The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-26
CIrV V1xLELLIGENCE E.
SOCIAL SCIENCE.

RICAN SOCIAL sCIENUE ASSOCIATION.
The Proceedings of the second Days Morn
tna Session ESSAYS by Hamilton II. HilI,
Hon. George n Yeaman, aud 0thers-Dis-
cutsions on Important Subjects.
The second day s session oi the American Social
Science Association was begun this morning at
eleven o'clock, in the chapel of the University OF
Pennsylvania, President Eliot in the chair. The
President, on calling the meeting to order, stated
been inadvertently omitted. THIS was read, and
supplemented with few explanatory remarks by
Mr. Ware, who read the entire essay
The President read an Invitation from the Union
League, asking the members OF the association TO
The announcement was then made that any sub
jec considered In the essays OF yesterday was open
Mr. Elliot OF the Statistical Bureau OF Washing
ton, was introduced and made few remarks on
the subject of MT. ROseOgartens essay, "Clyll
Service Mr.. Elliot gave short history OF the pre-
sent state of the civil service The examinations of
candidates are now strict. and searching aud are
made in writing. printed form of examination
now in was read, showing that there
obtain the best talent. The Government
Cerkshps are divided into four grades. Hitherto
promoted to 2 higher grade. Now an examination
is required. The subjects in which the examinations
made are those particular branches in when the
several candidates profess to excel, or for wnich
they would have special use in the office which they
seek Mr.. Elliot is member OF the examining
board which has lately been appointed to take
charge Of the whole matter
Mr.. Lorin Blodgett said that person in civil SER
vice is ike a person in a large mercantile house.
There is pressure Of business upon every person
in the service, and an unworthy man cannot hold
position long. He cannot afford to, and his over
officers cannot AFFORD to let him remain.
Mr. Mundella, a member OF the English Pdrlia-
ment from sheffield England, called upon by
the President to give narrative OF the working or
the English civil service.
q very good condition He said tnat he had been an
English politician for over thirty years, and now re-
presented one of the largest ana most important
districts in England and vet had never had voice
in the appointment of any candidate to Office, HI
thanked God that it was so. Appointments and
distinguished himself in the schools he
stands fair chance. II any man apply
10 member OF Parliament, all he can do is to refer
board. But it must be remembered that these ap-
pointments are for life unless there is some dis
honesty or rregnlarity. There is no power to turn
out OF office. The speaker believed that no better
Ofce Department had never been better served
than 1t is at present.
Mr. E. II. Derby, of Boston, said that he thought
the great excellence of the English Government
Post ONCE and telegraph systems not thoroughly
understood in this country. He called upon Mr..
hnndella for a description Of them.
Mr.. Mundella compiled with, the request,
and in addition mentioned the card
on the 1st Of this month. He also said that when
the Government took charge OF the telegraph lines
there such rush that there was aperfect break
down. This has been rameded by an increased
number of wires. There is now uniform rate OF
one shilling for messages of twenty words besides
the address. tn all parts OF Great Britain and Ire
land. 1t is hoped eventually To reduce this rate TO
sixpence, and perhaps threepence.
Rev. William Speer. of Philadelpha, lately Pres
byteran missionary to China, gave description Of
competitive system OF appointment to clVi ohces
in that country,
"fhe Press, It's Relations and Influences, by
Hon. George Ii. Yenuinn, of Kentucky.
The President then stated that, on account OF un-
avoidabe circumstances the essay of Hon. George
II. Yeaman, Of Kentucky, on "The Press, its Rela-
tons and Influences would be presented first.
Copenhagen, Denmark, but had for r4ardede the
paper IL was read by Mr.. Blatchford.
This essay was an inquiry into the mental, educa-
l.
ISM 1t reviewed the benefits mainly arising from the
art of printing and called attention to the fact that
great deal OF the progress and great many inven-
tOns Of the age of printing were enormously attri-
buted 10 the influence of the press, and ave done
also referred to the assertion made often,
and with apparent reason, that the habit OF
vast eXpanse OF literature has lessened the power
OF memory and the capacity for skilled narration,
but maintained that the capacity for sustained con-
centrated thought was not diminished. 1t had even
been asserted he said that the cheapness and facl
y Of 3 printing mad e 5he qaa fP ae Of e
with the best formerly this does not seem to be the
case.
The great excellence OF the ancients in historical
narration is mainly attributable to their listening
and talking more and digesting better before
writing; while the prolX and confused narrative OF
the moderns may be attributed to their habit OF
immense and irregular reading, and the boundless
materials which printing has accumulated. An age
of mechanical invention and material apple alton
naturally would not produce poetry and oratory to
he compared with that of more pastoral, imagna-
tive, and heroic periods In jurisprudence, aside
from the fed of the pubicist and hat of constitu-
tional law-both modern growths-the advocates
and judges Of lasting fame may now be counted
npon the fingers, and cannot compare with the
splendid array OF Roman juriscOnsults when print
ing was unknown The habit Of reading news
papers is among the most prominent features aud
perhaps, the most potent element in modern civi
zaton. Minds OF the highest culture derive ne
benefit from and seldom occupy themselves with
newspaper reading, but vast multtudes read
such matter who never read anything else, and fail
ing that, would read nothing. The mass take tleil
opinions from newspapers And the ''mediocrity'
and absence of exalted genius deplored by Mill are
not owing so much to the disappearance of genius
itself. as 1t Is to the elevation of the masses 70
higher average level and capacity. II the vast level
be not alternating hill and vale and mountain peaS
OF mental landscape, yet 1t may be uniformly raised
upwards to higher plane, purer air, and brighter
light. The danger lies in the absence OF pioneer
genius for the average man to follow. Is this me
diocrty" TO be permanent result? Are the mass
style, their ideas from that sea OF samenes'
and medtocrity fed by sources Of
editorial thinking? Is solid and classic
reading to be banlshed from the spare hours OF th
people, or will the daily press itself become Tn,
vehicle OF that kind Of reading? Is it siiC
That this is not the province Of journalism
But the problem Is 70 have the mass make furthSl
advance ana mental development. II they have
gone forward so far, why not go still further Ant
mas accomplished all 1t can accomplish, and that il
is almost excluding books from the spare hours o
the Masses and that unless either the many can bt
drawn more aside to books and self-eXerttOn the
journals be made the medium of better infOr
nation and better reasoning, dead lock OF medi
ocrity viii result. Shall our young men who go Il
tho bar, the bench, the legislative hall, TO Congress
to the Cabinet, continue to draw their logic ant
gauge their views from journals very few OF whic
are good
The relation OF the press to private rights aud T.
character, was then commented on by the speaker
The frequent abuse OF Its power Is due 10 the haOi
OF writing too much and too hastily, and thinking
TOO little. That, with the reading, mos ly bad o
editors breeds tnat style OF Vtuperatlon and asses
10