Morning journal and courier., 1880-11-10
gournal alro Courier.
Wednesday Morning, Nov. 10, 1880.
A PROMISING SCHEME.

l 1 A society which bids fair to do a very use- full and much needed work is the Society for Political Education. This society proposes to secure the general reading of works on political and economic subjects. It consists | of a permanent executive committee of twen- ty-fve members, which will propose the works to be read and pass upon the pam phlets the society is to publish and distribute; | and two classes of members-''co cooperating l" | who contribute to its expenses $5 annually, and s'aetive, y who pledge themselves to read the books recommended by the society and pay an annual fee of fifty cents. singular feature of the organization is that it is not to have president, and will thus avoid the risk of having its aims confounded with the idio- 1 syncrasies of any individual chosen for its head. Among the members of the executive committee are Prof. w. G. Sumner of Yale College; Hon. David A. Wells, of Norwich, Conn. Charles Francis Adams, jr., of Bos- ton, Mass. Geo. S. Coe, Horace White, Geo. Haven Putnam, R. R. Bowker, E. M. Shep- ard and R. L. Dugdale, of New York city Franklin Mac Veagh and M. l.. Scudder, jr., of Chicago, Ill. Gen. Bradley T. Johnson,
 
 Lincoln, Nebraska; A. Sydney Riddle, of Philadelphia, Pa. Archibald Mitchell, of New Orleans, La. Geo. Mason, of Calves ton, Texas; and Peter Hamilton, of Mobile Ala
 The work of the society will be guided by the following declaration of principles:
 The nation, parties and public men must keep good faith. The right of each citizen to his free voice and vote must be upheld. Oficeholders must not control the suffrage. The office should seek the man. and not the man the office. Public service, in business positions, should depend solely on fitness and good behavior. The crimes of bribery and cor ruption must be relentlessly punished. Local issues should be independent of party. Coins made unlimited legal tender must be of full value metal in the markets of the world. Sound currency must have metal basis, and all paper money must be convertible on de- mand. Labor has a right to the highest wages 1t can earn, unhindered by public or private tyranny. Trade has the right to the freest scope, unfettered by taxes, except for government expenses. Corporations must be restricted from abuse of privilege. Neither the public money the peoples land must be used to subsidize private enterprise. A public opinion, wholesome and active, un- hampered by machine control is the true safeguard of popular institutions.
 With the exception of the free trade plank, this platform %ill meet the approval of those whom the society expects to reach and bene- fit.
 The course of reading for the first year has been selected, and will consist of Nord- hoff's Politics for Young Americans, Prof. Perry's Introduction to Political Economy" Johnston's History of American Politics. MoAH 1oh at in These volumes will be issued in cheap edi- tion, specially published for the society as Library of Political Education. Next year another set of books will be selected, and it is planned to extend the Library gradually according to the growth of the society, until attention shall have been given to the whole range of subjects comprised under Social Science. In addition to the Library series of tracts are to be published on economic aud political subjects, including among the earlier ones "What is 8 Bank ?'' by Ed ward Atkinson, of Boston; and Turgots eel ebrated essay ''On the Creation and Distribu' tion of Wealth. The valuable pamphlets of the Honest Money League of the Northwest, which did such strong service for the coun- try during its activity, will be continued, in cluding a revision of MT. Thomas M. Nichols effective pamphlet on Honest Money" It is proposed to also issue lists, recommending desirable courses of reading on economic and political subjects. Two such are now ready; list of books on political economy and political science, recommended by Prof. Sumner, of Yale, and another on the Con stitution of the United States, prepared by w. E. Foster, Librarian of the Providence Public Library.
 A society with such plans should not and probably will not lack for members or con tributions. There are thousands of young men in this country who feel the need which this society is intended to supply, and who will doubtless hasten to avail themselves of its advantages. The only objection to it is that it does not seem inclined to give protec tion hearing. Perhaps it would be well for protectionists to organize a similar society, and for young men, and older ones also, to join hoth