New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-08
SCIENCE AND COMMON LIFE
AMERICAN socToLoGIsTS MEETING.
ADDRESS OF COMMISSIONER EATON TO THE SOCIAL
SCIENCE ASSOCIATION.


SCIENCE ASSOCIATION.
rBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
SARATOGA, Sept. 1.-THE American Social
Science Association tonight began general meeting
There was o distinguished assemblage present,
including many prominent persons from every part Of
the country, Tho opening address was made BY John
Eaton of Washington. United States Commissioner Of
Education and president of the association His subject
was al word the scientific method In the common
affairs OF life" He reviewed the unsettled
problems of human life, tho questions Of
bealthful judicious and conscientious living, which
to be by the discovery OF corresponding pn-
cipes laws. He illustrated his subject by the
dence given the so-cslled weather prophets which
extends to the regulation Of tho practical
affairs life the operations of and sailors.
Laws important in this az In every other depart
ment OF human action and their discovery and use
marks thcIdiference between civilization and barbsr-
ISM This tho scientific method and the CAREFUL
patient comparing. counting measuring. putting facts
and ideas together systematizng the record and
alizing therefrom. The ignorant man. swayed by his
passions and appetes rejects IT, The speaker ridculed
the creduty Of men In regulating their affairs by
and senseless supersttons lwhle neglectng the solid
ground which science has deducea from observation aud
experience Every advance Of science Is OF its own
nature an improven ent In the Commonwealth. Every
successful study OF the laws of the world inevitably
brings Intelligent and victorious conflict with the
yields its increase and the first step this fruitful
process Is scientific method Of instruction which Is
greatly more difficult OF attainment than scientific
method Of research. This, is: not confined 70 tho
school but embraces all the agencies BY which the
development OF society IL accomplished. Ignorance,
passion and despair lead men to violent outbursts and
TnSsa minds must s BE- reached truth must Be- ncScate
aD and % en- sSas 9S az sSn S T
ing them. and directing them In safe. healthfu and
profitable directions. Tastes for low degrading
prints will be corrected not 30 much by inveighinE
against them and thus advertising them as by supplying
better attractive and valuable works thereby
creating @ that will not be satisfied with the vile
These considerations gave rise TO speculation con-
cerning the and substance OF the information
science yield for the service OF man. Specially
70 be is the great increase Of associated action
Formerly Only politics and religion brought To-
gether in convention. Sow they come ms lawyers
doctors, mathemsticians workmen sanitarians
socoogsts and educators Here the speaker referred 70
the great work done in this line by this association
The SPEAKER alluded TO the work which civil goyernpent
performing ia the collection and recording OF tho data
sociology America has left the idea behind that
emment Is merely sherfaty and has accepted larger
and wider trusts and activities the benefit Of tho
people. Formerly the counting OF men was done TO
ascertain a nations strength for war; while now the
decennal census covers everything relating to the
progress and condition OF the people aud affords much
safer basis for valuable genefallzatIOns