(A voice exclaims: 'But the cities near the mouths of rivers have always prospered more than those higher up the stream.') This is not possible.
(The same voice: 'But it is a fact.') Well, they have then prospered _contrary to rule_." Such conclusive reasoning staggered the assembly.
The orator went on to convince them thoroughly and conclusively by speaking of national independence, national honor, national dignity, national labor, overwhelming importation, tributes, ruinous competition.
In short, he succeeded in determining the assembly to continue their system of obstacles, and I can now point out a certain country where you may see road-builders and _Obstructors_ working with the best possible understanding, by the decree of the same legislative assembly, paid by the same citizens; the first to improve the road, the last to embarrass it.
XI.
ABSOLUTE PRICES.
If we wish to judge between freedom of trade and protection, to calculate the probable effect of any political phenomenon, we should notice how far its influence tends to the production of _abundance or scarcity_, and not simply of _cheapness or dearness_ of price.

We must beware of trusting to _absolute prices_, it would lead to inextricable confusion.
Mr.Mathieu de Dombasle, after having established the fact that protection raises prices, adds: "The augmentation of price increases the expenses of life, and consequently the price of labor, and every one finds in the increase of the price of his produce the same proportion as in the increase of his expenses.

Thus, if every body pays as consumer, every body receives also as producer." It is evident that it would be easy to reverse the argument and say: If every body receives as producer, every body must pay as consumer.
Now, what does this prove?
Nothing whatever, unless it be that protection _transfers_ riches, uselessly and unjustly.

Robbery does the same.
Again, to prove that the complicated arrangements of this system give even simple compensation, it is necessary to adhere to the "_consequently_" of Mr.de Dombasle, and to convince one's self that the price of labor rises with that of the articles protected.

This is a question of fact, which I refer to Mr.Moreau de Jonnes, begging him to examine whether the rate of wages was found to increase with the stock of the mines of Anzin.