New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF PROTECTION.

THE ECONOMIC BASIS OF PROTECTION. BY simon
n Patten Professor Of Political Economy. wharton
school of Finance and Economy University OF rem
sylvania. j. b. Lippincott Company, PMlauelPhih'
1890. I2mo. 144 PIP.
II is much to be regretted that this DOCK, wlch
it's valuable thoughts, not written IN ohe
English of the street and the market place, lhse"u
of the language of the study and CLASSROOM
Then would its useful instruction be appreciaCou
by many who will be repelled or puzzieu
by the authors use of words in senses WHICH, !"
ordinary readers at least. are quite unknown
For page after page the author strIe' ~ '""'N'
his meaning in such form as this
The system of natural liberty which iormeo
basis of economic doctrine during the las. ueiE S
conceived society as moving towaIu On 10
positjon rests in the sharply defined ldeal wlch Is
presented of such static state. Inc ny hai i
condition of society at Inc PresuhG i, Inc mdni1es
sitS static state. If we wish the doctrine
of a dynamic state TO have that force thao Lac
doctrines of a static state now have, Clear
concention must be formed of the causes operating
In dvnamic state and of the economy suited 10
O dynamic society. tfage 20.
The nearest approach TO an exposition OF the
authors meaning is perhaps found IN the follow
ing paragraphs; ..;ou
hold bv ali the consistent advocates OF passive
policy on the part Of governments. inns iueai
supposes that the best opportunities ior IL
Is.
resources-are used first and that as popllatlon
increases poorer natural resources must De u,lzeo
to give employment 10 the additional populalloh'
In This way the average return for LABOR Is IT.
duced and the society finds Itself crowded INTO "
narrower economic condition with every increase
in population page 04); -. :. ,;,
The other idea opposed to this. is a dynamic
one It supposes that the individuals OF a. So
cietv are constantly changing with their environ.
ent that they have new wants hrisihs ouc con- n.
their new conditions, and thus there are con-
tinually opening up to them new opportunities ioi
labor better than those they first put into use.
In thu way the society sia1ua INTO better
aiG q gradual increase in the average return
for labor comes with every change III the ecoiioi0
environment. tPage 3D.,
Professor Patten has not sufficiently interpreted
for the common understanding the phrases which
he uses so frequently, and upon which his entlre
reasoning turns. The conception which he seeks
IN present has. nevertheless real value, and the
book will repay study. 1t is his belief that THIS
country. with rapidly increasing population, Is
forced to find ever new occupations Tor lis multi
plying millions, and resources TO DC deVeioPeu
for their steady Improvement in condition OtheI-
wisa. the increase in population would OF Hseii
crowd down the wages of labor, and cause inc
millions of wage earners TO sink in the scale OIL
intelligence and character. until thus the self-
governing power would be lost or become but
curse TO its possessors
For nation with settled lands, populauoh
NOT greatly increasing limited opportunities 70
tleyelop resources, and little improvement IN inc
condition and demands of the people. unlimited
exchanges of products with other nations may
have advantages. But this Nation cannot en-
change on equal terms with other ma
lions. whose labor is depressed and de-
graded, without forcing labor downward TO-
ward their level The dynamic state =
the nation which would advance, and grow, and
rise to higher things-must of necessity shield ltS
people and their industries by what Professor Pat
ten calls ian active policy" from too direct com
petition with other nations whose labor is less
favored in condition now, and has less chance
of uplifting and of progress. The reasoning IS
worthy of attention, though the language chosen
to exnress it. is sometimes lacking in clearness and
simplicity.