The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15


" directed TO still another form Of evolu-
ton. In the great world Of commercial in
tercourse change In methods has been so
rapid as 10 cause some violent disturb
ances.
Enormous Improvement in the means of
communication and transportation has
come so suddenly that adjustment 10 new
conditions has often been difficult. The
vision must be vastly enlarged and the fac
tors in the problem are much increased
Hardly do We yet realize how many old
methods ana rnaNims are obsolete Expert
ence constantly demonstrates that the
teachings OF ancient sages were for diff
ferent world.
AS A TRADING ANIMAL
THAT prince of lecturers. the genial
Adam Smith. charmed the generation TO
which he belonged and powerfully infu-
enced succeeding ones. But his whole ef-
fort was 10 discover what man could and
naturally would do when considered mere
~ a trading animal He conceived him
9s undisturbed by the governmental re-
strictions OF different countries. or varying
national sentiments and methods OF life.
but we have fallen upon times when oceans
are but wider ferries and all men are our
neighDors. All existing governments have
trade regulations OF some kind for obtains
tng revenue or attaining other objects
deemed important TO the welfare OF each
particular nation and having reference TO
AtS peculiar COuulLOuS. GfdcucdIy no man
as lett 10 lead the untrammeled life or
tradinS animal, guided only by natural in
suncts and placed among those in substan-
ually the same condition with himself.
ANY surgical book that is fifteen years
old IS almost worthless, and many famous
text-Dooks on trade and tariffs are but lit
tie better. II the ideal conditions that
many Of them presuppOse ever existed,
they exist no more. Philosophical writer's
VINO discuss the origin of society and civil
institutions are fond OF depicting what
would Haunpn II a
cast on remote island and obliged to es-
tablish government They usually really
have IN mind a pleasant and fertile Island
and a company OF intelligent English peo-
pie. At present there are al least two diff
nculties in Imagining such a community
First, the entire absence Of remote Islands
where anybody can live; second, the inevi-
table immigrants with different ideas and
snethods OF life. Commerce confronts real
flies and deals with them AS intercourse
has increased among the nations the rela-
tive Importance OF the man who buys and
sells. or produces something to sell, has
Increased cOrresp ondingly. The poet tells
OF a day not so long ago when
. The only men Of dignity and state
Were the minister and the magistrate
The present condition OF society has
been wittily described. no doubt with some
exaggeratiOn. by employing a figure that
will be understood by all who have at
tended college at any time within thirty
years; The producer, the merchant the
rier. really play the game. The doctor at
tends with arnica and court plaster. Judges
and lawyers act as umpires, while preach
ers sit in the grandstand and explain the
fine points to the ladies'
LEARNED PROFESSIONS.
Past all question a constantly increas-
ing per cent. of our ablest men do not en-
gage in the three learned professions of the
old days. The auda city, intelligence, breadth
and length Of vision TO be found among
the men who now do the worlds business
fmpresses all who come in close contact
with them. The most absorbing question Of
our time Is TO what rules shall these COM
mercial giants be subjected? Many years
ago the man with strong muscles who
Knocked his weaker brother down with a
CLUB was made to feel the power Of munich
pal law. We are such profound believers
IN the efficacy OF statutes that the State of
Ohio for example seeks to amend the dis
ordered condition OF the body polite by
acting small volume each alternate year.
II Is therefore perfectly natural that there
should be multitude OF efforts to restrain
By statute the man who in the struggle or
life assails his fellOw-men with superior
brains. But 1t Is submitted with defer
ence that there is a wide difference be-
tween the case Of strong muscles and
strong minds The man with the club did
not. except perhaps in rare instances. exer-
else his strength for the good of anybody.
But il is Of the highest Importance to the
whole people that gifted men should be
permitted and even encouraged 10 employ
their mental powers.
. - Lbs I-Ns Of social existence are such
also that il is wen nigh impossible for any
one 10 discover better way Of doing any
thing, and thereby accumulate wealth for
himself, without comforting large benefits
upon his fellOw-men. 1t does not follow
that because one man distances COMPETE
tors in certain field Of human activity he
should be1restrained by law for the benefit
OF his less industrious or less gifted rivals.
His success may enrich mankind much
mo ftavr y Il 4
wrong to all TO compel a pace that
would suit the slOwest competitor.
Whoever looks into any part OF the ami
mai world either among men or brutes or
even considers vegetable life will at once
discover that natures law is strife. 1t will
never end. The only question is under what
rules shall men wage their mighty warfare.
The process OF biological evolution was
merciless and often violent. The strong
killed. ate, trampled or starved the weak.
Extremists claim that the commercial evo-
luton or to-day accomplishes similar re-
suits by somewhat slower and milder
means. There are now vast facilities for
saying and printing things but there is
little in the enormous flow of words upon
this subject that is new. Complaints OF
monopoly and oppression by the rich are
older than Aristotle and the DlatntlYe story
of how Wealth accumaiates and men de-
cay has been the theme OF thousands or
orators and poets. There has always been
much fond regret for the good old times
which. when pressed. nobody is ever able to
exactly locate. The novel feature in the
present situation IS the unusual rapidity and
extent OF certain changes of method making
1t difficult for many 10 adjust themselves to
new conditions.
WILL NOT CEASE TO OPERATE.
But. whatever cases OF temporary or
individual distress may occur, there is no
reason TO believe that the universal law of
evolution will cease 10 operate for a single
moment or be materially affected by stat
utes of any legislature. Just what the de-
xelopment will be in particular directions or
the rapidity of its progress no one would
venture TO foretell. If you stand on the
great bridge at St. Louis and study the
hurrying current below it will be impossible
70 predict the precise future of any drop
of water. 1t may evaporate under the
Southern sun, IL may sink into the sand or
ind its way between great levees to the
gulf Its course may possibly be slightly
influenced by the laws OF Congress and
the Work OF the Mississippi River Commits
sion But while there may be occasional
eddies. of one thing you can be absolutely
certain. The river viii never flow back
over the falls of St. Anthony.
mo more Is the commercial world going
back TO the days of the village mechanic
and OF clumsy. expensive and useless meth
DDS OF manufacture and distribution. The
day when each mechanic and merchant or
those Of each village and town had a lit