The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-05-20
Politico.E Economical Problems Of the
Day.

DAY.
Att meeting Of tho American Socia
Science Association in Detroit, las
week, Hon. David A. Wells was intro
dueed and delivered an address on the
general subject of social science, anC
especially on the relations Of capita
and labor, and of the mutual duties ot
society and the laboripg classes. He
started with the proposition that never
before to-day has man been able to pro-
duce no much with Il given amount OF
power To illustrate this he adduced
the fact that by tie construction OF the
Sue canal. the time Of vessels pas.
sage from England to Calcutta has been
reduced from 40 or 100 days to 30
days, And this preponderance Of mind
over matter Is becoming more notable,
every year showing new and valuable
additions to the list of inventions. The
! fields Of science and art are still open
TO the inventor, but with the advance
of science came necessarily a che9pen-
ing Of the productions of labor. What
was formerly luxury comes to be II
necessity, and former extravaganza is
becoming frugalty. Where this cheap
eDiug process will stop is an interesting
matter for speculation.
The speaker then examined the pro.
gressive stage of society as regards the
possession of property. The poorer
classes are gradually but surely learn
ing the motto, "every man for himself
and the devil take the hndmost, "
and are determined that the devil
of civilization shall not capture
them If it does, they may, like
the Communists of Paris, draw down
the whole fabric of society into
Que common vortex OF destruction.
The wealthy perceive this spirit, and,
from this perception, coupled with the
efforts and demands of the poorer ones,
schools, hospitals, churches, sanitary
and social reforms sprang, Antagon-
ism, however originated strikes, trades
unions and organizations of that class.
A vugabond ropays the society which |
or assists him TO his vagabond- |
age by founding line of paupers, pros
titutcs, lunatiCs and drunkards. Society |
sees this, too, aud meets the case by
all the means in her power The idea
hat the men who talk of social science
n Onr day are hermits, full of book
earning but devoid of experience and
lctual knowledge of the evils they would
vet right, is mistake. To show the
lbsurdity of this belief, the speaker ad-
lucpd statistics and statements to prove
hat by following out the teachings of
social science mortality can be much
The province of the social
science rcformer is to study statistics,
results and draw indubit0ble
and Tor this work society
owes him a greater debt than it owes
.hc successful financer or statesman.
The teachings of som, European re-
'Ormcrs, that property is theft, seem
lbgurd in America. Law cannot reg
llntc the acquisition and division of
property. Az well attempt to provide
)y statute that all men shall he born
With IN equal physical and mental ca
'acity for production.
Mr.. Wells proceeded ut considerable
ength to apply the division principle
D American productions and acquisi- 4
ons, and to show the absurdity and n
npracticability of it, he said it il prop. q
+ and right for the workman OF the IL
nited States to demand and strive, if n
e will, for the largest possible share Il
the joint products of labor and cap
al, for it il the natural right Of every i
ne TO seek to obtian The largest price +
II that which he has to sell but if, IN E
} doing he restricts production, and 9
, diminishes abundmce, he does it at 9
is peril for, by Il law fNr above any I
,gslative control or influence, what ,
yer increases scarcity not only in
reases the necessity, but diminlshes
he rewards Of labor.