It was necessary to put an end to this calamity, and therefore it became needful to force us, by restrictions, to work more in order to produce less.
All that we could have further to hope for, would be, that human intellect might sink and become extinct; for, while intellect exists, it cannot but seek continually to increase the _proportion of the end to the means; of the product to the labor_.

Indeed it is in this continuous effort, and in this alone, that intellect consists.
Sisyphism has been the doctrine of all those who have been intrusted with the regulation of the industry of our country.

It would not be just to reproach them with this; for this principle becomes that of our administration only because it prevails in Congress; it prevails in Congress only because it is sent there by the voters; and the voters are imbued with it only because public opinion is filled with it to repletion.
Let me repeat here, that I do not accuse the protectionists in Congress of being absolutely and always Sisyphists.

Very certainly they are not such in their personal transactions; very certainly each of them will procure for himself _by barter_, what by _direct production_ would be attainable only at a higher price.

But I maintain that they are Sisyphists when they prevent the country from acting upon the same principle..