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]’
第62章