vvithout a proportionate acceleration in the rate of increase. In looking to these different results, the causes of then1 will evidently appear to be the different habits existing among the people of different countries, and at different tin1es. In an inquiry into the causes of these different habits, we shall , generally be able to trace those which produce the first result to all the circun1stances vvhich contribute to depress the lovver classes of the people,' which make the1n unable or unwilling to reason from the past to the futt{re and ready to acquiesce,. for the sake of present gratification, in a very lo\IV . standard ~f co1nfort and respectability ; and those which produce the second result, to all the circuinstances which tend to elevate the character of the lower classes of society, which make them approach S:EC. II.] 0~"' THE WAGES OF LABOUR. ', ~51 the nearest to beings who "look before and after," and who consequently cannot acquiesc.e patiently in ~he thought ~f depriving themselves and their children of the means of being respectable, virtuous and happy. Among the circumstances which contribute to the character first described, the most efficient vvill be found to ,be despotism, oppression, and ignorance: among those which contribute to the latter 'character, ci.vil.and p.olitic~lliberty, and education. . Of all the causes which tend to generate pr-udential habits among the lovver classes of society, the most essential is unquestionably civil liberty. No people can be much accustomed to form plans for the future, 'vho do not feel assured that their industrious exertions, 'vhile fair and honourable, will be allo\lved to have free scope ; and that the property which they either possess, or n1ay acquire, vvill be secured to them by a kno\vn code of just laws i1npartially adn1inistered. But it has been found by experience, that civil liberty cannot be permanently secured without po1itica1liberty. Consequently, political liberty becomes almost equally essential; and in addition to its being necessary in this point of vievv, its obvious tendency to teach the lower classes of society to respect themselves by obliging the higher classes to respect them,' must contribute greatly to aid all the good effects of civil liberty. :With tegard to education, it might certainly be n1ade general under a bad forn1 of government, and might be very ,deficient under one in other ., . . / |