Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
i" The Popular WISDOM"

than that of the higher orders ?" We have
not seen these essays, but DIR. Holland, in
the October number of his magazine, Serb
ner'S Monthly, makes them the text of an
article headed "The Popular Wisdom" He
admits that the preponderance of opinion
with these eminent English writers is on the
affirmative side, but he quotes as conclusive
on the other side the remark of Mr.. Lowe,
who he says "puts the matter in nutshell
thus "Take two persons, one from the
lower and one from the higher classes, and
propose to them any political question:
which will be like y to give you a right
answer, the man who has had some kind of
education, or the man who has not passed
beyond very moderate acquaintance with
reading and writing, probably somewhat
the worse for wear ?" DIR. Holland adds to
this the remark : =" The massing or multi
plication of ignorance can hardly amount to
wisdom; the best men will do the best
thinking and the best work."
We are sorry not to have the advantage
of reading what so eminent men as Glad
stone and the rest have said in behalf of the
popular wisdom, but in the lack of that we
shall still make an effort TO express the
thoughts Of one working-man upon this i'm
poitant topic.
Both Mr.. Lowe and DR.. Holland take a
very narrow view of the subject in the obser-
vations just above quoted. They leave aside
two important factors, at least, in regard to
the ability of men as modified by education
to judge justly regarding public questions.
There are many kinds of education, some Of
which would greatly aid man in forming a
valuable opinion in matter of politics, while
others would be of no benefit to that end,
and some might even be AN actual hindrance.
But besides and more than this, the personal
or class interests and prejudices of man
who had even been student of public
affairs would greatly control his views on
many questions. The differences of opinion
regarding matters of local. national and in
ternational policy, are not marked alone, or
chiefly, between the more or less literate and
the more or less illiterate among citizens.
The war of opinion RACES indeed mostly
amongst those who have some right to be
regarded as experts. Why do these, at
least, not agree better than they do? Ac.
cording to Mr.. loves and DR.. Hollands
theory they ought to. But the stubborn
fact that they don't stands athwart the seem.
ingly simple and truistic path of these gen
the mems reasoning.
DR.. .'olland undertakes to illustrate his
notions by reference to practical issues of
the present, and makes violent attack Che
is not cool reasoner) upon the workingmen
on account OF their trades unions, which he
calls curse" and upon their methods OF
dealing with their employers as exemplified
by strikes, which he says "have made its
(capital's) enterprise torment" A fairer
mind than DIR. Hollands would not have
judged trades unions wholly by the evil they
may have wrought, or are capable of, when
mismanaged. 1t is not the normal purpose
of trades unions to antagonize capital, but
to organize labor for purposes just as com
mendable and useful as any of the organiza
tions among capitalists, which no one will
object to so long as justice is the basis Of
action. But when these organizations are
once formed, they are capable of both goot
and evil. Being made up of men, and Otter
controlled in their action by very few men
it is not likely that this action will always b,
wise, or free from passion. In this matter
Of strikes, which so excites DR.. Hollands in
dignation, no doubt there is great folly. Gu
readers know what we think of strikes Blu
there is no more folly in the strike of tn
operatives than in the refusal of the EN-
ployers to either discuss or arbitrate differ
ences. In both cases there is an appeal t.
the ordeal of endurance, instead of the tests
of reason and right. 1t is like two men eacl
putting foot into tub of very hot waite
and deciding a question, say of theology
by trying which can stand scalding tn
longest. The workmen are fools, undoubt
eddy; and very great fools, unless they kno,
do beat, but at great cost to themselves
their employers and the community. And
the employers beat, which is more CON
monty the case, it is just the same, or i
the long run, worse. In either case exa
peration increases alienation between th
two interests, and prepares the way for f.
ture irrational and destructive contests. Dl
Holland speaks of these contests as being b
tween labor and capital, and of the working
men as enemies TO capital. This is not III
case. The contest is between the laborel
and the capitalists as to how the proceed
of their joint investments shall be divided
Neither party undertakes or is a foe to ca
ital though both may act as if they were
these foolish contests.
DIR. Holland goes on in his argument, r
ferring to the resumption and currency di
putes in recent congresses, and discuss
them in highlypartisan fashion, entirely III
worthy OF the position he occupies, or the su
ject he is apparently trying to elucidate. II
like most partisan writers, does not quote Il
views of his opponents fairly. Perhaps
has never really studied them. The temp
he displays is exactly that of man WI
never considers any other than his own sid
lie quotes the most extreme opinions he
among those whom he opposes, and judg
them, not by their matured action, but by Il
extravaganza of their widest stump spea
ers. And he ascribes all these extravaga
ideas to the working people, the mechani
and farmers of the nation. when the fact
that they are, almost without exception, I
views Of men of thought aud study-philo
pliers in politics, so to speak, like the veter
Henry Carey-who, finding the people il
state of suffering from hard times, have tri
to impress upon them their peculiar opinio
regarding the cause. Dr. Holland makes
very unfortunate choice, here, of point
take against the popular judgment in fin
cial matters. Does he hope to secure
safety of resumption and honest mon
solely by the votes Of " the higher classes
the men who have some kind Of educatio