The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-27
A TEXTBOOK THAT MUST GO.


very Objectionable textbook in use in the
High school of this city. We refer to Chapin's
'tFirst Principles of Political Economy" the
work of Aaron L. Chaplin, D. D., president of
Beloit College. Instead of a candid consider
alton of the great question of tariff, the
authors argument is based wholly on senti-
ment unsupported by any tangible practical
course of reasoning. As a prelude to his
chapter on international trade, the author lays
down the following propositions:
81. The nations of men are of one blood,
and constitute one family.
80. All the face of the earth, with its
great diversity of resources and productions,
is given to the one human race.
80. The blessings which the earth has to
yield are developed in largest measure as the
people of every land devote themselves to the
production of those forms of wealth for which
their country is best adapted.
"a. The happiest distribution of those bless
ings is secured by intercommunication and
mutual exchanges, made as free as possible
between all nations"
The third paragraph most nearly approaches
common sense, and will be generally accepted
by all who read it. The first two are simply
moral platitudes that have no force in this
work-a-day world Of ours. The lion
and the lamb have not yet nego-
tiated terms whereby they may peaceably lie
down together, without the lion being ON the
outside of the lamb. The universal brother
hood of man has not yet been acknowledged
in communities, and, at the present rate of
progress, it will require good many thou
sand years before nations reach that perfection
of Christian fellowship that each does not
consider its own interests first. The fourth
and last paragraph is a non sequitur that
majority of the enlightened people of America
have not yet been brought to accept.
This textbook, instead of being dignifed
discussion and presentation of politi-
cal economy, is simply an incoher-
emit sermon, announcing text and then
preachinga millennial impossibility. 1t has
been conceded for ages that all people should
dwell together in unity; but the trouble has
been, and still is, that each fellow has insisted
on prescribing the terms of that unity. The
Bedouin and the Turk want the world to ac-
knowledge one God, and that Mahomet is his
prophet. Protestant Christians want all man.
kind to be Christians as prescribed by Luther,
Calvin and Knox, while the Catholic world,
with equal ardor, insists that all men become
Christians as deyotees of the Pope. Each and
all of us are very solicitous concerning this
universal brotherhood of man, and each and
all of us are doing our utmost or atleast, great
deal, to make it impossible. 1t is so in trade and
commerce, and it is little short of imbecility
to declare that universal brotherhood exists
because we have reason to believe that Adam
was our common ancestor. The 'Hfamily" has
increased rapidly since the simple, sunny days
that shone upon the Edenic pair All nations,
kindreds and tongues are intent on the get
ting of the worlds goods for themselves-get-
ting on the brotherhood plan, if possible, but
getting, all the same.
With due respect for doctor of divinity
still of opinion that that man is not
capable of writing on political economy as
textbook for practical use, who bases his
theories on any such idea as the ethical duties
of mankind, as members of one family The
men who live down on the broad plane Of the
world, where man meets man in the struggle
for bread, have little sympathy for those who,
in salaried chairs, have no just appreciation of
what bread-winning means. The moralizing
professor, with his living assured may theor-
ize as he pleases, and urge free trade upon all
who will listen: but the American artisan
will still insist that he be given
a chance to establish himself in
business that shall properly remunerate him,
and the farmer will still be of the opinion
that a home market first is worth dozen
abroad, ana that every American given en-
ployment at anvil and plane is removed from
the field, and becomes his patron instead of
rival
The book here complained of is uncompromis-
ingly in favor of absolute free trade, and that
too in defiance of the fact that the American
idea, as expressed in popular elections and in
all our laws, favors not only tariff for rev.
enue, but one that shall afford needed
protection to American men and
markets. Dr. Chaplin descends to the
tricks and language of the pot-house states
man in his ardor to support his pet theory,
spun out in the shade of his college library
In the concluding list of questions on the text
may be found the following, which, if not
partisan and intended to appeal to prejudice,
mean absolutely nothing:
"If farmer can buy suit made in Enc