ABSTRACT
Arrangements which alter the natural course of trade are of two kinds; they may be classed as either artificial stimuli or artificial restraints-bounties or restrictions. Whether it kills, or robs, or enslaves, or shackles by trade regulations, its guilt is alike in kind, and differs only in degree. There is an aspect under which these trade regulations, in common with many kindred contrivances for the management of social affairs, may he regarded. Irresistible evidence is at length establishing a belief in the law of supply and demand, as some thousands of years ago it established a belief in law of gravitation. After making attempts to improve upon the laws of trade, from the time of Solon downwards, men are at length beginning to see that such attempts are worse than useless. In respect to this at least we have declared that, for the future, we will obey the law of equal freedom.
