New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-05
NEW PUBLICA1 TONS.
RowyN's POLITICAL ECONOMY.

III N,
rM Ln inssTiTuTioNs or THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BY Fs,seIs BOwEs vol $40, 5+e Pr Boston; Ltus'
The preface to this work informs US that tbs
voIuma &" contains the substance of course OF
lectures upon Political Economy delivered De-
fore the Lowell Institute in Boston" Along with
these lectures we al,o have "all that vas deemed
worthy of preservation in series OF articles upon
various topics in the science, which have been pub
l;,hed AT various times 10 The North American Re-
r,ev." the author, as be says, not having deemed
Il neoessary 10 rewrire what at first carefully
,,en,,ed for publication when time aud further
reflection had not suggested any change OF doctrine
or any material Improvements in illustration or
phJsseoloey.
II may be that such q mode of preparing trea-
t;se upon Il scientific subject has its advantages,
tboush VIC fail 10 discover them; but cOmpsctness,
unity. and depth are certainy not among tne
uerits. such as they are, Of Dir. BOwen's BOOK
Indeed its Chief merit, so far as we can discover
il lite audAcity; and hope that nobody but its au
thor can boast Of the pluck the seiconceit neces
carr to offer 10 the public volume of six hundred
octave pages, upon weighty matter ike thi''
made I'd OF such lot Of heterogeneous and super
fetal essays There is, however another merit,
namely. that the world is fully advertised Of the
nature of the article; the preface at once tells US
that here We are furnished with a book enincnty
wanting in scientific method, close logic, and severe
demand upon the attention and reasoning faculty.
This. at least, is honest. We are led to expect
nothir more than we get The man who yolun'
tar,, buys the book after the authors express no.
L. hao ia N "a
;.vol,es the admxture of very little wheat in worry
large quantity Of chat, has no right to complain
We are, however, further told that sit was inten-
ded 10 contain summary of what is most valuable
in other treatises upon the subject, so as to form
convenient Textbook of instruction in American
Colleges" IL is in behalf of the ingenious youth
who are to be exposed TO having such diet pamed
upon Ga. IN without any special consultation OF their
own wishes. that we propose to inquire no" much
of solid nutriment it really contains. The maxim
earxG, smytOr does not apply to their case.
II will require but Interpretations to prove that
with Dir. Bowen's views OF the scope and method
of Political Economy. It is impossible for hlm to
produce q really scientific work, and that 10 COL
tectine number Of popular lectures aud essays he
ia doing all that the subject in his hands adm't.
The problem Of Economy IS thus stated "On
what principles do men readily exchange these ar
tcles (those things whether material or imma'erd
which are objects of frequent barter aud sale)
for each other, and what motives, what general
Isns requisite their production, distribution aud
consumptionf POLITICAL ECONOMY undertakes to
sn,wer this question. aud is therefore, properly
considered. one Of tLe moral sciences Again IN
another place: 1.-THE subject TO be discussed IN
this volume will be the general ,cetteng OF society,
40 far rs this s effected by the moral causes regl-
latpg the product on. distribution and consumption
Of wealth"
Now we take il the most general conception OF
the purpose of political economy will be admitted
to be the examination of the reciprocal action OF
associated men. and of their material environment
or physical naturo-upon each other in relation 20
human well being. The one, physical nature, ac:s
and is acted upon in accordance with laws which
are infallihly TN form and unvarying which have
been ascertained in great part with absolute GER
tainty and precision and which, therefore, conduct
not to opinions but to positive knowledge. So far
moreover, as these laws have not yet been sscer-
tanned. Wa have the assurance Of we'll defined
method Of inquiry aud a constant progress of ac-
qsis,ion in the past, that they are sure to be
brought within the domain of positive science at
no distant period. On the other hand, as relates
to man, we know but this; that OF his metaphysical
constitution thephosophers Of twenty-vhree ceata-
ries ago positively kn<r quite rs much as is known
to-day; thst whatever was the subject OF dispute
then is equally unsettled now; and that no agree
meat hss beea reached as to the methods through
which the controversy lie 10 be determined. In re-
gard TO what Dir. Bowen means by Moral Science,
the case Is little different. Indeed, so far IS re-
lates to the more practical departments of motive
End character there is none Of the protested doc
tors Who can be named with Shakespeare for in.
sight and knowledge-nor Is there any prospect of
amcrc profound OF true analysis of the matter. OF
couree, We here exclude Phrenology aud its contr-
buttons, real or supposed, for this is founded upon
and proceeds BY the methods Of physical science,
and is nousht with the doctors Of moral philosophy.
The question is, then, If we desire to oOas,rac,a
science in field of investigation tapping upon ply.
sics on the hand which is altogether scientific
and upoa human nature on she other. which IS yet
cannot De included within the scientific category as
winch ena are We to beginl At the known, the
measurable and popderable external nsturel or at
che unknown the Invisible the mysterious. the
Auotuatine. internal naturet Given your nut 10
crack. and wanting to know how ,hs k.rpel will
be affected will you strike the shell with ,ha ham.
mef In the old mechanical way. or will you sis