18

INTRODUCTION.

where they actually exist, no one of them has a necessarily
 definite and constant relation to any one of the
others. Take, for example, a community of Indians
such as is still found in the western parts of North
America. There is wealth, but their possessions are
sonfined to the weapons, utensils, and clothing necessary
fo support the simple industrial conditions of their
existence. There are no labourers and no wages, no
rent, no profits, no interest. But, let us suppose a
community of Mormons, or some other community, the
members of which have agreed all to share alike. each
one to do his share of work, and all the unconsumed
products of their labour to belong in common to the
community. After a time the community becomes very
prosperous, and its possessions in cattle, grain, and cultivated
 land accumulate to a large amount. Here then
we have human existence and the social relations of
human beings dwelling together in a community, and
we have wealth; but, where are the specified facts or
phenomena of wealth : and where the laws and constant
relations? There are no wages and no rent: truly the
accumulation of wealth by the community might be
considered a description of "profits, but this would
differ considerably from the description of profits
intended by Prof. Cairnes : of ‘interest’ there would be
none: unless, indeed, the community be supposed to
capitalize its possessions and to send the proceeds to the
bank—which it might, or might not be, agreed upon to
do.

The concluding sentence, however, shows that the
professor has altogether misconceived the relationship of