The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-04
IL tAsre a Science or Pe,,t,e.s

the International Scientific Series an essay on
the Science o! Law" now undertakes TO dem
onstrnte in the latest addition to that collcc-
ton that there is such thing as Science OF
Politics. and that its nature and limits may he
defined with tolerable precision. This was
some time paradox and to this day most per-
sons whose vocation or inclination has directed
their attention to the subject are accustomed
to deny not only that politics are susceptible OF
scientific formulation. but even that thew con-
stitute an nrt In any proper sense OF tho term.
So nutiform and complex are the tnnsidera-
lions OF which the statesman must take cog
ni2nncA. SO inca!cnlable and Uncomfortable the
forces with which he has to reckon. that state
craft has como to bo regarded us synonymous
with empircism OF the most fortuitous
and fiuctuatinE kind. An attempt. indeed. WAS
rnado by Bentham and the eNpounders OF the
utilitnrian philosophy To evolve political sci
ence from tho axiom that the end Of govern
ment is the greatest happiness OF tho greatest
number. But who is to define what makes
the greatest happiness ~ tbs greatest number
in particular instance tho governors Or the
governed? In practice it has been found necos-
sary for the statesman to keep in mind. not what
he himself upon abstract grounds may deem
most beneficial from tho Benthamite point OF
view. but what the majority OF his constituents
may happen at the moment TO consider most
conducive to their own welfare. And.
az Prof. Amos himself admits. the prac-
teal necessity OF conforming moro or less com.
rletey to the opinions and wishes o. the gov
erned. however mistaken they may seem. is
observed to be specially urgent and irresistible
In a representative Govern mont like that 81
England or the United States. Soeing. more
over. that all civilized countries arc tending to
adopt this form Of govern mont. it Is hard to
see upon what basis o; probability tho author
POUNDS his belief that a science OF politics Is in
process OF development. Our own opinion is
that with ths rapidly extending divorce Of
Of statesmen to eliminate Christianity from
the factors Of their problems. the prospect OF
establishing Fundamental principles OF right
and wrong In politics is becoming overcast.
Prof Amos does not shirk difficulties even
when he is unable to overcome them. He sees
that 1t Is incumbent on him to define what 1t Is
that he contemplates when he speaks OF tho
conscience OF the people aud dsnounces the
sins OF q nation. We know what the Hebrew
prophets meant when they used such LANGUAGE.
for they recognized the existence OF an abstract
ethical standard outside OF and independent Of
public opinion. yet ny when whole communi-
ties as we'll Is individuals we're TO be measured.
But what right have modern statesmen. many
VI w"on' W oi"'" i"''on@''"'i' '""o vi li'o"i's'.
ana All OF "hoh ,Saore the ssr'c. limitations OF
onr.s',h" etn'ce IN .ns'r po,'''cai' action. 10 use
the Hebrew nd Christian phrasoology? Who do
they make the kaepor of the popular conscience
the majoritvr If So how can that be sin
which Is sanctioned by preponderant portion
OF q nation? We understand the attitude Of
the American abotionists toward nm institu-
''on 'inf''eaS Ie'"Sh'@eu ~ Tue consultation
ana sanc,'onea oy three-auA.tets vi century
Oh presurlp'ioh' LOT ~ was inehtca' Win that
inaiHta'He" W INC hours" p'opuets to"aru
"'usSs Vi Mna' 'hey con7'aofeo such. III AS-
raei' ou. WIN wnat propriety co"'o a modern
votary OF parliamentary government. VINO &C
Knowieuses the risnl OF the majority 10 Ole
tate iesiS'htion' uescrioe american s'"very a. a
hat'oaa! SIN. so long as the larger part o. the
peop'e WIS oproseu 10 interference WIN IL!
Inc author 81 this volume does not smut MS
Dyes tothc curious nsmutationS wh'cA moral
IDEAS ana terms undergo when transferred
rom inc NE OF individual mon to tho existence
OF the STATE. or tatner IRON the ives OF men IN
no"' po".,c1 " 'hei' h'es IN ponI'ch' as
pec'. II" discusses IN ono OF MS chapters Tie
pe1sisVeh. prooehs as 10 "he!het Ahu uh"ei
"""' cohotiohs p".li''ish huip''ioh ha'iohal
tNh'rios OF "".'ph'h'es ut" Virtues OF VICES. II
10 e''ai ii'u"'"' '""l w" ""S"et W sucu '"c-
I"s" ueIe"hs Oh Ia" .re"'nS"'"eeS' tha' "nh'
10 v,.'"e up w c"r'"'n no'h' may oecoin"
vic' II praoti"eu D";oha thn' point ana tha'
the Iac' thnt tne Hthte Is the OBJECT OF
action may really aitcr moral estimates from
"aat 'heY wouia DO II lh"'''dual persons.
or even small ana ihsGn'hcant corporations.
were aloh" concerned "hen the transition is
maae from private persons or ihconsideraoe
ASSOCIATIONS Z" the STATE tho moral atmos'
! Fhere seems u nave undergone transforms
ION anu Ola 'hlh:s 10 nave occome new.
! putcS ~hich were relative oecome absolute
ana the converse is no 1883 true. Not only Ia q
s'ht'shlan oiteh piuhGed III oouht as 20 whether
a th.nS "hicn 10 MIN seems ri8ht "an DO dono
nut ne mas tn'Se'Vlhss ~ 70 the r,ghtfulnsss OF
DONG II 10 particular t''ne ana place. IL Is
not merely that ABSTRACT principies themselves
usually demand modification In view OF the
but sha, the greatest s allowance must s al al
ways Do made IN al polticai REFORMS
Tor inc influence OF hxed sentiments
ana h"olts. IL may happen that hurtlu
tn n