The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-21
AFACETIoUs CONTEMPORARY.

~
The Washington Post. which is rarely
to be taken seriously. IS amused rather
than otherwise that President William L.
Wilson. OF Washington and Lee Universe
~ is delivering series OF lectures to the
law classes of that institution on The
History OF Representative Government.
Perhaps we should rather say that the
Post Is amused at the announcement OF
that fact I'm the editorial columns OF The
Times and at our comment thereon. The
Post IS unable 20 see any necessity for
including I'm the series OF lectures. as incl
dentally suggested by The Times. trea-
tise on political economy.
The Standard Dictionary defines poll
teal economy as "the branch OF civics
that treats Of the nature of wealth and
the laws Of its production and distribu-
ton. Including all the causes OF prosper
ity and the reverse. IL discusses labor,
wages. population. capital. money. rent.
value trade and the relation OF govern
ment to industry ana economic condi-
tions"
II seems 10 us, in view OF this deh-
milton. that a treatise on political econo-
my were well worthy of a place in
series OF lectures on the science of gov
eminent.
In our comments, we remarked that "in
order that a man may vote intelligently
upon questions OF currency and tariff and
the like II is necessary that he shall have
been so we'll grounded in the science OF
government and political economy as that
ne may understand what bearing this or
that policy will have upon the general
interests Of the country.
And. as If to controyert that argument
the Post says:
II all that be true we fear there are
comparatively few men IN the Chi'e"
States who vote inteligently. Not one
vo.er in a hundred has ever paid much
attention to the science of government,
ana the masses are by no means well
posted i'm political economy as taught m
textbooks and college lectures.
This reminds us Of the logic Of the
country lad who. in going 10 MILL bal
anced the bag Of corn on the back OF his
beast by putting the corn in one end ana
a stone I'm the other, and when it was
suggested TO him that he might accom-
plish the same thing and tighten the load
by dividing the corn in the bag replied
that that was the way IN which dad did
H. and dads way was good enough Tor
him We can hardly regard as serious
argument the contention that because the
voters Of this country have not studied
the science Of government and the laws
Of political economy. therefore they
should not do so.
The third and last argument Of our
progressive contemporary against teach
ing the science of government in colleges
is that the doctors differ.
That is true. but so DO doctors of med
icine ana doctors OF law. and doctors of
divinity. and doctors Of other schools.
But shall we discard medicine and law
and theology because the doctors are not
altogether agreed? There is disagreement
as TO tariff and finance and other such
cases OF government economy nut 'herc
are certain fixed principles which lie at
the foundation Of republican government
and certain fixed principles Of political
economy upon which the doctors do not
disagree, and which are necessary to the
intelligent formation of political creed.
Two. four or hundred young men.
saws the Post i'm conclusion, after going
through the same course Of study and
hearing the same lectures on the science
Of government. will leave college with all
the varying views as to the effects of this
or that doctrine on the welfare OF the
nation that are held by the young men
who have staid at home and followed
the blow or worked in the mill mine or
store"
In other words what's the good of ed
ucation. anyhow?