The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-04-29
ADEEINITION OE WEALTH.
Something New for Political Economists
to Consider.

In George Gunton's new book, ''Prin-
ciples of Social Economics" it is said
that definitions of the term 'twealth'
in the works of economists are many,
various and conflicting. A definition.
then, that shall be full, clear and COM
plete, is, evidently, much to be de-
sired.
The term wealth seems to have
been formed by combination of the
two old Saxon words, "wear' and
''things;" and the process may have
been like this: Veal things, veal
things. wealth pronounced as two
syllables, with ''ings" dropped), and
finally wealth, as we now have 1t.
But, however formed, that the term
wealth is identical in meaning with
weal-things. there can be no doubt.
By examining these two words, there
fore, ascertaining their meanings and
combining them. if the work be we'll
done, the exact and complete meaning
of the word wealth will appear.
The word ching" springs from an
old Saxon root which signifies ''to be
heavy" But what is heavy is of ma
terial substance and is an object of
sense. A thing, then, is any material
| object cognizable by the senses. But
it is especially used of what is without
| life, though in common speech all liv-
ing beings below man are spoken of as
| things, and even man himself when
thought of as belonging to the animal
| kingdom, as in the phrase, ''all ami
mate and inanimate things" But,
strictly speaking, man is not accounted
| thing, because he is moral person,
and this higher element of personality
raises him above the sphere of things.
Veal has the same root as well. To
be well-that is, to be in state that is
weal-is to be in health, and that is to
be in the state of fullest, most active
and most unimpaired life. This is the
KEYNOTE word of the whole matter
life. To be well is to be in a state
that is weal-is to be in the fullest de
gree alive.
The things that make for veal ART
the things which make for to-be-well
that is to be alive, that is again, fol
life. The things which make fo
} veal, that is for life, came in human
speech to be called weal-things, anC
this compound word was contracted
into wealth. By these steps the cor
rect and complete definition of ou
term is brought plainly into view.
: Wealth is one, or more, or the sur
of the things which make for life.
= And here, in passing, it may be sal
that life, and especially life as foun
in man, is the keynote word of a
that is contained in what men hav
been wont to call political economy.
Now take this def milton as mea'
uring staff in the hand and go abroa
through the world and measure off th
Al Inn
which make for life are veal things
wealth. Wheat, corn, grain, fruit;
are wealth. fnsd sd ,1Ai things Of every sor
provide them. So are clothing, fu
and all implements to provide thes
So are all things to help about them,
in transportation and exchange.
But human life has grades, and thos
things which feed it in its higher grade
are also wealth-as works of art to i
lustrate the higher, spiritual side
human life, or hospitals, to illustrat
it again.
But are muskets and ca nnon. and a
the munitions of war, wealth? In $
far as they are needful to help son
life preserve itself against destructio
by other life, they are wealth to ii
lives they preserve; but they are dealt
, which is ''illth' to those whom the
L. kill in preserving alive those whol
they defend. But to the whole sum
g human life on the earth they are
. monstrous evil, to be swept off frol
the earth as the heart of human kin
is healed of its impulses to rob an
kill. In a true, economic sense notI
ing that is made for killing men
wealth; but only what is made to NAL
= for life for all.
= But, finally, are not human facu
ties, powers actions, activities and IL
like wealth? No; they come not ul
der this word. There must be anotht
word for them, if one would escal
confusion of mind. and utter clei
I thought in accurate speech.
Only the material things whic
make for life are wealth, and all tho
things that word includes.