New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-10
American Scholars on the
Changing Social Order.

5r NEW BASIS or 1IN 6 az sr %
company
two books in THE American Social
q csa-ies-' form the beginning Of what
!, .o,,al,ly he a long succession of handSooks
- she results Of recent Investigations into
j I'm social life and its institutions. That
Z D. g annie room in the crowded literary
u for works Of this character cannot be
-. =, this age of anxious morality every
on public manners and novel or dying
-.,o.s Of any sort at all social in their i'm
=. Is nerUsed with almost morbid avidity. I'm
- many contributions to this field Of
-, and imagination display pessimism
sound that readers gain the impression
=. o,lz- 2 social revolution Of appalling mag
- and corresponding horror Will be able to
| to o4t all traces Of present day evils. If the
= ,-,l,r7,es OF the new series continue the
- of the pair before us, the collection will
=, , Genuine want. President Hadley and Pro-
go F,atten both write with a broad optimism
~ out of wide vision and cool judgment
r-b look a. present day ills in the light Of
ut sirznesses. and find that our convalescence
=, more striking than the lingering traces Of
"a aecrenitudes Thus both books offset in
r,rqe measure the monotonous chorus OF the ca
1.7itr howlers; and they do SO. not by indulging
., empty exutation. but by adducing specific
.,s,orical facts proving that the upward move
sn- Of the modern social and moral revolution
!. -.sl. while tie retrograde tendency is either
9 risconstrued memory or else a piece Of imag
.nation
President FIadleys essays, five in number, are
marked by a delightful freedom from philoso-
,hzng and by concrete handling Of current
,rabJenas Perhaps the most satisfactory ex-
III Fa-,
American standards Of public and private mo-
,al:ty yet given in popular form is set forth in
she frst essay. Why is it that the typical
American citizen displays such sterling qualities
n his private relations and so many despicable
traits in his business and politics? Is he DELHI
erately inconsistent because Il pays 10 be this?
Or Hadley answers the question by pointing
olt that public sentiment is clear on nearly all
questions Of private morality but obscure or
contradictory on those OF public relations. a
mans actions being chiefly determined by the
public opinion of his contemporaries, it follows
thai, wherever there is public uncertainty there
will be license in his dealings with his fellows
end to-day the uncertainty of most citizens con-
oerniEg the right and wrong in political and in
dustrial actions is Very great That this Is so
can be explained by the enormous completely of
tie factors involved in modern business and pol
flies. Society has not had time 10 watch the
consequences Of selfshness in politics (and bust
ness. II may be added il has watched the
consequences Of sel+shness in private life" The
writer then points out how. in the past remote
and near men have used the fundamentals Of
our government, liberty, democracy and Consti-
futional rule, as means 10 furthering the ends
q small. dominant clique; and how public
law has thus come TO represent, to some exters
she wishes Of those who can control the major
.ty instead Of the desires of the whole people.
IN the or
tngs Of our political machinery and the political
duties OF the citizen. DR.. Hadley touches Troon
the strong and weak features Of the American
party system Congressional rule and our
courts. The opinion IS advanced that mas
much as the spread of newspapers has caused
public opinion 10 be formed long in advance
OF the debates OF Congress and the State Leg
islature. these legislative bodies. notably the
federal one, have ceased TO be truly delibera-
tive and now simply enact whatever a ma
fority Of both Houses may desire without even
trying TO secure common understanding. -
The most conspicuous effect OF this change in
procedure has been an increase in the quantity
q legislation. accompanied by a loss OF eflci-
elcy; statutes multiply. but the persons not
directly interested in their enforcement take
little O. pains TO see that they are properly
enforced. After asserting that political parties
aim 10 govern the country. rather than to Sc
cure the passage of certain legislative meas
sres Dr.. Fadley instrtIcts his readers how to
pay the political game TO the best advantage.
We find these last instructions far sounder than
the original thesis about the dark graspings
for power on the part Of political organizations.
President Hadley has here think seen only
one phase Of an exceedingly complex situation.
That there are men prominent in political par
ties who are consumed with the lust TO hold
the reins Of power. nobody can doubt for an
Instant. But 10 identify their motives with
those Of all members Of the party is tanta-
mount 10 accusing nearly all voters in the
IN 0raf-rE a1-H-
ne motives OF parties vary with the motives
o. their members; they are sometimes good and
holetrnes had, sometimes personal, sometimes
a5tr1lsfic- Any generalization like President
Facley's ignores patent historical facts; il also
tbs the writer's later advice TO go into poll
ncs Of much force by making the reader think
ne must somehow dirty his hands in order to
serve his country
Ife chapters the ethics Of trade and cor
pota'e management seem to be more carefully
.aenght out, and more convincing than those
a-efessing into the tangled field of politics;
PRESIDENT HaGley'S experiences as labor COM
missioner have doubtless helped nightly TO
make these two essays SO readable The de-
fence OF the competitive system here given
Ni4ise not at all elaborate. goes TO the heart of
ene ethical problems involved II will find fewer
osseIlters than VIII the proposition following
l. 70 the effect that the evils OF corporate
Engagement are TO be cured, not by any ma
emery Of governmental control. but by a wider
sense OF responsibility on the part Of directors
a--o general officers. Here, is II not probable
ulat PRESIDENT Hadley has exalted half truth
20 The rank Of a whole one? Has there ever
D0eh q tine In history when private Judgment
vas sufficient guarantee for the proper exc
cuuon OF works Of public Importance? Is the
nag In sight when human intelligence will be
% perfected that will confidently free II
ron legal restraints?
Professor Patterns analysis OF the new basis
u civilization" is at once pleasing and disap-
az-ess s=
euAi English; a uasi-phiIosophical vocabulary
= Stnuggled ia to a territory where plain words
e.e available, and the reader pays the duty.
ne reason for this may perhaps be found in