Its number of industrial pursuits is certainly multiplied, but their importance is diminished.

In proportion to their number, they become less productive, for the same capital and the same skill are obliged to meet a greater number of difficulties.

The fixed capital absorbs a greater part of the circulating capital; that is to say, a greater part of the funds destined to the payment of wages.
What remains, ramifies itself in vain; the quantity cannot be augmented.

It is like the water of a deep pond, which, distributed among a multitude of small reservoirs, appears to be more abundant, because it covers a greater quantity of soil, and presents a larger surface to the sun, while we hardly perceive that, precisely on this account, it absorbs, evaporates, and loses itself the quicker.
Capital and labor being given, the result is, a sum of production, always the less great in proportion as obstacles are numerous.

There can be no doubt that international barriers, by forcing capital and labor to struggle against greater difficulties of soil and climate, must cause the general production to be less, or, in other words, diminish the portion of comforts which would thence result to mankind.
If, then, there be a general diminution of comforts, how, working men, can it be possible that _your_ portion should be increased?
Under such a supposition it would be necessary to believe that the rich, those who made the law, have so arranged matters, that not only they subject themselves to their own proportion of the general diminution, but taking the whole of it upon themselves, that they submit also to a further loss in order to increase your gains.