The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-31
TINE SOCIAL SCIENCE CONGRESS.

Tue following interesting address on
"Ecososr AND TRADE" was read before the
Social Science Congress, at Birmingham
England, on Tuesday, October 9th, by the
wife Of Prof. Fawcett:
Professor Fawcett, on being called upon.
said: 10 is a rule of this Association that
the addresses delivered by Presidents of De-
parrments should be read OF course ii is
impossible that 1 can adhere to this rule.
And shall esteem it great kindness II you
will allow my wife to read my address for
me. (Applause-) | have not the least hes
itation in doing so, because she had no in
considerable share in preparing the few re-
marks which was to address to you.
Mrs. Fawcett, Who was received with loud
applause, proceeded to read, in a clear and
distinct voice, the following address 1T
may be surmised, from the name which as
been given to the section over which have
the honor to preside, that the Associa-
tion thinks that II Is important and desira-
bic to trace the connection which exists be-
tween the principles Of economic science
and their practical application to trade If
those who attend this section can In any de-
gree successfully perform the work which
has thus been assigned to them, they will
render to their country service o a some
what high order Of usefulness The English,
more perhaps than ony other nation, sepa-
rate theory from practice In fact when We
wish particularly to glorify ourselves, We
assert that we are 50 practical that We can
afford to do without the theories Of the
S, eculations Of science. This glorIfication
Of what is called practical wisdom is not
\ t,k k~aI 10 k..k, - IL
manner to politics. Many members Of the
House Of Commons think that IL they wish
to express contempt for brother member,
they cannot give better utteran noe to their
scvrn han by calling him philosopher. II
would be unbecomlng in me, on the present
occasion, to describe how many a great %
litical blunder would have been avoided II
practical men had more frequently been
guided by the teachings of science. la
few pages OF Adam Smith the fallacy of
protection was demonstrated az clearly As
any propos Ition OF Euclid, and vet genera
ton after generation Of stat smen refused
to be convinced. They thought that they
were 80 practically wise that they needed
not the guidance Of theoretical economists
the result was, that no pen will ever be able
TO describe the loss which was imposed upon
trade, and the sutferings which we're inflicted
upon millions Of human beings. during the
sixty years which elapsed between the pub
lication Of "The Wealth Of Nations" and
the abolition OF protection In asserting
that there 10 still too wide a separation be.
tween economic science and practical in
dustryilet il not be supposed that | think
the blame s BY any means entirely on one
side. lf men Of business have been prone
60 ignore the conclusions of science, IL NAV
be fairly said on the other hand that scien-
the men have sometimes been prompted by
feeling Of false pride to disle egard, or even
despise, the invaluable assistance which they
msght derive from practical men. The
greatest masters Of scientific investigation
are those who know how 10 select simple
facts as illustrations Of their theories. This
remark applies with peculiar force to esono-
mic science. There is not an artisan in his
town who coull not tell the most illustrious
! political economists some facts in connection
with his daily work, which, IL not suggestive
Of new ideas, would probably throw q new
light on some of their most recondite in
vesngstions. N, therefore, on the present
occasion, ask you 70 consider the assistance
which economic science can render to trade,
let it mot be supposed that have forgotten
the reverse aspect Of the question, which 10
equally important, win, the aid which 4.
rendsred % economic science by the know
ledge derived from practical men. Anyone
who has taught . political ECONOMY must
have found it almost impossible clearly TO
expound its principles, unless he could H.
lnstEats his remarks by examples. snch a.
are abandantly Afforded By the varied in
dustries Of such q town as Birmingham.
Remembering that political economy can
be most sptly described as . science which
Investigates The production, the distribution
and The exchange Of wealth, have often
felt that the practical end which the politi-
cal economist has to attain, in to show how
the 'labor and capital required for the pro-
ductionsof wealth may be economised: and
khoW wealth may be distributed and ex-
changed 90 90 to confer the greatest amount
Of happiness ON mankind. Ii this eorrees
interpretation OF the practical purposes oI
tne Science, every one, men OF business,
ministers Of religion, and phflanshropisss
should alike desire TO cultivate and promots
] IT. 1 know it is often said thnt Che suiencs
\ leads 10 10 such beneficial res1lts, but thai
its HhoIe tone tends 20 benumb human sym.
j kpatAies, and 10 cast upon men the b1ighI oI
seldshnsaa a .politieal economist often on.
lists vagnsly In the hass Of popular igne,
irsnes. - y selfish, hardhearied being, whs
wooid teach sl men that IL ~ their Grsl
\ duty q become rich, and Who .woald thinl
A . hn M9hset triumph 20 POINT onB 10 mer
4 hou Aeds acbief end efaiAsirs lifA van-s In
4 igsassdp ueaItby udnlAf bs nttaiped, 10 n
eeay 70 show the slsndsn hesis. ~ plsssi.
hlhty upon which this vssf 9n6eix cf lnia
eo1seption Fests. II, bseAas6 poIitIckl econ
4 fon5 concefasd wa(1 ssalkbj t6g5sa ~ tsasl
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