The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-07-24
THE QUESTION TABLE.

regularly obtained by man only by exertion and
which, or the use of which. may be disposed of
for other goods. Wealth, in ordinary language,
generally means large quantities of economic
goods, either absolutely, in proportion to ones
wants. or as is oftener the case, relatively with
reference to the possessions of others. Demand
and supply. expressions used in political econ
omy also in political life. 1t is said they reg
ulate price-they constantly varying guam
titles Of things they tend to equality and this tend
ency operates through price, prices are lowered
and raised in such manner that a rough kind of
equilibrium between supply and demand is brought
about. Money, is that which passes freely from
hand to hand throughout the community in dis
charge of debts and payment of commodities. The
standard of comfort. is that which determines the
wages Of labor. The state is the union of a sta
tionary people occupying defined territory under
a supreme power and defined constitution.
2. The Departments Of social life are; language,
art. science and education; the family life social
life in the narrower sphere, such intercourse of
friends at parties religious life political lfe and
economic life.
3. Serfdom is one of the general conditions of
labor (Which slavery. serfdom and free
contract) and though at times it appears as harsh
as slavery. it differs with it materially when it
approaches freedom, a position which slavery
never attains.
4. Wage-slavery. is the practical dependence of
the laborer account of the pressure of economic
necessity.
s. The different economic stages in the life of a
people from the stand point of production are:
The hunting and fishing, the pastoral, the agri-
cultural, the trades and commerce. and industrial;
and from the standpoint Of transfer of goods
truck-economy, money-economy, and credit-ecen-
omy.
6. Village communities, were the earliest form
of settled agricultural life among the Aryans;
land belonged to the village and the arabic portion
of the common territory was allotted from year to
year to the members of the community. while
pasture-land and forest.Mnd were used in COM
mon.
z. The two kinds of deterorations in the eco
nomic conditions of the masses are, Absolute and
Relative: Absolute, which means conditions poorer
in themselves without regard to the economic sit
uation of others or the changed requirements of
new times; and Relative, which means that large
sections of the population have not kept pace in
the economic progress, with the advance of wealth
on one hand and on the other with the develop.
ment of their rational wants and aspirations
8. Many think that the problem of uniting cap
ital and labor be solved along existing lines
by savings banks. building associations and the
acquisition by laborers Of shares in the corpora
tions which employ them.
9. A theory exists by which it is assumed that
all citizens have entered into contract with one
another and have established government This
is fiction for all the elements of a contract
wanting The writings of the Pilgrim fathers on
the Mayfower, in 1920, establishing civil govern.
ment is adduced a contract origin of govern.
ment; but the Pilgrim fathers did not originate
new government; even if they did, a contract once
signed is not to bind men forever. Great political
thinkers say that the validity of contracts of a
government nature should be limited to one gen.
eration say thirty-ive years.
TO- The reasons why governments should own
and control forests are, first the rational forestry
requires plans to be made for one hundred and
twenty years in advance. Trees must be planted
to be felled at the expiration of that time. and
private individuals will not invest money from
which there is no return for over a century. Sec
ond forests ought to be cultivated on a vast scale
on land often good for nothing ese their climatic
influences are important. Third,it requiresihighly
trained scientific men to take of a forest.
Fourth, when forests cultivated in large tracts
very considerable game can be grown and this
forms important element in the food Of a peo-
pie.
IL. Political economy is simpler than private
economy because disturbing causes and individual
peculiarites make it difficult to formulate general
principles for an individual private economy. but
these elements disappear when we observe mass
of individual economics.
IL. The difference between private and public
interests u.s. that the political economist describes
the best means for the promotion of the people as
whole. whereas the prosperity of individuals
may be secured at the expense of society.