The sun., 1885-02-08

THsrsiA 1sssrs % OrsA edor Eeenom,sts aaa
the Land Ouestion.

Thsrsta nessrs a. Ortiz edoH Eeensmists asa
the Land Question.
Not svon Mr.. Chamberlain's recent speeches
ere more ominous Of danger to the English
land system than the survey Of tho present
and prospective stAtA Of opinion on the subject
by Prof. ], T. THoRoLp Rooms In tho last num-
bsr OF the Contemporary Repie,r. His warnings
and predictions derive peculiar weight from
the Circumstance that he hiniself has been 40.
counted one OF the authoritative expou ndors Of
the orthodox economy.
Assuredly he 10 no Socialist, for sven in this
article no reafnrms his conviction that .ndi.
vtdualism. or the largest practicable measure
OF offreedom for individual activity and self -ad.
vancsnent. Is the best and safest principle ON
which human society can be constructed. Yet
II nll orthodox economists had been like Prof
noGers. II may no doubted whether socialism
would have any reason for being, or whothe II
would not be repealed by workingmen them
selves ~ at least premature. For ns regards
motive. sympathy and the special aim o. study
hs 10 . disciple. not OF tho stock broker Ricardo
and the lattsrs money -xrasping or money
pandsring Successors. but Of Adam Smith. the
champion Of starved and hslpsss labor. and Of
those early French economists who rskod their
lives to tighten tho yoke OF social misery.
Prof.. Rogers insists that tho whole heart OF
the author Of the Wealth OF Nations" was
with the men engaged In productive labor. and
shat the science that Smith founded was sub
jsctsd to baneful influence. and underwent .
vicious twist at tho hands of Ricardo and later
English teachers. Those would be dctators of
opinion have turned their backs. he says. on
the capital object OF inquiry. TO wit the agen-
oles by which the distribution OF wealth may be
promoted. With thoir eyes fastened more and
more inssnty on the manner in which the few
M ms hntu hov
aad less heed to the causes which keep the
many poor. "All OF them." according to Prof
Rogers, gave an exaggerated Importance and
An exaggerated mobility to capital: mono of
them saw that tho function Of capita! is to give
not original but continuous employment to la
bor. and all OF them from Ricardo down. prac-
tically derived their theory OF capital from tho
machinery Of bankers loans"
Thus II has como to pass that English legis-
lation. so far a. it has been shaped by tho So
called orthodox economist. has rather frus-
tratsd than furthersd Adam Smiths funda-
mental purposes. 1t has never allowed indi-
vtduslism FREQ field In England; It has tram.
mallsd and still trammc!s individual produc-
tive action in multitude OF ways. and inter-
poses . myriad obstacles to tho equitable par
tltion OF the fruits OF labor. In brief political
economy. which was designed to DO the gospel
OF liberty. has become. In the hands OF
10 English expounders and sntoroers. a
muntment OF privilege. Especially IA
grant 10 the departure from the spirit
Of its founders teachings In its deal
Ing with the land. 1t boasts that for forty
yoars 1t has swayed tho British Parliament.
yst during the whole OF that period with the
exception OF reluctant concessions in the case
OF lrslsnd) 1t has persisted in uphoding the
lAv-spun distinction between real and personal
O1tat0 in defendnv the pri vilpyes and In, nj. -.