If it be said that their wages are too low, and that they ought to be
better paid for their labour, I heartily wish any means could be fallen
upon to do it, consistent with their interest and happiness; but as the
cheapness of other things is owing to the plenty of those things, so the
cheapness of labour is, in most cases, owing to the multitude of
labourers, and to their underworking one another in order to obtain
employment. How is this to be remedied? A law might be made to raise
their wages; but if our manufactures are too dear, they will not vend
abroad, and all that part of employment will fail, unless by fighting
and conquering we compel other nations to buy our goods, whether they
will or no, which some have been mad enough at times to propose.
http://www.historycarper.com/1768/04/01/on-the-labouring-poor/
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