Page:The Effects of Civilisation on the People in European States.djvu/70

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I shall, however, say somewhat further on the subject.

But whether the assumption of lands and other property, as it is called, naturally belonging to the whole people, into the hands of a few, can be supported on the principles of justice and reason, or not, it may, it has been said, on those of expediency or utility. Thus it has been alleged, that if property were not to be acquired, and held out as a reward of labour and industry, mankind would be indolent and inactive, having no stimulus to exertion.

In my apprehension, this is directly contrary to what really happens. Things of every kind being already appropriated and in the possession of certain persons, and firmly secured to them by the laws; the prizes, which might be held out to be gained by the many, are taken, as it were, out of the wheel; and the chance of a man, without education or connexion (which is the condition of the great mass of mankind), of bettering his fortune by any efforts of his own, is a thousand to one against him, so as utterly to act as a discouragement to all attempts of that kind. Whereas,