The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-30
OF SOCIAL scIEN11srs.
Hon. Simeon E. Baldwin Addresses the
 American Association.


 Saratoga Springs, N. Y, Aug 29.- American Social Science association began it's general annual meeting here this evening. It will continue in session five days The annual address was made by the president, Hon. Simeon E. Baldwin, ILL. D., of New Haven, Conn. The presidents opening address was in the History of American Morals" He said that whatever was peculiar in the seventeenth century came from New England. The Old Testament dominated their conception of God and rule of duty. Their early literature was one of creeds and sermons. It was intollerant and provincial. The eigh- teenth century brought in a better, but not one more pure It was revolution ary, free, patriotic. The American newspaper was invented-our first real contribution to the literature of the world. That became a censor of men and manners. We entered the nine teenth century in the position of a nouveau riche. Concerning the Indian question he said:
 T do not think that the Americans, as people, can fairly be charged with any lack of morality in their general course of dealing with the Indians, from the beginning to this day They bought their lands instead of seizing 1t; they offered them education; they built them churches. They were the strong CT and the wiser; and the weaker race has fallen away before them. That was inevitable.
 The fail of slavery was thus describ- ed: Tt is true that the war was not begun, nor even waged to suppress slavery. But 1t is true also that all men saw that the suppression of slav- cry might follow. And it is true that to many In the north it was a holy war from the outset because they re- garded 1t as a struggle for the freedom of every American, white and black So the destruction of the Maine was not the cause of our war with Spain but it lay behind the cause. It walked the sentiment of vengeance, which had to be appeased. Popular feeling gives the life to war, and shapes its end. The north had convinced itself, think rightly that it was not responsible for the sin of slavery but 1t knew that slavery was sin. The south had con- vinced itself that slavery was an in heritance from the past for which the present generation was not responsible; that universal emancipation meant either anarchy or negro supremacy; and that the only rule of safety was to let things be. The conviction of the north was one of principle; that of the south one of expediency."
 Passing to the factory system, he said: "He who spends his life by fac- tory bench, he whom we call an opera tive oftener than man, is in grave danger of regarding himself as little but mechanical appliance, and hard ly thinking it worth while to strive to build up an individual character and reputation. Temptations come to him, that are unknown to the farmer, con- spicuous in his isolated habitation and solitary toll. The mutual dependence of the operatives in a factory-each useless without the rest-throw them naturally into combinations in trades unions and lodge rooms, and sets up new ethical standard"
 What is morality?" he said toward the conclusion of his address. If 1t be conformity to the standards of con- duct prescribed by what for the time being is the ruling sentiment of the country, the age of the Puritans was moral; but 1t was not so with that of the Revolution or of the civil war. How has 1t been with ourselves in these days of trial, of great deeds and new ambitions, or national extension by conquest, of the excitement of glorious victory in new fields? We have been educating ourselves into new beliefs We are possessed by them-ruled by them. We believe that our country is not measured by the breadth of the continent. We believe that the islands that fringe it's coasts and those remoter still, which in unfriendly hands might threaten it's security, may rightfully, as occasion offers, be incorporated into the united States. We believe that our people have duties of humanity to- wards other peoples-duties that may justify war to free them, by the strong hand, from bad or cruel goy ernment. We believe that the United States is something more and greater that the states which are united under their flag, and that the American peo- pie may acquire and hold territory any, Where upon the globe, which is needed to serve their navy or promote their commerce. Are we the better. morally, for these beliefs? Do they make us more regardful of the rights of others; more charitable In our construction of others conduct; more helpful of our own?"
 At the conclusion of President Bald wins address Rev. Frederick Stanley Root of New York, the general secre- tary of the association, submitted his annual report, in the course of which he emphasized the fact that the mis- sion of this particular society is the discussion and investigation of all sub- Jects pertaining to social science and that it's traditional policy is never to commit itself to any dogmatic decIara- tion of belief in regard to the uues tions which may come under it's exam- ination. With reference to the mem bership of the association, the secretary reported that since the association last met there have been added to the roll 145 new names, thus making the total