The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-01-01
studying Political ECONOMY

Professor w. e. Burchill writes that
the people themselves, the common ai,i
zens Of this country, and all the people
at that. ought to take up the study of
economic science as applied to common
wealths. The great economic questions
of the day win never be solved by IL few
rich capitalists who sit aloft and throw
work at the people and decide what
shall be paid TO them, how much rent
they ought to pay and what amount Of
education they must receive. Neither
on the other hand, will they ever be solved
by bomb throwing, parading the street
with red flags and making inflammatory
speeches against men with money. The
problems of capital and labor will be
solved when working people themselves
cit calmly down and use their brains and
leisure time in studying economic
science. 1t is more fascinating than
chemistry, geology or mathematics, for
its factors are men and women, its laws
the great rules that underlie life and the
productiveness of nature. Any one can
understand it.
When farmers and mechanics know
the principles that govern the demand
and supply Of money they will know ex-
actly when and whore free silver coin
age and more money will be useful and
when not They will know SO much
that denagogues cannot bamboozle
votes out Of them by promises that in
the nature of things can never be full
filled. There ought to be cheap and
popular text books on economic science.
Economic science is better word for it
than political economy" for the word
political has been SO degraded that the
mention of it conjures up visions of
fraud and injustice and the exact oppo-
site Of everything that economic science
proves to be for the good of all
Professor Burchill writes:
There Is 10 branch Of education beyond the
most primary SO necessary and suitable for
universal study rs political economy. II Is
necessary because 1t is ruinous TO the interests
Of society TO leave It to the investigation Of
specialists. 1t treats Of matters which affect
selfish interests and its slow progress In the
past Is mainly due to the fact that. where Its
bases are true and its Investigations are ac-
curate and searching, 1t discovers wrongs that
need redress, and unjust institutions which
for generations were considered just. and
which antiquity has almost made sacred; pref
udices are aroused. and the economists, often
startled at their own conclusions seek less
radical solutions. That science which often
traces want and misery, enforced idleness and
brutalizing conditions to monopoly and priyi-
lege is not likely to make progress till it has
become popularized. Furthermore, 1t Is suit
able to general Investigation.
The phenomena TO be observed are within
reach, are, in fact, continually presented to US,
and the results arrived at by deductive reason
ing can easily be verified by comparison with
the facts Of actual experience, introducing or
eliminating conditions which may may not
form factors Of Tie investigations. How
shall we be fed?' "Wherewithal shall we be
clothed7" are the questions with which politi-
cal economy attempts to deal, and since food
and clothing are the first requisites of life
political economy is the basis Of social science
as well might we try to build house without
laying q foundation as TO endeavor to arrive at
just conclusions on questions relating to the
latter without a knowledge of the former