The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-01
Observation-Disclosures
Books Of the DaY 5
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THE SCIENCE Or POLITICAL
EfONOAy. Fly Heusy George. D09eIe-
day 4 Mcclure Co.
In . PREDATORY noss Mr.. Henry George.
5r. says shss iris work. begun Ia 1851.
nuow out OF The authors long cherished
Dorpose TO write small textbook. which
should present 81 bricf The principles Of a
true Political ecosorny The work vas
frequently interrupted. however, and IL
ives NOT casapsstsd at the time of hss
death. although we are told that Il II I'm
tssssd In all main essentials.
OF al fhe scisnces. says Mr. George.
political economy h that which to civil
sse1 men oe Today is OF mos; practical i'm
poT4ance, bat he II decidedly Of the ogin-
lon that the study Of II ~ ut present con-
dacted Ia the colleges Is most unsafissac-
tory. that hy very iaw OF their being
colleges and universities, as ut pYssent
constituted. are pFeciudsd from discover
inx or revealing tae deep and Widespread
wrong IN the distribution. 4 not In the
production. of wealth. which I, IL the ONCE
Of political scoronsy 30 disclose. The views
and wishes OF the WEALTHY eia~ dominate
IN colleges and universities. hence. WHO
ever accepts from them q chair Of poiiti-
stipulation that he shall not really ind
VIVA, II h his professional business to
look for
I'VE books The Meaning Of Political
Economy. The Nature of Wealth, The
Production Of Wealth. The Dk,rioutlon
Of Wealth and Money. The Medium of
Exchange and Measure of Value
may give to Mr.. Georges theories. he
cannot fall TO admire In the early chap
sern the authors lucid ana graphic style
IN his dissertation on man ard his powers.
and the meaning. origin and genesis OF
citizenship.
Mr.. George accepts the definition OF
Political economy as the science that
treats Of the nature OF wealth and OF the
laws Of production and Distribution. bur
claims that Ii has never heen fully un-
6ersfooi by accepted teachers OF political
economy In a few pregnant sentences
he explains that the law fram whicn po-
litHoai economy proceeds Is that man
sesks 10 crafty mis- desires with the least
esertlon~ ana goes on,
.Nhashef II proceeds from experience OF
the irksoneness OF iahar and the desir.
20 ssotd IL. or further back than that,
has its sopfcs IN some innate principle
OF the human constitution. this DISPOSE
tioa ef men 10 seek the satisfaction OF
their desires with the minimum Of exer-
fion Is 80 universal and unfalllgE that IL
constitutes one or thoss invariabie souse-
qienees that We denominsts iaws of ma
tuff. and from which we may safely rea-
son. IL Is this ia@ OF nature that is the
Fundamental law OF political economy--the
central Law from which It's deductions
ant explanations may with certainty be
drawn, and. indeed. hy which acne they
become possible"
Mr. George then directs a searching In
osirs into the nature OF wealth. and quotes
several pages Of definitions by eminent
writers on political economy TO show the
Confusion existing among scholastic econ
cmssis as TO a primary term OF political
economy The last definition he quotes Is
that Of Professor Alfred Marshall. pro-
fessor of political economy In the Unlver-
slty OF Cambridge. whose principles of
EcoTsouics" Is scholasttcaiiy the most
highly endorsed economic work vet pub
lisaed Ia English, Prof Marshall deii,
nsiion Of wealth IL disposed OF as follows:
ut seems 20 comprise all things In the
heavens above. the earth beneath. and the
waters under the earth: that NAV b, use
aai Id or desired hy mar. individually or
collectively, iueludng maa himself with
With all his natural ar acquired eanabll
ties. and the on, thing for which / can
hnd direct statement is. W. ough; for
many purposes ~ reckon the Thames a
par, Of England's wealth.
.sh,,,s....z
Smith and ''rne Wealth OF Nations" fol-
LEVIED nT Az account Of oueznAy, Rihos.
aud less eminent phyAarra1s. and their
ihHpenfe npaa Smith, The chapter In
ch.ct,sl Groupings Toward a petsrm;n,.
slan or Wealth" dig out unknown xing;e
fsNfrs oe The last century. one OF whoa,
was eSpeiea from the philosophical 90
cieiy of Newcastle in is-5 for denying the
right % property In lanA
Mr. George has ~ Interesting word 10
SAY In regard to socialism Socialism
takes so account OF natural laws neither
seeking ihem nor STRIVING 10 he governed
by them Il is an art or conventions,
eehenae IL politics or government white
political economy is an exposition ~ Ger
tain snvariah.a la~s OF human nature
TIE proposal wEies socialism makes IA
Ia eF,ng AACk mankind 20 .ha ~ori
olsSm az i'erG. hut without reIIan-a on a.
We VIII or nowcT Modern socialism a.
In tast Without religion. and lis tendency
Is ataesstl. IL IS nsore destitute az any
central ana guiding principle than sny
philosophy | know Of Mankind Is hers.
hew II aces not state: and mus, proceed
10 make world FOR msef. as dss.,rder,v
as THAT which Alice Ia Wonderland can
ronsea II has no system OF Individual
Tishts whereby II can aeflne .Ae extsn.
To which he Individual Is entitled TO nls-
sfty. er 70 wA.ca The state may 30 re-
ftFais'inE ~ And 50 long As NJ, individual
has Ssy principle CT guidance IL lie i'm
reSSs9e shas society should hsxs any
bow s'iea a combination coasa sse called
Sesssnce. snd how Il should gsg q follow
Sss. can BE accounted fer oaiy by tha
'fs'aa fasist1s Of writing without think
sng,' which the iearnss tseTmsa ability OF
studying details without any beading
if'nctp'e permits 80 psss.
Few pages are gwen 10 rrose thar
'taisie decs Hes sssute tfosa exchange
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