Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-07

is crowded with financial experiments,
unique in their nature and worthy Of
careful study. The principles of fin
ance which long and intelligent exper-
fence has declared to be sound, have
been more frequently discegarded by
the United States than by any other
contemporary nation. Yet, on nearly
every occasion in the national history,
men have appeared who cOmprehended
the exigencies, and whose advice, II
followed would have averted disaster.
And why has this been the case? Be
cause men are politicians and not
statesmen or economists. Our leaders
have studied finance only 20 find argyll
ments against opponents, so as to sub
stantiate their own position. So long
as such prejudice rules the minds Of
men, so long will the discovery OF
truth be an accident. If only kind
providence would pity weak humanity
and influence men TO feel properly, then
prejudice would be the finger board
pointing infallibly to the temple of
knowledge. But unfortunately right
feeling and action are conditioned on
right thought If you would have in
telligent voters and statesmen who
would not sacrifice all for party but
everything for country, make your cit
liens economists.
The peculiar character of our gov
eminent makes the general cultivation
Of economies more important to us than
to any other people in the world. Our
government is founded on equality.
Each and every voter has equal power
in the determination of governmental
policy. Now while men may be equal
politically. morally and Intellectually,
they are far from it. Suppose that our
general monetary policy was to be set
tied in the coming election, the most
grossly ignorant voter could offer the
vote of such man as Patten, or Clark,
/ or Taussig. or Ely, men who
I have made life study Of
such problems. The appalling
: ignorance exhibited by many men who
are counted leaders in press and poll
( tics. cOnvinces anyone that we are viz
mally settling such momentous ques-
( lions by the flip of penny. II into the
| hands of the voter we place such power
are we not flying in the face Of prOyi-
/ dence if we fail to give him training
/ that will enable him to use it for the
/ good of the nation? The average voter
! is an automaton fixed on a wire. His
party pulls the string and he dances TO
whatever tune his leaders happen to
/ play. The best interests of the nation
| demand that our people be intellectu-
| ally strong enough TO think and act in
/ diligently on political matters; that
our leaders be far-seeing statesmen OF
honor and integrity.
/ Republican forms of government are
| as vet experiments. The WatchWoru
of the day is not republicanism, but ad-
mipistration and policy, We are be-
/ ginning to recognize that republic
/ can 90 wrong and that it has some dis
advantages. As patriots it is our duty
to- eradicate its faults and failures.
Let us take heed, therefore, and learn
we'll the lesson on finance and admin
istration that history and science may
| teach us. 49,
/ If there are any arguments IN TINS
article worthy of second thought, let
him who would understand its practl-
cal side study the courses offered by
the high schools, colleges and UnlYer-
sitv of this commonwealth. How much
longer must the young men OF our
state become exiles if they would learn
ANYTHING about the most important
fields of investigation known to mod
ern science-the sociological sciences!
J. SCOTT M'WHORIER.