(H.) Yes, happily. But for what other purpose than the protection
of the rich from the poor, the strong from the weak, did this
Government exist?

(I.) I have heard that it was said that their office was to defend
their own citizens against attack from other countries.

(H.) It was said; but was anyone expected to believe this? For
instance, did the English Government defend the English citizen
against the French?

(I) So it was said.

(H.) Then if the French had invaded England and conquered it, they
would not have allowed the English workmen to live well?

(I, laughing) As far as I can make out, the English masters of the
English workmen saw to that: they took from their workmen as much of
their livelihood as they dared, because they wanted it for
themselves.

(H.) But if the French had conquered, would they not have taken more
still from the English workmen?

(I) I do not think so; for in that case the English workmen would
have died of starvation; and then the French conquest would have
ruined the French, just as if the English horses and cattle had died
of under-feeding. So that after all, the English WORKMEN would have
been no worse off for the conquest: their French Masters could have
got no more from them than their English masters did.