The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-16
The Study of Political and Social
Science.

The Rev. Henry Blanchard delivered a lee
ture last evening on ''Plea for the Study of
Political and Social Science, in the library
room, under the auspices of the Maine Char
liable Mechanics Association. He began by
saying that the discovery of America by
Christopher Columbus was the greatest
event in the history of European nations
since the birth of Christ. America is the
child of Europe. The stream of emigration
which has come from the mother countries
to our shores is the largest the world has
ever seen. Our fathers sought place of
freedom; their children have found it a
place to amass wealth. The fortunes of our
day are more colossal than have ever been
created, except in the days OF imperial Rome.
He believed in the accumulation OF wealth,
but he wished to see righteous distribution.
He should speak as a citizen OF
America. He loved his country. He
believed in the possibility of great future.
AS ruin came to Rome so shall ruin come to
America unless certain tendencies can be
controlled. One of these is the tendency to
contentment with personal prosperity to the
disregard of those forces in social and p0litl-
cal life which may destroy the, republic. He
should plead, therefore, for the study of po
litical and social science for these four rea-
sons:
First-There is very great ignorance con-
corning these two allied sciences. People
are very busy and tired; the strong are
greedy of wealth; multitudes run after
amusement; many are looking to the other
world with too absorbed vision. These do
not study political and social science. Our
academies, colleges and universities do not
give these. sciences large enough place in
their course of study.
Second-The study of these sciences Will
give us such startling facts that we soon be-
DIN IN fear the nrnVailino Ignorance cOnpnrn-
ing them. The social life of our great cities
and their administration; the power of
liquor combinations; the operation of our
tariff laws the monopolies in land and rail-
facts which every American citizen ought to
know. Under this head, Mr.. Blanchard
gave many Illustrations.
Third-Individual students of political
and social science ought to unite in associa-
tions for debate and in organizations for po-
litical action. A serious question, however,
is who are the standard authors. He found
it hard to recommend any author without
some qualifications. A new school of think
ers is arising, and new formula are yet to be
made. Prof. A. L. Perry's Political Econo
N.Y. is a good book to read. Herbert Spen-
GERS books should be studied with care
Henry Georges Progress and Poverty" and
Social Problems" deserve earnest attention,
even though they provoke some dissent. The
speaker was interested in him and his works
because ne Is StrOng opponent OF social
ISM and Communism" He writes as a
disciple of Jesus Christ
Fourth-The widest study of political and
social science will show continuously that
the basis of these must be the ethics of
Christ. We may study all the works of the
great writers, but we must come back to the
founder of Christianity. He who would
build State must find foundation in the
ethics of the Nazarene.
The lecture closed with an appeal to the
earnest and the thoughtful, especially the
young, to do all they could to make better
this present world. The secret of life is to
be co-worker with God.