Wealth Enables Us To Obtain The Consent Of Others To Our
Gratification.
Power, simply considered, whatever it confers on
one, must take from another.
Wealth enables its owner to give to
others, by taking only from himself. Power pleases the violent and
proud: wealth delights the placid and the timorous. Youth
therefore flies at power, and age grovels after riches.
The Chiefs, divested of their prerogatives, necessarily turned
their thoughts to the improvement of their revenues, and expect
more rent, as they have less homage. The tenant, who is far from
perceiving that his condition is made better in the same
proportion, as that of his landlord is made worse, does not
immediately see why his industry is to be taxed more heavily than
before. He refuses to pay the demand, and is ejected; the ground
is then let to a stranger, who perhaps brings a larger stock, but
who, taking the land at its full price, treats with the Laird upon
equal terms, and considers him not as a Chief, but as a trafficker
in land. Thus the estate perhaps is improved, but the clan is
broken.
It seems to be the general opinion, that the rents have been raised
with too much eagerness. Some regard must be paid to prejudice.
Those who have hitherto paid but little, will not suddenly be
persuaded to pay much, though they can afford it. As ground is
gradually improved, and the value of money decreases, the rent may
be raised without any diminution of the farmer's profits:
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