DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61217#0168
JOHN RUSKIN.
156
plies poverty is proved by this once respected maxim.
The vaunted wealth was not and never could be
“ political ” • for there was necessarily a man selling
in the cheapest market and buying in the dearest at
every “operation” of the “principle”—the principle!
—“Buy in the cheapest,” &c.) In brief, a just man
approaches the just price, as an unjust approaches his
“ cheapest ” and “ dearest ” markets. Nay, the just
man comes easily nearer to the object of his search;
or it would be better to say that there is something
for him to come at, whereas the commercial economist
touches ground nowhere.
“ It is easier to determine scientifically what a man
ought to have for his work than what his necessities will
compel him to take for it. His necessities can only
be ascertained by empirical, but his due by analytical,
investigation.”
Neither the just nor the unjust hirer employs two men
where only one man is needed. But in the just case
the hired labourer may be able to hire, for his own
necessities, another workman by the purchase of what
he needs; and the influence of this ability passes on
through all the kinds and grades of labour. Ruskin’s
system would tend to send wealth flowing. It was,
needless to say, accused of socialism, to which he
answers, not very profoundly but profoundly enough
for the purpose: “Whether socialism has made more
progress among the army and navy (where payment is
made on my principles) or among the manufacturing
156
plies poverty is proved by this once respected maxim.
The vaunted wealth was not and never could be
“ political ” • for there was necessarily a man selling
in the cheapest market and buying in the dearest at
every “operation” of the “principle”—the principle!
—“Buy in the cheapest,” &c.) In brief, a just man
approaches the just price, as an unjust approaches his
“ cheapest ” and “ dearest ” markets. Nay, the just
man comes easily nearer to the object of his search;
or it would be better to say that there is something
for him to come at, whereas the commercial economist
touches ground nowhere.
“ It is easier to determine scientifically what a man
ought to have for his work than what his necessities will
compel him to take for it. His necessities can only
be ascertained by empirical, but his due by analytical,
investigation.”
Neither the just nor the unjust hirer employs two men
where only one man is needed. But in the just case
the hired labourer may be able to hire, for his own
necessities, another workman by the purchase of what
he needs; and the influence of this ability passes on
through all the kinds and grades of labour. Ruskin’s
system would tend to send wealth flowing. It was,
needless to say, accused of socialism, to which he
answers, not very profoundly but profoundly enough
for the purpose: “Whether socialism has made more
progress among the army and navy (where payment is
made on my principles) or among the manufacturing