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News from Nowhere, or, an Epoch of Rest : being some chapters from a utopian romance by William Morris
page 100 of 269 (37%)

(H.) This is true; and we may admit that the pretensions of the
government to defend the poor (i.e., the useful) people against other
countries come to nothing. But that is but natural; for we have seen
already that it was the function of government to protect the rich
against the poor. But did not the government defend its rich men
against other nations?

(I) I do not remember to have heard that the rich needed defence;
because it is said that even when two nations were at war, the rich
men of each nation gambled with each other pretty much as usual, and
even sold each other weapons wherewith to kill their own countrymen.

(H.) In short, it comes to this, that whereas the so-called
government of protection of property by means of the law-courts meant
destruction of wealth, this defence of the citizens of one country
against those of another country by means of war or the threat of war
meant pretty much the same thing.

(I) I cannot deny it.

(H.) Therefore the government really existed for the destruction of
wealth?

(I) So it seems. And yet -

(H.) Yet what?

(I) There were many rich people in those times.

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