The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-10
o B tn A r Y.


John stuart MIL.
John Stuart MIL the eminent English philosopher
and statesU ian, whose death Ia announced by cable,
was born;In Rodney street, Pentonville, London,
May 20, 1906 He was the son of James Mill, the
author OF the "History OF India.n His father was
for many years the examiner OF Indian CORE
spJndence in the East India House, and the son
rose rom cierkship IN the East India eompanys
employ till he was appointed to succeed his father
in 1886. Mr.. Mill held this position only two years.
retiring when the administration Of the company
was transferred to the British government in 1853
He was subsequently offered seat in the Indian
Council, hut declined, and never held any public
position except during his short Parliamentary
career.
Mr.. Nif's position N the East India House was
sufficiently political to direct his attention TO pub
lie Affairs, and especially to the great questions
which afterward engaged the attention of his
maturer years. Prom 1929, when ne entered the
East India Company's service, till 1s4s. when his
"Principles Of Political Economy" appeared, the
times were exceedingly stirring Parliamentary
reform was agitating the whole country, and evok-
Ing the most powerful utterances that had ever
been heard from statesmen like Brougham, Russell
Bowring Grote, SouthwoOd Smith, Hume, Herner,
Romily and Bentham. Bentham was, besides, the
friend OF his father, and the elder Mill always
showed an active sympathy with the work Of re-
form, that 1t was only natural that John Stuart
Mil-the future Bayard OF English philosophical
observation-disclosures unreservedly throw himself into
the arms OF the progressive party.
Mr. Mill's first work was his famous System of
logic, published In lS4a This work was character
lied at the time as the greatest contribution to
English speculation since LOcke's ESSAY" Five
years later his great work on the principles OF
Political Economy appeared. In this work the
doctrines oil Adam Smith, Ricardo and other lead
Ing economists were Interpreted in broad and
enlightened spirit Mr.. Mill treated in his own
interest to progressive nations, the laws OF pro-
duction, capital and labor, property, competition,
for low wages, profits rent, value, money, credit,
paper currency, distribution, taxation, &c. But
the most remarkable chapters are those in which
he described the probable future OF the laboring
classes.
on Some Unsettled Questions OF Political Econo-
N.Y." published in 1874. In this work he dis
cnssed national interchange, the influence of
consumption upon production the meaning OF the
words productive" and "unproductive," "profts''
and interest" and the definition OF political
1852 when his famous Essay on Liberty" and mis-
Dissertation on Parliamentary Reform" APP
iudes to the loss OF Ills wife, who had been the
partner and often the guide OF his literary labOrs,
and whose death for long time clouded with sor-
row the sunshine OF his domestic hearth. But his
mind could not long remain unoccuped with Its
tavorte pursuits and his considerations on Rep
"Utllitaranism" in 1862 and "Auguste Comte and
Positivisn" and DENOMINATION of Sir william
HamltOn 3 PnllOSOpny" In 1863. In all tneSc WORKS
he showed the same broad spirit and comprehensive
thought which characterized his earlier productions
AT the general election in July, 1865, Mr.. Mill was
elected to Parliament for Westminster. His speech
to his constituents was o tribute to them rather
than to himself, for he simply comphmented them
for acting together for the common cause, by
which an Important victory had been gained and
left the world to praise them because In one in
stance, at least, was found that English states
man could attain to high political office without
lowering himself to the level OF demagogue or re-
sorting to corrupt means Tor his elevation. At the
next general election, however, he was not re-
turned the demagogues getting the better OF the
high-minded statesman
During the last few years Mr.. Mill has been con-
stantly busy with his pen. He was always an ad-
vocate OF education in It's fullest and widest ex-
tent, the political enfrancbisement OF women, free
trade industrial cooperation the extension OF the
franchise and of oil measures which have for their
object the improvement OF the social, moral, intel
lectual and physical condition OF the people. TO
these subjects he gave renewed attention after his
retirement from public life, enunciating his views
riodIcals. Among his latest contributions were a
series of articles to the London Examiner on SIM
plifyng the land tenures and abolishing the law of
prlmogeniture. Ii will lie remembered that in
1869 he wrote letter to the American women sui
fragsts, sympathzing with their cause, and last
remarkable communication on the law of revolu.
ton. Now that he is dead 1t is likely that all his
printed.
friendly pen thus sketched Mr.. Mills first
speech in the House: Ills thoughts and his argu-
ments were closely packed, and his style, like that
OF his works, was as crystal. He stood close to Mr.
Bright, and was warmly cheered by that distin
gushed man. He kept his hands behind him the
whole time. and practsed none of the ordinary
arts OF the orator. His voice, though not power
ful, Is very musical and Is as distinct bell. He
spoke In the character alike Of the politician the
statesman, the philosopher and the phan-
thropist, and all appeared in his words
He applied himself with the most logical vigor
to the subject Immediately before him, go
ing scarcely to the right or to the lett lie
opened up new opinions at every turn ana his eX-
preston OF them was exquisitely precise. The
speech proceeding directly from his thought, he oc
casionaly stopped IN the course OF 1t il to rally
but when he resumed the thread OF his reasoning
he went on with delicious fuency. 1t was great
pleasure to be there, and particularly to observe
how the House appreciated him, and by its anxious
till he had nshed-proved its respect for his intel
lectual gifts and for his sentiments"