The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-20
Henry q. Carey.


there is some resemblance to the late Vice
President in the straight figure, sparkling
eve. aud white hair of the political econo-
mist; but they differed widely, though al
ways like gentlemen. Mr.. Dallas gave the
casting vote for the tariff Of 1916 in the
Senate, and Mr.. Carey, as the leader of the
party in favor of the protection of Ameri-
can labor, never failed to regard that meas
IRE as injurious to the interests of the coun-
try.
| have just condensed some of the lead
ing events in the life of Winfield Scott, the
soldier. That of HenryaC. Carey, the
thinker, is longer and equally eventual.
The son of Matthew Carey, an Irish patri-
o., who was for more than quarter of a
century one of the ablest Democratic edit.
ors during the administrations of Thomas
Jefferson and James Madison, he succeed
ed his father in his extensive publishing
business in 1921, and continued pursuit
50 congenial to his tastes until 1888, when
he began to devote himself to political
economy, and from that time to the present
day his labors have been more steady and
continuous than the labor of the soldier,
and his works as valuable in their effect
upon the mind Of man. To combat and
overthrow erroneous ideas is like conquer
ing an empire; to elevate and liberate the
mind is better than to improve and liberate
The body. Mr.. Carey's mission is best
given in his own words at a public dinner
at the La Pierre House in this city in 1859,
previous to his departure for Europe.
Spoken just before the war, they read like
prophecy to-day, and have special appli-
cation to the existing crisis:
s',rhe British system, as found in all the
countries subjected to it, is one of enforced
idlencss. Under it labor is everywhere
wasted, as we see to be the case in Ireland,
Ind a, Turkey, Portugal, Jamaica, and all
The other dependencies of Britain.
Hercules advised the man who
prayed to him for help to put his own
shoulder to the wheel, and his advice may
profit us asFit did the WAGNER. Let the
ships owner look to the fact that ships
always pay best when immigration is large
and when we import largely of raw mate
liala. Let him next satisfy himself that
immigration always grows when our facto-
rles and furnaces are most actively en-
ployed, and when labor is most largely
paid. Let the railroad owner look to the
fact that railroads become profitable in the
exact ratio Of their dependence upon local
traffic, and Improbable in the ratio of their
dependence upon distant trade. Let the
farmer look to the fact that whenever he
helps to close mine or furnace, he ami
hilatcs consumers of his products, and
creates competitors for the sale of food.
Let the merchant look to the fact that when
he assists in closing furnaces and facto-
ries, and in thus diminishing the demand
for labor, he creates COMPETE
ton in trade, while diminishing
the things produced and required to be
exchanged. Let the teachers, secular and
religious, see that instruction becomes more
highly appreciated as man becomes more
free, and that man becomes enfranchised
as employments become diversified. Let
each and every man apply himself to care
ful study of the facts pertaining to his own
especial occupation, and with every step
Of progress he will be brought more nearly
to the conclusion that the interests of all
farmers and planters, laborers and capital
lists, merchants and manufactures, miners
and machine makers are in perfect har-
mony each with every other, and that the
prosperity of all is to be promoted by the
maintenance of the policy of the men who
made the revolution that policy which
looks to the elevation of the laborers, and
to the development of all the faculties by
which the human animal is distinguished
from the beast"
The general reader will better under
stand Mr.. Carey's great work from the
following three chief planks in his plat
form:
First. Laborgains increased productive
ness in the proportion that capital contri-
butes to its efficiency"
"Second. Every improvement in the
efficiency of labor, so gained by the aid of
capital, gives SO much increased facility of
accumulation"
Third. Increased power of production
lessons the value in labor of capital already
existing; bringing it more easily within the
purchase Of present labor, for the reason
that value cannot exceed the cost of repro
fuction."
In support Of these and kindred idea
Mr.. Carey has written number of works.
As early as 1888 Mr.. Carey published
his volume ON 1.-THE Credit system in
France, Great Britain and the United
Statcs," which the Journal des Econo-
mistes then pronounced "the best work
on the credit system that had ever been
published - and in 1851 "The Harmony
of Interests" which Backwood's Maya
zine recommended to all who wish to in
the causes Of the progress or de-
cline of Industrial communities. In 1853 |
''The Slave Trade, Domestic and
Foreign Why it Exists, and How it May |
be distinguished" Concurrently with these
systematic treatises in book form, his pen
vas busy with pamphlets and newspaper
contributions, applying his doctrines to ext
sencies Of the passing time. 1t is not with
n my limit to enumerate these productions.
they cover every topic OF the times in any
way related to the philosophy of business,
currency, politics, internal and interna-
lonal affairs, the subjects of his studies for
Yearly half century; and he continues
his service to the public still, with all
he ardor of young lover, and all the
Effectiveness of veteran.
In 1857 Mr.. Carey digested the doctrines
i his previous productions into a single
york Of three volumes, octave, entitled
Principles of Social Science,u published
S5S-' 59-whieh has since, under his own
been condensed into a aManual
u Social Science" by Miss Mexican; and in
n introduction to one of the German edi-
IONS OF this latter, which he entities /" Re-
lew OF the Decade, 1S57-,G7.u. he has
wen the most remarkable vindication of j
Is leading doctrines to be found in any de-
artment of science applied to the affairs
1 nations.
The principal and some OF the minor
forks here named have haan tranoJatJ | c